Real Estate Financing...

Things you won't find in this top ten may or may not be highly debated on Capital Hill, around the water cooler, on talk-shows, in your local prison, on Fox News, or even at the local pub over beers and Jaeger Bombs.

                     In No Particular Order:

1)  Real Estate Professionals need more education.  I would say the same statement on the same title of a similiar blog 100 years from now. 

2)  Really, Truly, Imagine & Visualize doing what someone else does for a living.  You may find out more them and you.

3)  "The Golden Rule" -  This can't be overused enough.    Ask if you really do treat others how you would want to be treated?  If you are anything like me, you do, but not enough of the time.

4)  I don't want to worry about money when I'm Seventy Years Old, it's bad enough at any age.  Let's do something about that! 

5)  Is the end any more important than the means?

6)  Is the world a better off place because I lived?

7)  Our schools need to teach credit & home-buying courses.  You want to prepare youngsters for the Real

World?  DO IT!

8)  If you don't believe in a higher power, I cite Mother 'Freaking' Nature.

9)  Technology Might Bite Back.

10)  I'm not sure who said, but I loved it.  Forgive me, I paraphrase.  "Old age is the one disease you don't mind having no cure for."

   Today, the 13th of a Friday, I wondered just that.  What if I woke up Monday morning as a (Gosh, I hate this term) loan officer, and started all over?  Where would I start?  What would I do?  How would I do it?  I ran a blog a few days ago on the fundamentals and off the cuff, I might start there.

   But that isn't why I'm posting this.  I really thought of this because of something called 'Mindset.'   That term is defined as "a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations ."

   My mindset everyday is more than likely not the same.  Perhaps, it should be.  Maybe the very thing I should be doing wouldn't involve a loss of focus.  Focus on what you want out of life, out of business, out of kinsman-ship, out of this very site.  When truly focused, your mindset has the end in sight, but knows the means to get there and the hell of a ride it will be along the way.  This Mindset I speak of is not something you put on in the morning and take off at night.  It's a state of mind.  It is excelling to the best of your ability.  It is thinking singularly, being part of a team, and acting collectively. 

   So, if I am able to adapt that mindset because of passion, necessity, love, yearning, whatever the case....that may answer the question I titled this post with.  If I had to start over, I would venture to guess I would want to be at the very best of my ability at what I do...and do what it takes to get there and stay there.  Come Monday morning, that mindset will already be installed.  It has been whirling around in my brain, my heart, my soul, for awhile.  Now, more than ever, I want to be the best, not because of money, not because of prestige, not because of bragging rights, but for the sake of my own spiritual solace.  I have one goal in life and I'm not sure who said it originally but I'll borrow it none the less and it's paraphrasing.  "When I die, the only thing I had wanted to achieve in this life is to know that those who met me had a little bit of a better life because they had."

!!!!Alterna Mortgage HAULTS FUNDING...    Yes, you have read that correctly... I am just reaching out to share some important news about the abrupt ending of Alterna Mortgage late last week.   If you do not already know - every Alterna employee was given our notice of dismissal and that funding was being immediately halted on Wednesday afternoon last week.   This came just 2 days after an extensive product meeting to address the market shift and major operational changes that would assist as well.  Unfortunately the partners of the firm were not able to weather the level of buybacks that were being called due to the massive guideline changes now dictated by the secondary investors and had to immediately close the doors... leaving myself and several other AE's with no options and a full pipeline of approved loans.   That said... please know that I am still actively working my pipeline today and placing several loans that were cleared to close with Alterna last week.    Immediately following the news that Alterna was closing, I made arrangements with another Alt A Lender based in NJ to take the files I had in process and assist me in closing what we can while trying to place others elsewhere.  This was truly the best option I could work out in order to address what had been dropped in my lap.   -   ~sw

That was an email I got first thing this morning from our rep, hadn't heard from him in two weeks.

   This isn't a shocker since I had emailed the rep last week on a scenario and never heard back, which is very unlike him.  This is from the same rep who also had emailed me with the blog I posted http://activerain.com/blogsview/42721/Going-Out-of-Businessthat created much controversy with a firm who just went of business last week. 

  Some may ask, who's next?  I say, who is left?  Let the strong survive...and thrive.

I often wonder that.  I'm not talking life itself(That is a whole different ball of complex wax), but here on Active Rain.  How did Mr. Sardi end up on this Great Forum?  I'm not sure if I was invited...if I was, not sure by who?  I'm not sure if I stumbled across this fine establish by mere cyber-chance.  I'm not real sure at all.

Now, without the glasses and lipstick....I'm a man in the mortgage biz.  I've found this forum to be a very insightful look into all aspects of my chosen profession.  Of course, garnering business was my motive.  Yet, I must say that isn't the only reason I'm sticking around what some call the 'MySpace of Real Estate.'   I learn here.  I get inspired here.  Heck, I've shared here.  I've also been perplexed, somewhat mad, amazed, humbled, on the verge of euphoria and at the stages of 'Paying Your Dues' all over again.  I've experienced all that stuff....right here.  And I'm gathering that, what I may have stumbled across or have been invited too, may continue to be a nice little outlet kind enough to have me here.  I'll see you along the trail...