Written By: Karen Deis

Marketing is about getting noticed. About being different. About building a brand.

It seems like everyone is flocking to social media to market themselves. Don't get me wrong. If you use social media the "right way", you'll get tons of business. But with everyone doing it, you might want to add some low-tech marketing to your marketing strategies.

Lauren Comiteau, AdWeek says, "...smart brands are still conscious of the power of low-tech marketing in the overall mix. At a time of shrunken budgets and media clutter, many brands have discovered that sometimes the old-school ideas still work very well - even better, in some cases - because the public hasn't seen them used in a while."

This article is about low-tech (yes, even corny) marketing, using trinkets & premiums from the Oriental Trading Company catalog to get noticed (and talked about) beyond the social media clutter.

Here are 7 items I found, with suggested tag lines, costing less than 10 bucks!

Keep your agents informed, while helping them increase their business. Space provided for your personal message (suggest that it be about you—and not your business). Newsletter includes:

• Understand Why More Loans Are Being Denied in 2010
  (Available for everyone to read)
  
• Overcome Your Fear of Niche Marketing
• The Awesome Listing Book

If you want to easily email one article at a time, check out www.ConstantConnecting.com. Try for $1 for 30 days!

Prior to 2003, underwriters were required to dot the “i”s and cross their “t”s.

Then all hell broke loose – where anyone who could fog a mirror, was able to get a mortgage.

Well, the pendulum has swung back the other way. Fannie, Freddie, FHA and even VA have issued more stringent rules and regulation updates in the last 24 months. The last big shake up like this was in the early 80s, with the savings & loan crisis!

So, what are the 6 top reasons why more loans are being denied? What can you do to help your clients? Even if they can’t qualify now, I can help you turn them into homebuyers somewhere down the road!

1. Low Credit Scores – Even with a big down payment and good employment history, if the credit score is under a certain threshold, the loan will be denied. The average score for the US is 693. Lenders who offer FHA and VA are imposing minimum credit scores. Credit counseling is one of the ways to increase scores so they can become homebuyers in the future.
   
   
2. Lack Of Down Payment – With savings rates at an all-time low, people are having a tough time coming up with cash. They have to have “skin in the game” and gift funds can only be used in addition to their own funds. I’ve been able to help clients set up a savings plan!
   
   
3. Decrease In Income – Lenders are looking for “consistency” and these past years have been anything but! Short-term layoffs, decrease in overtime and bonuses come into play here.
   
   
4. Increase in Debt — The decrease in income and the increase in debt go hand in hand. This affects the qualifying ratios. While there is very little anyone can do about income, reducing the debt is the ticket to getting more people qualified. There are systems available to help with debt reduction.
   
   
5. Self-Employment — With layoffs and companies going out of business, more people are going the self-employment route. Tax returns and reporting all income is critical when it comes to qualifying. While everyone should take advantage of the tax breaks available to them, I recommend that they meet with an accountant, on a regular basis, to make sure their paperwork is in order when it comes time to apply for a mortgage.
   
   
6. Back-Up Documentation - Lenders have learned not to believe what anyone says anymore—they want proof—and they want it from 3rd parties—like the IRS, the employer, etc. In addition, prior to closing, there is a good chance that the loan may be reviewed by the lender’s Quality Control person, to make sure the underwriter did not miss anything the first time around. I recommend that clients keep at least 6 months worth of paycheck stubs, bank statements and 3 year’s worth of tax returns.

I’m sure you know from experience that it’s getting harder and taking longer for even the simplest deals. It’s a good idea to have a Back-Up Plan and a system to work with potential clients, turn them into homebuyers, even if it’s 6 months down the road! Let me be your “back up plan”!

Written By: Karen Deis

What if you had a real, honest to goodness reason to join (attend) networking groups?

I know, I know. Networking can be fun. It can also be a pain in the ___. Cuts into family activities. Time constraints. Same people show up. Very little in the way of leads. Promises to call you for coffee.

But wait, what if you could be THE person who helps them promote their products and services to your clients, with discount coupons?