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September 2015
Title Notes E-News

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What 11 Successful People Wish They'd Known About Money In Their 20's
Kathleen Elkins and Libby Kane 
for Business Insider

Even the wealthiest, most successful people are prone to making money mistakes.

Billionaire and investor Mark Cuban misused his credit cards at a young age, while personal finance guru Suze Orman once found herself deep in debt after overspending on fancy clothes and cars.

We asked several successful people what money advice they wish they had been given in their 20s and drew insight from LinkedIn's "If I Were 22" series, in which top minds share what they wish they had known at 22.

Click HERE to see what they had to say:
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 Here are additional articles related to Business Leadership you may enjoy: 
Industry Hot Topic: (TRID) 
TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosures
PART VIII

"Yes, TRID spelled backwards is DIRT, and the industry is covered in it." ~ Rob Chrisman, Mortgage Industry Blogger

Redefining When The Mortgage Process Starts
It's not what you think
by Mark McElroy for Housingwire

If you ask mortgage professionals when the mortgage process starts, their answer is likely to be, "When the consumer fills out the 1003 application." That is incorrect.

The mortgage process really begins when a consumer decides to buy a home, and lenders aren't the only ones guilty of taking an insular view of their role in the home-buying process. Each player on the business side of the transaction - the lender, the real estate agent and the title company - view their responsibilities as being separate, yet related activities.

With the changes the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) is going to bring not only to the mortgage lending process, but to the entire real estate process, it is more critical than ever for all these parties to start viewing themselves as part of a larger home-buying ecosystem. 

Collaboration and communication are going to be the keys to ensure a positive closing experience for consumers, post-TRID. Click HERE to read more.

MBA Launces Know Before You Owe for Homebuyers and Mortgage Lenders
by Trey Garrison for Housingwire

"MBA has worked closely with the CFPB to create these materials so that both consumers and the real estate community can comply with the new procedures in an efficient and smooth process," said MBA President and CEO David Stevens.

The resources are comprised of several documents designed to assist consumers and the broader real estate community in plain, easy-to-understand language. They include:
  • Consumer One-Pager - Targeted for consumers and covering the changes of Know Before You Owe; 
  • Lender One-Pager - Targeted for real estate agents and broker partners, also covering the changes brought by Know Before You Owe; 
  • PowerPoint Slide Deck - Targeted for real estate agents and broker partners to use in presentations with colleagues.
To view and download any of these documents from MBA's website, click HERE.



Check out this "TRID Tips for Real Estate Agents" Flyer to help avoid delays on your closings after October 3, 2015.
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As you continue to move through the learning curve with these new rules and forms, Virginia Title Center is here to assist you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our Agency Manager, Bobby Fothergill (1.800.468.5811 or bfothergill@virginiatitlecenter.com).
 
Please reference TRID materials available on the Virginia Title Center website: TRID Training, Reference and Forms Manuals are available for download HERE.

Together We're Prepared!
7 Marketing Programs Every Community Bank Needs
by Kevin Tynan, SVP/Marketing at Liberty Bank for Savings

... Occasionally, it's a good idea to step back and ask, "Do I have the basics covered? Have I built a strong, efficient foundation addressing the bank's core marketing needs?" It's easy to get dazzled and distracted with new mobile banking features, sexy social media initiatives or the latest customer trend, but it's important to make sure you've got the core strategic marketing fundamentals in place before pursuing more adventurous tangents.

Here are seven programs that will help you align priorities, improve cost-efficiency and optimize performance.

1. Cross-Selling/Marketing5. Community Engagement
2. Onboarding6. Social Media Marketing
3. Offboarding7. Content Marketing
4. Referrals


A Few Words About Implementation
Focus on your marketing priorities and avoid the crisis-a-day treadmill. Don't strive for perfection - it slows execution; put every program in place then gradually improve each. Ignore big bank strategies, high-tech mobile features and fintech competitors that aren't relevant in your universe. Keep your eye on the goal, and focus on these seven programs. Remember, the backbone of community banking is cultivating relationships,not selling products. Leave the high-tech, mass marketing approach to those big, impersonal institutions. Click HERE to read the entire article.
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Here are additional articles about Community Bank Strategies you may enjoy:
Do You Have Fans Like This?
by Brian Sacks
 
Ever wonder how some loan officers manage to do 15 to 20 loans per month consistently, while others struggle to get five per month? We always hear that real estate agents are not loyal and are horrible to work with.

Of course there is "some" truth to that, but I would suggest that it has more to do with the way we perceive them and the way they see us. Let me tell you a story about one of the ways I was able to quickly grow my own production.

If you are frustrated by closed offices and tired of begging and scratching for deals, then pay attention because this small shift in how you approach real estate agents will produce big results ... quickly. Click HERE to read Brian's story.

Growing Your [Mortgage] Business in an Unpredictable Environment
by Keith Bilodeau

Over the last eight years, the mortgage industry has dealt with unprecedented regulatory changes. Each company, whether a retail origination lender or broker, wholesaler or correspondent, has separate needs necessary to move the rules from review to implementation.

So, how does a mortgage lender grow its business while adjusting to these regulatory changes? 

Do your homework:
1. Become educated.4. Leverage the knowledge of your vendors
2. Leverage your inside operations staff.5. Review your vendor contracts.
3. Communicate with your key vendors early.
6. Select your vendors carefully.

Click HERE to read Keith's entire article.

6 Ways To Make Meetings More Productive
by Matthew Held, Co-Founder at Manawa Networks

Picture this. You are sitting in a meeting. By the end, you leave shaking your head wondering, "What just happened?" and "What went wrong?" How could something with good intentions turn out to be a complete waste of time? You and the entire group leave frustrated because this is the first of many meetings throughout the week.

According to Industry Week, a survey of 2000 managers said at least 30 per cent of their time spent in meetings, was a waste of time. Have we lost touch with the purpose of a meeting? Companies that get things done find creative ways to make meetings more productive.

Here are 6 strategies your company can use to get more done:
1. Set a clear agenda with a purpose.4. Set a meeting timer.
2. Assign a note-taker for handwritten notes.5. Check computers and phones at the door.
3. Schedule 15-minute meetings.6. Have a standing meeting.

Click HERE to learn the details of these strategies to help increase the productivity of your meetings.
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Here are additional articles related to the Workplace you may enjoy: 
3 Scenarios Where It's Crucial to Possess an Owner's Title Insurance Policy
It's protection for all kinds of situations you might not think could happen to your buyer
by Wade Vander Molen for Inman

Takeaways:
  • What many people don't understand - or it's sometimes explained improperly to them - is title insurance is a one-time fee that protects homeowners.
  • Title insurance protects or indemnifies a home or property purchaser against any loss resulting from title defects, whether these defects are known or unknown at the time of the sale or refinance.
  • For many people, the greatest asset they own is their home, so protecting the home and themselves should be their list of priorities.
A few examples - taken from real cases - of why you should buy a homeowner's title insurance policy:
  1. You receive a late notice in the mail for a loan you do not have.
  2. You try to refinance or sell your house and find out that your seller's loan is still recorded against your property.
  3. Someone knocks on your door and says she is the wife of the seller who sold you the house, and she wants to know why you are in her house?
What do you do? If you have owner's title insurance, you immediately file a claim. If you do not have owner's title insurance, you will need to hire a lawyer. Click HERE to read more details.

In our industry, it's best to educate all parties on title insurance, what it does, and how it protects both sellers and purchasers. When purchasing or refinancing your largest asset (your home), it's critical to protect it as much as you can.

We're About To Reach the Halfway Point of Recovery, But What's Next?
by David Mele, Homes.com President

The long-awaited housing price rebound is arriving. After eight years, more and more real estate markets are reaching or exceeding the prices they achieved at the peak of the housing boom in 2007.

As of June 2015, a total of 142 markets, or 47% of the top 300, have achieved full pricing recovery. Among the top 100 markets, southern markets continue to dominate the recovery with 23 markets, while the Midwest ranks in second with 11 markets. Read on...
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Here are additional articles related to Realtors® and Real Estate Trends you may enjoy:
Top 4 Performance Stats That will BLOW Your Mind

In [the world of banking], we see a lot of processes and benchmark a lot of data. Here are four statistics that will blow your mind:
  • 75% of time spent with new customers involves computer input versus building relationships through a conversation.
  • More than 50% of banks still originate commercial loans manually.
  • 60% of financial institutions still use a paper-based new accounts process.
  • Over 70% of statements are still being mailed.
Why? Let's dig into the details for a minute and research the causes and solutions for each of these. Click HERE to learn more.
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Here are additional thought-provoking Banking Related articles you may enjoy:

 

**Remember to offer your borrowers Owner's Coverage on their most valuable investment. It's a one time premium with a lifetime of security. In addition, they will receive a reduced premium rate when they obtain it simultaneously with your Lender's Coverage.**

WANTED: YOUR FEEDBACK
What Topics Are On Your Mind?

Virginia Title Center wants to provide you with pertinent information in future E-Blasts and Webinars. What questions are on your mind regarding the real estate and mortgage lending industry? What topics would you like addressed in future E-blasts? Send Patti your thoughts.
Past issues of the Virginia Title Center E-News are archived on our website HERE
Patti L. Dickerson                                      

Give us a call and let us know how we can better serve you and your team!

Director of Marketing & Communications
Virginia Title Center, LLC
Integrity. Security. Excellence.

 

Virginia Title Center is committed to serve you with unmatched expertise, exceptional customer service and a comprehensive selection of title and settlement solutions to help you grow and succeed. 

 

 Our professionalism, technical knowledge and experience provide security as we insure protection for your most valued investment.