I was going to take the easy way out and just post a link this week, but then thought better of it. I realized how lucky I was to be employed at a job I enjoy, in a market that was not the pits, among people that have some of the best work ethics I’ve ever witnessed. And being a farmer’s daughter, I’ve seen some pretty good efforts.

I watch you, my friends and colleagues, show up early, work late and weekends. Go out of your way to be kind and generous (with both your time and money) just to make sure folks get in the home they love. That of course, in turn, makes you successful, some might even say lucky. I say you’re determined. Determined to do your best and be your best.

The realtors have had to find creative ways to connect with a public that is more elusive every day. You put yourself out there on FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Twillow, ActiveRain and heaven only knows what others. You’ve learned to be faster, smarter and more knowledgeable than ever. The lenders have had to endure more rule changes, mortgage mergers and underwriting snags than ever before in your industry. Yet, every day, I see a smile, hear a kind word or a suggestion of another program that might get that young couple into a home. Or a better way for the fella to get his home sold so he can take that new job he just got….that’s somewhere else. Or sell her the perfect home, in a great neighborhood that she had no idea was there because she just got transferred here from out of state.

The changes we’ve seen since Hurricane Katrina, and the boom that followed, I think lulled us into a momentary sense of plenty. It may seem like hell now, in comparison, but remember….

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” - Winston Churchill

We’ll eventually come out the other side and most will be the better for it.

Louisiana is gaining ground on many fronts and our area is gaining more than most. We have plant expansions, NuCor, port expansion and more construction than we’ve seen in a while. Keep up the great work my friends and great success will follow. Aren’t we “lucky”??

Mitzi Anthony is the Marketing Rep for Choice Title LLC, you can respond here, or contact her directly mitzi@choicetitle.com  

 http://twitter.com/choicetitle

 Her weekly Blog can be found here.

(a)    No seller of property that will be purchased with the assistance of a federally related mortgage loan shall require directly or indirectly, as a condition to selling the property, that title insurance covering the property be purchased by the buyer from any particular title company.

(b)    Any seller who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be liable to the buyer in an amount equal to three times all charges made for such title insurance.

Now ask any realtor, banker, or  asset manager and this is not the way the REO market has been run. In fact it was the complete opposite, statements like “seller to choose closing attorney”, or “title company seller’s preference” is not only the norm but expected. The original idea was that systems and tools could be put in place to handle large volumes of closings. RESPA obviously saw some risk for corruption, or at the very least, dealings that may not serve the consumer.

The Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) must have finally heard this loud and clear because they have now made a dramatic change to their REO addendum on Section 2B, page 1 line 4 to state, “The closing shall be held at a place so designated and approved by the Purchaser.”  I would imagine we will start to see many banks follow FNMA’s lead in the future.  We’ll see…

For more information on REO Properties go to our Closing 101 section or contact Gareth.