What an amazing week at the Iowa Mortgage Association! For those of you who were able to attend the Spring Conference in Coralville, you had the opportunity to see four terrific speakers touching on topics ranging from following your passion, how to navigate our current lending environment, what to expect in the next few years and finding the positive in every situation. We also had the chance to celebrate the accomplishments of more than 200 loan originators who met the qualifications for the President’s Club and Winner’s Circle. Congratulations as well to the three loan officers who were top in their category — Felisha Junge (Top Credit Union Loan Originator), Jessica Greving (Top Mortgage Banker/Broker Loan Originator) and Gary Presnall (Top Bank Loan Originator). These three combined to close 1,897 loans in 2021 for $415,444,096 in volume. A special thanks to all the attendees, sponsors and exhibitors who made the conference possible.
The general consensus at the conference among speakers and attendees was that business will be tougher to get. For those who have been in the business 15 years or more, we have seen tough markets. For anyone who is newer to the business, this could be something you have never experienced. As I have stated in a prior message, the key to surviving (and even thriving) in a tougher market is to find a way to set yourself apart. If you are not sure where to start, I highly encourage you to register for the Mortgage Bootcamp on April 19 at the Iowa Bankers headquarters in Johnston. This is a tremendous training put together by the IMA's Tim Lamb and David Horak. It will not only show you ways to become more knowledgeable and efficient in your job, but you will be surrounded by industry veterans and peers who can help shape the direction you want your career to go. There is still time to register, and please encourage others to attend as well.
As we head into our busy season, may we all be blessed with higher temperatures and lower interest rates!
Chuck Simmons
Motto Mortgage
