About the Market - December 2009

This is my 24th and final article as the Chair of the Real Estate Finance Forum. What a blessing it has been to serve this Association and you, its Members. I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to all my faithful readers. It has been a blast. I have learned so much and this position has helped me grow as a person and as a mortgage originator. Serving on the Board has taught me many valuable lessons as well. I will miss embarrassing myself every month at the Main Meeting giving the financial update. I have done my very best to bring value in every aspect of this position.

I would like to leave you with one important reminder. I wrote about this back in 2008 and believe it to be the single most important topic I covered. Education. You have to stay informed. The massive changes in the mortgage industry are a great example. I noted many changes in our industry over the last two years, some good and some not so good. SAR and the Housing Opportunities Committee have done an outstanding job offering forums that are designed to educate us on the changes taking place in front of our eyes. We must be proactive in staying ahead of the curve. Use change to grow. Use change to make change. Use change to fight changes you do not agree with.

Economically speaking, we are in good shape for the moment. Rates are still low. Last time I looked, inflation was in check. Employment is a huge factor in our economic recovery and is very complicated. Government intervention in many areas of our economy is at an all time high. I am not sure how to respond to the decisions that are being made in Washington at this time. We can only hope our economy gets fired up and pulls us out of the struggles we are having.

Again, at this time of the year, I like to remind all not to slow down. Keep the pedal to the metal. Yes the holidays are here but we have to keep pushing forward. It is not a good idea to take a month off. Take time with family but stay focused.

Please join the next Real Estate Finance Forum and hear live updates from FHA, CalHFA, CalVet, VA, Fannie and Freddie, SHRA, CAMB, the appraisal and title industries and much more. There will be no meeting in January 2010. The next meeting is on February 4th 2010. The Real Estate Finance Forum meets regularly the first Thursday of every month at 9:00 A.M. in the SAR auditorium. Please contact me for suggestions at Comstock Mortgage, jhanson@comstockmortgage.com or you can call me at 916.226.6866.