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 Doug Covill  Monday, December 12th, 2011  Five goals – some specific, some far-reaching – have guided the leaders and staff of SAR this year as we all work to serve you, our Members. As you read through this brief review, you will see that we have accomplished a lot this year.
- Improve Communications
- Develop a Green Program
- Establish a 501 (c) 3 Foundation
- Increase Diversity in Participation and in the Leadership
- Continue Focusing on SAR as a Progressive, Evolving Organization
SAR’s new charitable foundation will be fully up and running in 2012. Kathy Fox led the task force and Charlene Singley now chairs the Foundation board. Kathy continues to serve as vice-chair.
SAR continues to be recognized for its charitable contributions. Allison Couchman and Jenifer Miller led the Community Outreach Committee. With fewer dollars to distribute, committee members shifted their efforts to developing relationships with the charities SAR Members support. Watch this newsletter every month to learn about the charities and how you can volunteer.
The CanTree Committee under Ilah Turner and Bobby Campbell put on the Crab Fest and Sip & Support and has just finished building two Can Trees. Twenty nine years and going strong! Thanks to their efforts, SAR has given more than $2 million to the Salvation Army.
Led by Sandi Burden-Bradley and Ted Williams, the Equal Opportunity Committee organized a highly successful Multi Chamber Mixer, with the numerous ethnic chambers of commerce in the Sacramento area. They also worked on strengthening our relationship with the Asian Real Estate Association of American, Realtists and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals.
Continue reading: President’s Perspective – December 2011
Scott Short Thursday, December 9th, 2010
 All I can say is WOW! This year has not been boring. Game changing events happened almost every month.
We started out the year with total confusion in the mortgage industry due to the new Good Faith Estimate (aka: GFE 2010). It took most mortgage professionals at least a month or two to understand the new form and the impact it would have on the consumers and themselves.
Consumers received overinflated GFEs to protect the loan officer from underdisclosing everyone’s fees in the transaction. If certain fees were underdisclosed, the loan officer would have to pay for it out of his/her pocket. One of the mysteries with the new GFE 2010 is that there is no place on the GFE 2010 to sign. There is a separate form for signatures. Now where is the consumer benefit from this change?
While struggling with the new GFE 2010, HUD/FHA released a waiver that they will allow “less than 90-day flips” to be financed with FHA loans (another program with a ton of misinterpretation).
Oh, did I forget to mention that HUD/FHA decided January 1, 2010 to adopt HVCC (Home Value Code of Conduct) practices for all their FHA loans. The industry thought HUD would have seen the “train wreck” Fannie and Freddie created with HVCC and steered away. But in the spirit of follow the leader, HUD jumped in with both feet. Can you say complexity, when you have HUD’s version of HVCC and the new appraisal requirements for the “less than 90-day flips?” This is just another reason the industry slowed down even more at the beginning of the year.
Continue reading: Real Estate Finance Forum – The Year in Review
Janelle Fallan Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Mortgage banker Rob Chrisman, San Rafael, spoke to the Real Estate Finance Forum on Dec. 2 on the current state of capital markets.
Mr. Chrisman writes a daily on-line column on the mortgage business at robchrisman.com.
He discussed the current uncertainty in how mortgage originators are compensated. New federal regulations (Dodd-Frank act) will take effect April 1, 2011. In the meantime, many of the larger banks are also issuing their own rules. He expects “lots of rumors and innuendo” until all the rules are in place.
He credits mortgage brokers as “intelligent and nimble.” “You’ll figure out a way to do a loan” because the mortgage brokers who are still in the business are there because they like helping people.
“People with other motives,” such as those who came to mortgage origination just because it was a job, are gone.
Relationships have become much more important in mortgage origination, Mr. Chrisman said. “Your clients like using you. (Lending) is much more of a team effort.”
Continue reading: Mortgage Banker Rob Chrisman Speaks at the SAR Real Estate Finance Forum
Scott Short Friday, January 8th, 2010
I want to start out by saying a “Big Thank You” to Jim Hanson for running the Real Estate Finance Forum for the past two years. Jim has created great momentum for the forum and I am thankful.
For those who don’t know me, I am Scott Short with First Priority Financial. I have been a mortgage broker for 20 years now. I am married (wife Sandra) and have a son (Cesar – nine years old) and my daughter (Jazmin – four years old). I started in the mortgage industry in early 1990, fresh out of graduate school. (Masters degree in Finance)
My goal for the Real Estate Finance Forum is to continue the momentum that Jim Hanson has created over the past two years. (And the prior Chairpersons’ efforts, too.)
As we all know, our industry is under constant challenge/scrutiny from politicians, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA, the media and consumers in general. One thing we can all agree on is to learn from our past to prepare for our future. The Real Estate Finance Forum is one place that helps you be prepared for any changes that could affect your business.
One reason the Real Estate Finance Forum is so successful is: Synergy. This is a word and a business practice we all embrace. Together we can weather the storm; individually we could be picked off. This is another reason for the forum and your attendance.
Continue reading: About the Market – Happy New Year!
Charlene Singley Friday, December 11th, 2009
 2009 SAR President - Charlene Singley They say time flies, and boy, does it! This year has gone so very quickly, and quite successfully too, I might add. The credit for any success has to be given to the nearly 200 individuals who volunteered during the year in so many ways.
When I asked how many individual people serve in one or more capacities, I was astounded when I was told it is nearly 200 people. And, in most cases, they don’t serve on only one committee. The generosity of spirit and time is truly inspiring.
First of all, I am the first to acknowledge that nothing in this association gets done without the absolute best staff in the entire state! The reason I always praise Nelson Janes at meetings is just because he does such an excellent job. He is the reason SAR maintains an even keel year after year. His leadership enables the association to hire and maintain such a high-quality staff. Each and every one works tirelessly on your behalf and I appreciate so very much everything they do for all of us.
The Education Committee stepped up the pace this year with many classes covering the hot button issues. The new Lunch & Learn classes have been extremely successful. Jeff Jurach and Denise Ross-Francom, the Chair and Vice-chair, and their committee members have done an excellent job.
Continue reading: PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE – Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
Jim Hanson Monday, December 7th, 2009
 Jim Hanson - 2009 Real Estate Finance Forum Chair 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.
Continue reading: About the Market – December 2009
Janelle Fallan Friday, November 6th, 2009
Recruiting is busier than ever in “a harbinger of things to come,” Barbara Hayes, executive director of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO) told the Real Estate Finance Forum on November 5.
SACTO’s role is to market the 6-county region to the rest of the world, Ms. Hayes explained. Half its inquiries, from businesses considering locating in the Sacramento region, are related to green tech and clean energy.
California is on the cutting edge for these businesses, many of them overseas. European governments are underwriting clean energy and green technology and they want to be in Sacramento. SACTO works with every local government in the region.
Continue reading: Barbara Hayes, SACTO, addresses Real Estate Finance Forum
Greg Wilson Monday, August 10th, 2009
The mortgage and home valuation arena is in flux still as folks continue to discover the negative impacts of the recently enacted Home Valuation Code of Conduct amid tighter lending guidelines. Some of the unintended consequences of the HVCC are longer turn times for appraisals and suspect valuations from appraisers not familiar with local [...]
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