TheMReport — News and strategies for the evolving mortgage marketplace.
Issue link: http://digital.themreport.com/i/134983
social life M // What communication and leadership methods are you utilizing to help your team and your clients remain forward-thinking while operating in an unpredictable marketplace? Rund // As the company president, I am committed to making sure our clients, staff, and vendors are focused on industry changes. Being proactively involved in industry organizations permits me to have open and candid dialogue on current events that impact us all. Being involved also permits me to listen and learn on what others are saying so I may consider change, if change is needed. I never undervalue the art of listening and how listening can enhance a person's ability to grow. I am committed to attending industry conferences to gain further understanding of current issues and trends. When I do attend industry conferences, I make it my goal when I return to my office to write summary notes of what I have learned and share that information with my staff, clients, and vendors. If I do not understand something, I make it a personal effort to research the information I am seeking to enhance my knowledge of a specific topic. Social media is another medium I find beneficial if used in the right manner. Asset Valuation & Marketing has increased our use of, and exposure to, social media. By utilizing social media, we have been able to informally gain more exposure within the industry, grow our contact base, and engage in informal discussions around ways to improve and enhance our business approach and industry knowledge. I firmly believe a strong leader is a person who embodies the willingness to learn, reach out to others for direction and advice, and share what information is obtained. Having the fortitude to communicate effectively and to listen and learn each and every day makes the difference between an effective leader versus an individual who has not reached their fullest potential. Hashing It Out Industry insiders, professionals, and followers weighed in this month by posting their thoughts and insights to our weekly Twitter chat. Join the conversation every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. CST #themreport. What are your thoughts about Obama's replacement for DeMarco? Tweet: @JonTFish: "Strongly oppose. DeMarco won't cut outstanding debt that people borrowed, so he's the bad guy?" Tweet: @AGSchneiderman: "Pres. Obama should use his authority to replace Ed DeMarco w/ new acting director who will put FHFA back on side of working families today." What do you guys think about the government extending HARP for two years? Tweet: @eLynx_Buzz: "From consumer perspective, great that more folks can benefit from the lower interest rates. Lender guidance & education key." Question: @Bandanowitz: "With mortgage rates still falling, are there still high inventories left? If so, how will you convince consumers that is true?" Tweet: @eddelgado: "Convincing consumers will continue to take a concerted effort from all facets of the industry." TRENDING These stories were the most popular on all of the MReport social media channels. See what people posted, tweeted, and shared with others. The Story: Despite Slower Home Sales, Mortgage Demand Is Rising The Scoop: The decline in home sales in March piqued the interest of readers on social media. With all of the positive buzz around home prices increasing, there's been an undercurrent of people who fear that another bubble may be forming. Krista Franks Brock takes a look at what the latest news really means to housing prices. The Story: Philadelphia Developer Launches Home Tour Video Site The Scoop: A new online service that helps real estate professionals deliver quality property video tours to potential buyers caught the eye of TheMReport.com readers on social media last month. Tory Barringer showcased the company HomeJab.com, which helps the videos go viral, making it another tool in the real estate professional's toolkit. The Story: What's Up (or Down) with Housing? The Scoop: Mark Lieberman examines the ups and downs of the recovery in this piece, which generated a great deal of traffic on social media. Recent data showed that in the eyes of builders, consumers were doing less window-shopping. One cause is the changing demographics in the marketplace, coupled with tightening credit restrictions. The M Report | 15