Maximizing Mortgage Marketing in the New Year

There may be some hints that the mortgage industry is turning the corner as mortgage marketing companies reported an increase in advertising for loan companies in the fourth quarter of 2011. In addition, several MBA surveys pointed to more good news as loan professionals confirmed their belief that outlook for home financing is improving. Sure lending guidelines are still tight and the housing market continues to struggle with foreclosures and significantly deflated home values, but maybe we are at the low point for this crisis and thing actually will get better. Sure property values on the East and West coasts are still in the tank, but eventually people will start buying homes again and home loan guidelines will loosen. Loan companies that are serious about increasing conversions and originations are more committed to mortgage marketing than ever before.

Reduced Expenses as the Cost Per Lead is Lower

According to Lead Planet founder, Bryan Dornan, “If positive thinking can play a role in the recovery than 2012 and 2013 will be great years for loan origination nationally.” Dornan believes that so there has been such a significant correction in the mortgage industry that is will be easier for the lenders who are left to succeed. Although, Dornan cautioned that tighter guidelines have hindered reducing the mortgage marketing costs, because not as many loan applicants will qualify. The bottom line is that is takes more internet mortgage leads to qualify a borrower. Fortunately for loan companies the costs of mortgage leads has dipped slightly over the last few years.

Targeting Refinance Niches Will Be Critical for 2012

Don’t forget the Obama administration announced a revived HARP refinance program that actually lifts loan to value requirements for struggling borrowers looking to refinance their underwater liens. Of course you must have a mortgage owned by Fannie or Freddie and you must meet the credit requirements but no loan to value limitations could be a genuine opportunity for homeowners to lower their monthly payments from home refinancing. The question is though — how many of these upside-down borrowers already have a low interest rate? Since we have had home loan rates below 5% for almost 3 years, many of these “struggling homeowners’ already have a home loan with very good interest rates. Nonetheless, the new HARP mortgage will enhance loan origination in 2012 just how much remains to be seen. We have seen a significant spike in interest for HARP leads in the fourth quarter.

Mortgage Marketing Areas of Opportunity

Since we have been blessed with record breaking mortgage rates the last few years, most loan officers have continued to succeed with refinance leads.  That will continue if fixed 30-year mortgage rates remain in the 4% range and banks actually ease refinance requirements. The pool of qualified borrowers seemed to be shrinking last year, because so many homeowners had refinanced in the last few years. However, the mortgage refinancing mania will eventually lose its luster if there aren’t enough new home buyers getting loans. With that in mind, we strongly recommend buying purchase leads in 2012 because bargain home buying and low rates are the perfect cock-tail for successful new home loan origination. For smaller shops, we suggest assigning a few loan officers to develop your purchase business this year. Yes the loan origination takes more time, but the mortgage marketing costs are less than refinance leads and the referral rate is phenomenal when closing home purchase loans.

HARP Leads in High Demand

Our phone has been ringing off the hook with marketing managers looking for HARP leads as the US Government approved the Home Affordable Refinance 2.0. More and more loan companies have been requesting high loan to value refinance leads. In the last few years, lenders, brokers and loan officers have stayed away from no equity mortgage leads. It’s no secret that FHA leads have been in high demand and loan companies have been seeking loan to value filters at 96.5% on purchase and rate and refinance and 85% on cash out refinancing. However many lenders have been reported the problem of plummeting property values.

Find Out How HARP Leads Can Enhnace Your Loan Origination in 2012

In 2009 a program called the Home Affordable Refinance was rolled out to borrowers that had underwater mortgages owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.  These were considered 125% loans because they enabled this pool of borrowers to refinance up to twenty-five percent greater than their home’s appraised value. You would think the original HARP mortgage program would have been a huge success, but because of limited insurance available, most lenders passed on the program. Believe it or not the other problem was that 125% was not enough as millions of Americans were sinking in underwater homes.

The Home Affordable Refinance Program 2.0 has no loan to value restrictions so underwater homeowners who have been longing to refinance now have a new opportunity. The Lead Planet is one of the marketing leaders for HARP leads. We have been generating a high volume of home affordable refinance leads that can help jump-start your origination in 2012.

Call 888-271-9581 to learn more about HARP leads or to get started buying refinance leads

Higher FHA Loan Limits Will Help Loan Origination in 2012

The higher FHA loan amounts will no doubt help lenders and brokers increase their loan origination in 2012. President Obama signed the bill that extends higher loan limits for FHA.  Borrowers that need a FHA loan amounts up to $729,750 will be excited. FHA still only requires a 3.5% down payment even if you are a first time home buyer. The higher FHA loan limits will offer significant relief in high-cost areas of California; metropolitan Washington, D.C.; New York, New Jersey and scattered counties in other states including Massachusetts, Florida and North Carolina. The higher loan limits were not extended for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Most believe that the program called Home Affordable Refinance will help the borrowers trying to refinance a loan owned by Fannie or Freddie.

New Free Mortgage Lead Incentives for Purchase and Refinancing Leads

The Lead Planet is proud to announce an extension of our Free Mortgage Lead Promotion.  In an effort to help loan companies stimulate their origination in the new year, we have extended the offer for free mortgage leads until January 15th. With mortgage rates falling below 4% on fixed 30-year loans, it’s no surprise that refinance activity continues to rise.  Last week we saw a 12% rise in refinance leads.  Homeowners continue to go online to request help from lenders and brokers to lock into a record low interest rate.

The volume for purchase leads also rose last week as millions of first time home buyers appear ready to join the group of homeowners.  Many renters can save money when buying a home because with 4% home loan interest rates it is very possible to reduce housing expenses.

We are pleased to announce new incentives for new customers who are looking for quality internet mortgage leads from a credible source, like the Lead Planet. If you set up a new account with us buy mortgage leads between now and Januray 15^th, you can expect to save money and get more leads for your investment.  We are offering 50 free purchase leads with all 100 lead orders. In addition, we are offering 30 free leads for every 100 refinance leads purchased.

• Home Purchase Leads
• Refinancing Leads
• FHA Leads
• HARP Leads

Our company has been specializing in internet mortgage marketing since 1999 and we look forward to assisting with lenders and brokers by jump-starting their loan origination throughout the holidays.  National Sales Mgr., said in a recent phone interview, “This is a great opportunity for loan shops to stimulate their activity with our internet leads that convert.”  Call 888-271-9581 to learn more about new incentives or to get started.

LeadsOutlet Chooses the Lead Planet for Mortgage Marketing

Lead Planet, direct lead generation company that specializes in online mortgage marketing and real-time mortgage leads, announced today a strategic relationship with Leads Outlet, a mortgage lead facilitator that connects loan applicants with lenders across the United States.

After considering several lead generation companies, the LeadsOutlet chose the Lead Planet. According to a spokesman at the Leads Outlet, “After reviewing several proposals from several prominent lead aggregators, we picked the Lead Planet because of their significant market share in the natural search engine rankings. The bottom line is that consumers are finding the Lead Planet’s mortgage websites using the natural algorithm of Bing, Google and Yahoo at a high volume on a regular basis.” They have their mortgage lead generation system wired for optimal success.

The Lead Planet has the ability to refer us thousands of loan applicants daily seamlessly with premiere mortgage lenders that look to earn the borrower’s home financing business. 24 hours a day, loan applicants visit Lead Planet properties online and we are in a position to help the consumers improve their rates and loan terms because of our strong relationships with banks and lending companies nationally.  Consumers who search for popular home loan related terms on the search engines continue to be drawn to the Lead Planet and their contact rate continues to lead the nation as applicants are less harassed because the company does not sell their mortgage leads too many times like many of the competitive lead generation companies do.  If you are a lender or broker and you are interested in mortgage advertising solutions, then you can contact the Lead Planet directly at 888-271-9581

Mortgage Websites and SEO

For a lot of brokers and lenders setting up a mortgage website and hiring the SEO has been a thorn in their side.  The fact is that high percentage of loan companies getting burned on mortgage SEO.

What is Mortgage SEO?

Mortgage SEO is the process of programming your website so that the serach engines rank it high naturally. Sounds easy? SEO is a unique marketing skill that not many people have in the mortgage industry. Unfortunately like many doctors and lawyers, lenders get rolled by flaky web-designers and “wanna-be” SEO gurus that claim to be experts in the field of mortgage optimization.

Increase Traffic Naturally on the Search Engines with our Proven Mortgage SEO Strategies

- Professional Mortgage Website Design

- Enhance Company Reputation

- Get Ranked on the Major Search Engines

- Generate Exclusive Leads on Your Site

Mortgage SEO Solutions

Did you know that the Lead Planet has developed and optimized thousands of mortgage websites since 1999? Did you know that we continue to manage mortgage websites that are generating thousands of quality refinance and purchase leads?

The Lead Planet is widely considered an expert for internet mortgage marketing and lead generation. Our mortgage SEO team can help improve your website’s architecture, web-design, landing pages and much more.

Our SEO team will develop an online marketing strategy that will increase lead generation and conversion rates so you can close more loans each month. For a Free Mortgage SEO Evaluation, Call 888-271-9581.

Buying Home Loan Leads in California

The real estate market in California has really taken a beating in the past few years, but lenders continue to purchase California mortgage leads.  Wispers go up and down the coast that the purchase market is starting to show signs of real life. Many real estate experts are starting to see some area’s prices stabilizing. Many homeowners are looking for ways to refinance their loans to get their payments at a more manageable level. Some who do not currently own a home are looking for lenders willing to loan them money to buy their first home. This is why many are buying home loan leads in California. They are looking for people who need help with their homes and mortgages.

You will find it’s very difficult to refinance homes in the high cost areas of the Golden State, even though California mortgage rates have fallen to all-time lows. So many homes have mortgages on them that are higher than their current real estate value. Many homeowners are stuck in a house they no longer want. They do not have the ability to pay the difference between what they could actually sell their home for and the amount of their mortgage. Some are choosing to walk away and take a hit to their credit. For those staying, the ability to refinance offers them a way to bring their payments down to a reasonable amount. These situations open up opportunities for those into buying home loan leads in California.  The Lead Planet concurs that purchase leads are a hot commodity in 2011.

Get the Best California Mortgage Leads for Home Financing and Refinancing Online

You can get quality California mortgage leads. Many companies offer you a list of names and contact information that looks good on the surface. Then, you have your customer service people start making phone calls. They get a bunch of disconnected numbers and people saying they have no interest in mortgage information. Your leads turn into duds quickly. However, you will find quality leads are possible. You need a company that screens their mortgage leads carefully before making them available. Turn your experience of buying California mortgage leads from a negative to a positive.

Time means everything when buying California mortgage leads. You need a lead that is as fresh as possible. If even a few days pass between the points where a person requests information and the time your customer service representative call that person, their interests may have changed. If you can grab that information and get your person talking with the potential customer quickly, you stand a far better chance of closing the deal. If you want quality California leads, use your head.

Why Mortgage Leads in Less Popular States Have a Better Conversion Rate

Real estate prices in California and New York average the highest in the United States.  Mortgage lead buyers should realize that mortgage companies around the country are buying leads in popular states like California and New York.  These lead markets are very packed, so competition is high.  Buying leads in less popular states like Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania usually have a higher conversion rate than in the popular states because competition is less, and therefore reselling of the leads happens less often.  California mortgage leads can be picked over and resold many times.  There are still many lucrative Texas mortgage leads, but they are less popular and therefore offer a higher conversion rate.  Georgia mortgage leads are a bargain because there are many draws for people to move to the state but the leads have not become popular yet.

California mortgage leads versus Texas mortgage leads and Georgia mortgage leads can still bring great profits, but mortgage lead buyers should realize that mortgage companies around the country are buying leads in popular states like California and New York far more often. So, buying leads in less popular states like Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania usually have a higher conversion rate than in the popular states.  Nationwide mortgage companies can increase number of sales by targeting less popular states in their lead buying.

Because buying leads in less popular states like Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania usually have a higher conversion rate than in the popular states, you can save money because a higher percentage of purchased leads are making you money.  Mortgage lead buyers should realize that mortgage companies around the country are buying leads in popular states like California and New York, so New York and California mortgage leads will more often fail when compared to Texas mortgage leads and Georgia mortgage leads.

Mortgage lead buyers should realize that mortgage companies around the country are buying leads in popular states like California and New York from lead generation companies and lead brokers on the internet and who get leads through direct mail, TV, and radio.  Buying leads in less popular states like Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania usually have a higher conversion rate than in the popular states is improved even more by purchasing only from mortgage lead companies who generate their own leads and send them to you in real time.  California mortgage leads, Texas mortgage leads, and Pennsylvania mortgage leads are all easier to convert the quicker you get them.

US Credit Rating Downgraded but Mortgage Rates Fall

The first-ever cut in the US credit rating has initially caused the home loan rate to drop even slightly below last week’s lows. The US credit rating was lowered from an AAA rating to an AA+ with a negative outlook from the Standard and Poor Company. Unfortunately the long term outlook on the mortgage industry is that the down-graded credit rating will cause a jump in mortgage rates.

The Dow Jones industrials fell 634.76 points. It was the sixth worst point decline for the Dow in the last 112 years and the worst one-day drop since December 2008. Every stock in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index declined Monday.  Investors worried about the slowing U.S. economy, escalating debt problems threatening Europe and the prospect that fear in the markets would reinforce it, as it did during the financial crisis in the fall of 2008.

5 Ways to Compare Mortgage Lead Generation Companies

With profits margins shrinking for loan origination, it is imperative to buy internet mortgage leads with authority from trusted mortgage lead generation companies that have a proven track record. You need to connect with a mortgage lead company that understands your niches in addition to having the ability to supply you with the volumes and loan types you need. If you specialize in home loans for first-time home buyers, then make sure the companies you are considering provide purchase leads. Find out who has the best reputation for quality leads?  Compare lead companies for internet mortgage leads and usually it’s optimal to work with several good companies like the Lead Planet, Lending Tree, etc. Try and avoid spending your entire marketing budget with one company.

1. Ask your colleagues and mortgage professionals that you respect to uncover potential lead sources with verified reputations.  Sometimes you may find out who has the best reputation for quality leads through online reviews of internet mortgage leads, but consider the reviews with a grain of salt.  When you ask around, inquire about price (compare exclusive and non-exclusive prices), customer service, lead quality, and return policy.  Find out who has the best reputation for quality leads through experiences.

2.  Investigate mortgage marketing opportunities and shop lead companies.  Go to the website and ask about their lead generation process, the return policy, prices, and services.  As you shop lead companies, keep track of each one’s answers.

3.  One of the most important factors when you shop lead companies is to make sure you are working with a direct lead generator.  Avoid lead brokers who resell purchased leads.   A major factor in lead quality is the speed with which you follow up on the lead.  When you make sure you are working with a direct lead generator and avoid lead brokers, you are working right with the source of the leads.  See how fast they get the leads to you after you make sure you are working with a direct lead generator.  If you can follow a lead right away, you have less competition and are more likely to avert the potential clients from changing their minds.  Ask specific questions about lead generation to avoid lead brokers.  Make sure you are working with a direct lead generator, where leads are acquired through the internet, direct mail, TV, or radio.

4.  Verify how many time leads are sold and compare exclusive and non-exclusive prices.

Now that you know to avoid lead brokers, verify how many time leads are sold and compare exclusive and non-exclusive prices of the companies that are left on your list.  Leads can be exclusive, or sold only once.  When you verify how many time leads are sold, you can decide whether you want to pay for non-exclusive or exclusive mortgage leads.  The cost of non-exclusive leads can vary quite a bit, so it pays to verify how many time leads are sold that are labeled non-exclusive.  If a lead is generated online with integrity and sold 2 or 3 times then the chances are good for you to get a solid return on investment.  If the mortgage lead is sold four times or more, then you will likely have a lower application to funding ratio.

5.  Internet mortgage leads are often the most cost-effective and plentiful.  By choosing to work with good companies like the Lead Planet, Lending Tree, etc, you help ensure that you avoid fraudulent websites.  Work with good companies like the Lead Planet, Lending Tree, etc to get internet mortgage leads for a large market.  Choosing to work with experienced lead generation companies like the Lead Planet will enhance your marketing results because you will close more refinance and purchase loans cost-effectively. Scott Deal, the National Sales Mgr. at the Lead Planet said, “Buying quality leads with the right approach is critical for achieving results.” Deal recommends taking advantage of your account manager’s knowledge because you might get some fresh perspectives that increase loan sales without breaking the bank.