Gene's Bit of Blogging
Businesses
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Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender: Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2012 8:48 AM
Village of Plainfield, IL Offers
a New Program to its Residents
and Businesses That Helps
Save Money and Conserve Energy
Lucky you!
Why? Because the Village of Plainfield, IL has begun an energy-savings initiative that partners them with CUB Energy Saver ... our nation's first website that tracks utility company ComEd's billing savings. And who doesn't LOVE to save money??
It's FREE to sign-up! CUB Energy Saver links directly to your ComEd bill and then makes personalized money-saving suggestions that will help take a big bite out of your utility usage and ComEd bills.
Residents then begin to earn 2 "points" for every kilowatt-hour of electricity they save. Points can then be redeemed for discounts in local AND nationally-located stores. Savings on top of savings!
Here's a small example of those stores that are currently involved in this program:
If you own/run a business that is interested in participating in this growing energy savings program ... and want to reward your clients for their smart energy-savings decisions with discounts, please go to:
to learn more.
This new CUB Energy Saver program joins a list of
sustainability programs and initiatives offered through the Village of
Plainfield, IL. Plainfield also offers
an annual Rain Barrel sales program, as well as promoting native landscaping
within the Village boundaries.
 The Village of
Plainfield, IL has also been named a "Tree City" through the Arbor Day Foundation ... and is continuing
its strides to enhance the Village's green networks by preserving village land in a
natural state and linking the Village's green areas, a Beautification Program, and more.
For further information or assistance regarding the Village of Plainfield, IL, the CUB Energy Saver program, or other Village services, please visit their informative website at:
* Hoping to buy or refinance a home within the Village of Plainfield, IL ... Chicago, Chicagoland, or elsewhere across the U.S.? Just like the CUB Energy Saver Program, I can save you real money when obtaining your mortgage financing. Contact me today to get started! I can be found at any of the following:
Direct: 815.277.4036
Cell/Text: 708.921.6331
Conveniently thru Skype: 630.219.1316 |
Businesses, Will County, Village and Police Services, Money-saving Strategies, Community Services, Plainfield, IL, Home Ownership, Cost of Living and Bills, energy saving initiatives, utility bills
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Gene Mundt, Sr. Vice President - Chicago Bancorp: Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 6:56 PM
Things That Make You Go ... HUH??
If you're in real estate or mortgage lending ... or almost any business these days, you do. To some extent and in some manner.
And if you've been doing the social media "thing" and Email blasts for awhile, you've probably accumulated quite a following. Exactly what we're ALL after. Loyal followers. Relationships. Business contacts and Business itself!
But something I've been noticing fairly often, as of late ... is the messages ... the information sent, the link, the "blast", the comment to a blog ... that are sent to me, many times do NOT pertain to me personally. Even when I know the person or have conducted business with them for quite awhile.
I especially see this, when I'm a member in a minority on some social media site. What do I mean by Minority?? Well, I'm a Mortgage Lender contributing within some overwhelmingly predominant real estate Agent sites. And the assumption for many that comment to me, is that I must ... MOST ASSUREDLY ... be another realtor. Part of the majority brethren.
Nope! Take a look ... I've made sure it says Gene Mundt, Mortgage Lender pretty much everywhere you find me ... in fairly obvious and noticeable places. The heading of my blog, my profile on every social site, under my name in comments, on my personal pages. I plaster it everywhere I can. I'm shameless ... and also proud of what I do.
I get emails that make me feel invisible or un-memorable also. From other Lenders! Asking for my mortgage business. Asking if they can assist me. Nope! Sorry. Ain't gonna happen.
And when I receive these comments, emails, marketing pieces ... I often wonder. When did the sender lose control of their social media? At what point did they cross-over from the personal .. into the non-personal?? When did they get in such a hurry that they ceased taking the care they should with their social media or emails? And is it because they now choose to have someone else do their social media for them? Someone not as familiar or well-versed with their database(s) or willing to take the time to make sure that these little "oops" don't happen??
Call me old-fashioned, but I'm still doing this all myself. Okay, Okay! I'll cop to it. I do it with a bit of help from my right-arm, my wife. But I definitely give it a good stab ... and everthing's definitely All Mundt ... ALL the time! I'm still seeing to the details. It's not to say that I don't make any mistakes ... because I do.
But ...
Should you and I have any kind of personal or business relationship ... or should you have done business with me or asked to be on a particular database of mine ...
I'm hoping that I refer to you as I should, if you're my client or a personal friend. That I refer to you as an agent, should you be an agent. Or at least correctly and pertaining to whatever your chosen profession is. I'm hoping that I always ask you pertinent questions, send you information, etc. ... in regards to YOUR chosen professional services, YOUR blogs, YOUR background, YOUR specific needs and requests.
And I most certainly hope that I'm not haphazardly sending my mortgage lending marketing to you if your another mortgage lender ... seeking YOUR personal mortgage business. Afterall, because of our prior relationship or business conducted, I should know better ... right??
Those would all be things that just make me go ... huh???
* If you're looking for amortgage lender that will still deliver you old-fashioned, personalized mortgage service ... please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you ... and having the opportunity to earn your trust and mortgage business. Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331 Skype: 630.219.1316 You can Access my Website Via Mobile Now!!
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Gene Mundt, Sr. Vice President - Chicago Bancorp: Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:09 AM
Twinkies .. Ding Dongs .. Ho-Ho's in Bankruptcy! Say it ain't so ...
What a perfectly horrid way for me, a known "sweet-a-holic" to start the day ...
Can sweat-inducing fear get any more close, real, or personal than that???
Yep, it's true folks. Twinkies ... a favorite from your childhood ... the cute, puffy little cake-like sweet with a creme-filled middle ... that rumor has it could survive a nuclear blast ... that's been produced for over 80 years ... could not survive the current recession.
Hostess, the maker of these sweet treats, blames their demise on many things. Some of which are competition (are you kidding me??? Twinkies have no competition!) and rising labor costs and issues. Now the labor issues I believe and understand!
Do not fear, however. Baking and distribution of your favorite guilty pleasures will not cease. A group of lenders has come together to save the day.
So see? We lenders are not ALL bad ... We saved Twinkies!!
And Who could possibly imagine a world without Twinkies??
* If I can assist you with your personal credit, financial, or mortgage concerns and fears ... please ... do not hesitate to contact me. My 35 years of mortgage lending experience and expertise will calm you and guide you through whatever concerns you have or on to a successful mortgage transaction. I can be contacted through any of the following means: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331 Skype: 630.219.1316 |
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Howard & Susan Meyers, The Hudson Company - Winnetka, IL - Guest Blogger: Posted on Wednesday, December 07, 2011 9:54 AM
We’d Like to “Add Value” in Certain Areas ...
But We Can’t
The
way that we try to differentiate ourselves from other agents to our
buying clients is to provide “added value” to their total transaction
process. We do this is many ways including but not limited to:
- Our
knowledge of the current inventory in the Winnetka, Wilmette,
Northfield, Glencoe, Kenilworth and other North Shore markets;
- The history of transaction in these areas;
- Our ability to assist you in negotiating the best possible price and other terms for your purchase;
- Our ability to “flush out” properties that are not currently on the market but may be available to our buyers; and
- Our knowledge of the characteristics, nuances, services and other subtle characteristics of the areas we serve.
(photo courtesy of HEADOVMETAL)
This last point is the most difficult one due to the vagueness of the interpretation of The Federal Fair Housing Laws ...
These
rules were put in place to guarantee that “protected classes” (race,
color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap) were not discriminated against in regard to access to renting or purchasing housing anywhere in America.
As
a result, we cannot discuss or provide answers to any of your questions
relating to relative quality of particular schools, religious or ethnic
make-up of communities, age demographics of neighborhoods (i.e. “there
are lots of elementary school age children on this block” or “many
seniors live here”) and proximity to houses of worship. The concern is that we could be “steering” some protected classes to or away from certain locations.
Many
buyers find it very frustrating that we cannot share our personal
opinions on these questions. We understand your frustration, but our
hands are tied by Federal law on these issues. Often clients tell us
that their former agent or the agent they spoke to at an open house
freely discussed these issues, so why can’t we?
What we can do is be the “source of the source”. We can direct you to specific websites that discuss test scores, demographic
data, information about specific towns or neighborhoods and other
non-biased sites.
We can suggest that you talk to school principals and other administrators, ask to sit in on
classrooms in local schools, knock on neighbor’s doors, talk to village
officials, visit local merchants, we can introduce you to community
residents and take you on a driving or walking tour of neighborhoods.
We want to help you make sure that you are buying the right house in the right location with the most favorable terms.
We will do everything in our power to help you reach this goal.....while still obeying Federal Fair Housing Laws.
The Hudson Company 851 Spruce Street Winnetka, Illinois 60093 847.778.1394
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Buying a Home, Real Estate, Real Estate Advice, Businesses, Agents and Brokers, Conducting Business, Communication, Education, Seeking Advice, Working with a Real Estate Professional, Real Estate Professionals, Professional Service, home buying
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Gene Mundt, Sr. Vice President - Chicago Bancorp: Posted on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 9:06 PM
These questions have been asked of me quite often lately ...
Are mortgage funds drying up??
Can buyers even get mortgage monies if they're approved for a mortgage?
Before I go any further ... the simple answer is YES!
Mortgage funds are available!
But the longer, more advanced detailed version of that answer possibly has an asterik after it. There's a bit more to the story, as usual.
Kim McMahon of Executive Realty Group (northern Chicagoland region) was one of those that asked me this question recently. Kim was hearing rumblings of mortgage monies drying-up or becoming increasingly hard to come by. For a real estate agent like Kim that works with commercial buyers and investors, my response could not be the more simplified, shortened version of an answer.
My answer to Kim McMahon, while still somewhat positive regarding the availability of funds for her clients, included clarification about WHERE to look for those much-needed funds, WHICH mortgage providers were most likely to still be looking to actively lend, and WHAT properties they would most likely lend on.
The bottom-line in any lending (especially in the current market) is risk factor. The mortgage provider has to ask themselves, "What is the likelihood of this individual or business defaulting on the Subject Property we arre lending on"?
For banks that consider funding commercial loans, the answer to that question finds them presently limiting the number of loans they are willing to offer or consider. Commercial or investment loans have historically been found to have a higher risk factor. Meaning, the likelihood of the buyer walking away from the loan or defaulting is higher.
Larger banks, even with the interest rates being so very low on the money they borrow ... are not seeing a large enough of a difference (margin, or spread) between their overall "cost of money" and the rates that they are lending out to mortgage clients. They don't want to take on what they see as an increased risk to their money. They simply don't see enough profit in it to take that risk.
And, the same lending rule-of-thumb is utilized for residential lending. When credit scores and past credit history of a potential residential client indicate that the risk of lending to them is too high or borderline, the larger banks are presently determining that they will not lend monies. Lending at these larger banks is occurring either on a less-frequent basis, under extremely tight restrictions, or not at all.
Right now, much of the media is reporting that resources of money have dried-up ... or at minimum, slowed to a trickle. And that reporting is just not entirely true. Yes, the larger banks have tightened their lending and have become much more restrictive with funds. But for smaller, more local lenders this may not be the case.
In fact, as I reported to Kim McMahon ... and I report here ... my company, Chicago Bancorp is actively seeking opportunities to lend to home buyers and those refinancing. We are not alone. Funds for home buyers ARE available. The reports otherwise by media is simply not true.
 Mortgage lending and real estate is increasingly and largely micro-local, personalized, and individualized. The answer to questions regarding mortgages, mortgage funds availability, and housing must also be local in nature and fact.
To broadcast information or rumor otherwise is detrimental and hurts our housing industry even further, especially when that erroneous information keeps potential property buyers from entering the market.
I cannot stress this enough. At this writing, funds ARE available for mortgages and home buying. I, through Chicago Bancorp, have funds available and presently see no foreseeable future that those funds will dry up. Other lenders have funds available also. Buyers and referral partners need to be aware of this FACT. They also must be educated as to WHERE to look for those funds and to WHICH lender they can depend upon to service their needs. Again, I am such a mortgage lender.
My suggestion for buyers and referral partners alike is ...
Look beyond the big lenders for mortgage availability and your mortgage pre-qualifications. Look beyond the rumors. Look at smaller, more local mortgage lenders. Doing so might secure, not only the funds you need to buy a home or commercial property ... but also smooth and clear the path to property ownership while in mortgage processing.
* Should you be looking for answers to your mortgage lending questions, or in need of credit assistance or mortgage services, please contact me, Gene Mundt, Chicago Bancorp - Mortgage Lender . I look forward to assisting you with all your financial and mortgage needs. I can be contacted at: Direct: 815.277.4036 Cell/Text: 708.921.6331
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Buying a Home, Mortgage Lender, Mortgages, Real Estate, Businesses, Localism Posts, Gene Mundt's Client Services, First-Time HomeBuyers, Choosing a Mortgage Lender, Communication, Seeking Advice, Commercial Loans and Properties
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