You know it seems crazy, but did you know that the value of some real estate in the New Orleans area that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina actually rose in value just days after the storm?!

That increased value was largely fueled by speculators originally, but eventually it was market supported because of the new potential, the new opportunity, that that barren landscape represented. Because in free economic markets potential means value, and that is why today is the perfect time to open a new mortgage company!

Ever read the Implode-a-Meter - or notice via any other media - how many mortgage companies no longer exist, that just two years ago represented a profitable ongoing business concern?! Today’s credit storm has brought Wall Street powerhouses to its knees and forced other sizable mortgage banks to be absorbed into commercial banking powerhouses. The landscape that once fed so many has so few remaining.

Yes, the rules have changed - priorities must be realigned and business practices refined - but as long as folks need to borrow money to buy homes or convert hard earned equity into cash - well, there will always be a loan business. And now with so many “mortgage guys” gone, there is so much opportunity - so much potential marketshare up for grabs. And we have already learned - potential means value!

By leveraging what you do better than everyone else - and enveloping that strength amongst leadership in licensing and compliance, targeted lead generation and purposeful and profitable supplier relationships you can only result in growth and profitability as the industry digests this trauma and the market drives forward from these depths.

I mean be prepared - learn more about the fundamentals to ensure that you are doing all you can to take advantage of this rare market timing - but it certainly sounds like you can actually get in on the ground floor - again!

And certainly, you must start with the client in mind - and fast! Know WHO you want to serve and know how to find them! Whether direct mail, internet, purchase leads or strategic corporate relationships - invest and develop processes to ensure you are connecting your targeted clients, with those that can assess their needs and deliver truly valuable solutions!

Remember, the quicker you can DISQUALIFY a candidate, the more efficient your time is spent! See, that way, you can spend your time on those potential clients that can really benefit from your services.

Remember though, there are many traps that have brought down some of the best - you have to know how to navigate both the legal, professional and effective means of making it all happen! As easy as it all sounds, time spent asking the right questions to the right people can really help!

Now that you have connected with your targeted client - you have to have the tools and resources needed to drive the intended benefit, and the revenue stream required to hit your profit targets. Make sure that you have aligned your suppliers to meet the unique needs of your client.

Having great BLUE SUITS doesn’t help you if most of your clients prefer BLACK ones! Continue to treat your suppliers as valuable as you treat your clients - without your sources of money, well, where does that leave you?! And stay on top of trends to ensure you always have what it takes to serve your clients - and your company.

Recently FHA loans have been estimated to represent a HUGE portion of tommorrow’s marketplace - this after being neglected for decades. If you are not an expert in FHA loans now, you are already behind! Keep em close, keep em honest and keep em sharp!

No one ever said it was easy - but then again, when has anything of real value been easy to obtain?! Managing these tasks is what makes you better and more successful than your competition - you got that down. But market timing is something that is more outside of your control - trying to open a shop against market trends spells disaster even if you are real good!

But now, with the market adjusting to the excesses of the past, and with the competitive landscape practically wiped clean - there are a lot of homeowners looking for professional assistance. They need help fixing what is broken - whether repairing minor issues (out of ARM into fixed), or simply taking advantage of current market opportunities (lower rate, shortened term), there are a lot of homeowners in need of professional guidance, right!? Why not choose you?!

Want to learn more about the how to start your own mortgage company and apply for your first mortgage license including a FHA Mortgage License? Download my brand new free guide here: How to Get a FHA License

KJ Block can be reached by email at Info@MortgageRoadRules.com