To say that the image of the mortgage originator has taken a beating over the last few years is an understatement. There have been a number of attempts to combat that perception from the inside of the industry.
One such grass-roots effort is a series of conferences around the country called Mortgage Revolution.
The final edition of the series is being held in Tarrytown, N.Y., (just north of New York City) this upcoming weekend, Oct. 15 through 17.
Brian Larrabee, one of the organizers of Mortgage Revolution, explained its founders felt there was no one stepping up to counter some of the anti-industry sentiment. "It is about trying bring some respect back to the industry, letting people know that there are other people out there that think the same way, that are ethical and honest and really want to try to garner a little bit of respect for themselves and for their industry."
He continued that rather than being embarrassed for being in the mortgage industry, they want to elevate the profession to be seen with the same respect as financial planners.
The genesis was when Mark Green of Top of Mind Networks called Larrabee, and said something needed to be done to help the industry. Larrabee has over 30 years experience in different parts of the real estate industry, including 20 years in the mortgage or related businesses in Westchester County, N.Y.
Green, said Larrabee, emphasized that this was not about making money, but rather doing a service for the mortgage industry. Any proceeds from the event are donated to charity, he said.
The day starts off with keynote speakers and some of the biggest names in motivation in the industry like Todd Duncan, Jim McMahon and Sue Woodard while in the afternoon there are educational workshops lead by top loan officers. These sessions feature what these speakers are using today to be successful in their markets.
Speakers cannot pitch any products at the show, in what Larrabee called an "anti-spam policy." In fact, all of the presenters are volunteers. Even Larrabee, Green and the third co-founder Mark Madsen pay to attend the event.
Attendees come from a mix of backgrounds. After the event is over, these attendees have formed small accountability groups, Larrabee said.
Another value is the cost, kept at $249 to make it affordable to the attendees.
