Some Breaking News, Plus Three Free Websites to Create Personalized, Virtual Images

There might be some Veterans Affairs loan program funding fee changes on Oct. 1st—or maybe not!

The Aug. 3rd signing of the "Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act" creates lower funding fees for the VA Loan Program for all loans closed on or after Oct. 1.

But those changes may never see the light of day as the pending "Jobs Act" will reverse that legislation. VA hasn't issued a circular on the subject and until then it's not an official change for us to write about.

In all likelihood, it may never happen. We've already seen charts and graphs out there with the changes.  Don't use them—unless it becomes official! My website, http://www.mortgagecurrentcy.com/, will keep you posted if it should change.

Meanwhile, let me try to describe these cool websites for you. So let me just tell you what they are all about. Use them on Facebook.  Send by email. There are thousands of different ways to use them.  And did I mention they are free? 

Share these ideas with your real estate agents. It's an awesome way to personalize your messages—and have people ask you, “How did you do that?”

Here are a couple of examples I created—showing you how you can use this in our own business: 

At www.Fodey.com, you can create your own “virtual newspaper” including the name of the newspaper, headlines and text. For example, you could call your virtual newspaper “ABC Mortgage Daily." The headline might be:  "Mary Jenkins Top Real Estate Agent Make the Big Time!"   And your text could read, "Mary Jenkins, a superstar real estate agent with Century 21, has just been named the top Realtor in Clark County, with $52 Million in home sales.  Karen Deis and the staff at ABC Mortgage congratulate you!"

You can use this to announce a loan approval, give a birthday wish, salute an achievement or announce a new loan program. It is easy to save and download to Facebook pages.

Here are two other sites:

At www.RedKid.net, you can create your own personalized images. There are 15 blank images where you can plug in words and personalize.  Decorate a birthday cake with the person's name. Write a message in a bowl of alphabet soup. Add message or name on a classic car.

Here's what you do when you go to the website.  Click on the “images” picture.  Then click on “image generator," and then click on “generate image." Go to “sign generator” and it will take you to the blank signs where you can enter your info. When you create a sign, right click and save in your pictures file.

Meanwhile, www.VoiceQuilt.com is a cool site to allow people to record a voice message, wishing a specific person a happy birthday, get well, special toast, congratulations, anniversary, holidays, etc. I found out that one of my good friends had a brain tumor and was going to have surgery within a few days.

I registered on the site; I received a telephone number and a voice message code. I emailed to all of our friends and asked them to record a message of encouragement. We were able to send him 18 messages, from friends all over the country, wishing him the best! 

There is a free version—but if you have a large group, who you've asked to record a message, it costs $19.95 for a 10-day window—and it allows you to download the messages free, including an automatic post to Facebook. 

People love to see their name in print.  They love to get personalized messages. These three websites are an awesome way to give “virtual recognition” to the people you care about! 

Karen Deis is the publisher of www.MortgageCurrentcy.com. She is also is president of LoanOfficerTraining.com. To get more information, or to contact her, visit www.facebook.com/loanofficertraining.