The presentation, entitled “The Modern Mortgage Experience,” addressed the impact of mobile technology on the mortgage industry. Citing the positive “digital disruption” of mobile devices, Savage declared that mobile is the future and the Uber business model is where the mortgage business is headed.
“There’s huge investment right now in digital mortgages,” Savage said. “As local mortgage bankers, you build personal, long-time relationships, and you need to take full advantage of available technology or use what you already have to full capacity. If your customers have a mortgage app, that’s a great opportunity for you to upgrade what you do and create a better experience for you and your buyers.”
“In order to stay relevant in a digital era, together we must provide more value to our customers throughout the community with a personal connection and enhance the loan process by using the latest technology available,” said Joe Thompson, president of HMBA. “Today’s consumer appreciates efficiency and the access to information which Mortgage Coach provides.”
NASA is identified with Houston – and vice versa. In a nod to the important contributions that NASA and Space Center Houston have made to the city since the 1960s, the Houston Mortgage Bankers Association invited William T. Harris, CEO of Space Center Houston, to be the featured speaker at their July 12 meeting at Maggiano’s Restaurant near the Galleria.
Introduced by HMBA President Joe Thompson, Harris gave an update on Space Center Houston. He announced that the Center, the city’s number-one attraction with more than 1 million visitors per year, is the first and only Smithsonian Institution affiliate outside of Washington, D.C.
“As a Smithsonian affiliate, we get to share artifacts with the foremost history and science museum in the world,” Harris said. “Space Center Houston will be the first of four stops of a new exhibit featuring the Apollo 11 command module, which will leave the Smithsonian on a national tour for the first time since 1971. It will be the only location where guests can see the space capsules for both the first and last lunar landings. “Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission” exhibit will be on display Oct. 14-March 18, 2018.”
Harris also reported on the on-going restoration of Mission Control, which Harris described as the “only room in the world designed to support space exploration.” He relayed that the $5 million-dollar restoration project, “On a Mission: Restoring Historic Mission Control,” had received $3.5 million from the City of Webster, and that Space Center Houston has launched a crowdfunding effort called “The Webster Challenge: Restore Historic Mission Control” on Kickstarter.
“The Webster Challenge is a global effort inviting people to participate in the 30-day Kickstarter to raise $250,000. The City of Webster will generously match each gift dollar-for-dollar up to a $400,000 maximum,” Harris said.
Thompson closed the meeting and reminded the audience that the next meeting will be held on August 9th and feature Dave Savage, CEO of Mortgage Coach.
The Houston Mortgage Bankers Association installed their 2017-2018 president and board of directors in a luncheon meeting held on June 14 at Maggiano’s restaurant near the Galleria. Outgoing HMBA President Greg Burkett thanked the retiring board members and called each of them to the podium to receive a plaque. He then passed the gavel to incoming HMBA President, Joe Thompson.
Mark Raskin, president of the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association, introduced the new board members: Vice President Scott Gillen; Treasurer Brad Luo, Secretary Sheree Gilbert; Trey Bell; Ryan Black; Blake Bravo; David Bravo; Greg Burkett; Bill Dawley; Kittie Guggenheim; Candy Lewis; Mike McFarland; and Lisa Rogers.
In his remarks, Thompson thanked Burkett and the outgoing board members. He addressed his goals for the coming year, which include increasing HMBA membership, especially with younger mortgage bankers, through the development of new membership benefits, and strengthening HMBA’s position and influence as an important industry representative in Austin.
“On the 10-year anniversary of our industry’s most serious crisis, we must invest our efforts into protecting the longevity of mortgage banking in our local community,” Thompson said. “We must foster new talent that brings integrity and professionalism along with newer ideas for the next generation of home buyers.” In closing, he thanked the board for electing him and reminded everyone to “never take the business for granted.”
HMBA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sound business practices and integrity in origination, lending and servicing of mortgage loans through discussion forums, networking opportunities, and continued education. For more information about HMBA, visit houston-mba.com.
At their first monthly meeting for 2017, held at Maggiano’s restaurant, Houston Mortgage Bankers Association members heard an upbeat economic forecast from featured speaker Patrick Jankowski, regional economist and vice president of research for the Greater Houston Partnership.
The audience of mortgage bankers, realtors and other real estate-industry professionals listened as Jankowski likened the recent fall in oil prices to a hurricane. “The closer a business was to the eye [of the storm], such as an oil company or a supply company, the greater the negative effect,” he said. “But as we enter 2017, ‘Hurricane Oil’ is over and we are in recovery. Oil prices are double what they were in February, 2016; the rig count is up; employment is on the upturn; and the election is over and people are making investment decisions again.”
When asked how he’ll know when Houston is back to normal, Jankowski said, “I’ll know we are there when we hit $60 a barrel oil and add 60,000 new jobs per annum.”
The Houston Mortgage Bankers Association held their annual Legends Luncheon honoring HMBA’s past presidents at Maggiano’s Little Italy on December 14th. Greg Burkett, HMBA president, introduced the honorees to the sold-out audience of mortgage and real estate professionals.
Legends honorees were Al Alsup, Martin Atkinson, Judy Belanger, David Bravo, Gary Davis, Mike Gale, Kevin Gugenheim, Becky McDermott, Mike Minnis, Tommy Orr, Bob Savage, Elvis Stulting and Bill Dawley. Burkett asked each honoree to give their take on what membership in HMBA and their tenures as president have meant to them. All struck a common theme of pride in the organization’s growth and service to its members and the community.
HMBA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Calvin Mann, offered everyone a few words of advice. “Make your choice and once you’ve made it, don’t second guess yourself. It’s a mistake to compare yourself to others, always be on time and don’t disappoint.”
“Today’s attendance is the greatest we’ve ever had at a single meeting and was a great way for us to close out a really productive year for HMBA,” said Burkett. “Listening to these past presidents, I realize how hard all of them worked and continue to work to present our industry to consumers in a positive way. Every one of them has paved the way for others to succeed and we owe them many thanks.”
Houston Mortgage Bankers Association welcomed Houstonian and star of American Ninja Warrior, Daniel Gil, as speaker for their October 11 luncheon meeting at Maggiano’s restaurant on Post Oak Boulevard near the Galleria.
Greg Burkett, HMBA president, introduced Gil to the audience of mortgage professionals as “a man of many talents: a trainer at Iron Sports Fitness in Cypress, a dancer, and an opera singer at the Kingwood Opera Company, in addition to his growing career as a two-time finalist on the popular American Ninja Warrior television competition.”
Gil described the grueling process of becoming a top American Ninja Warrior, and credited his achievements on the show’s last two seasons to his willingness to work as hard as necessary to win. Never into team sports, he turned to fitness in high school and trained himself. He entered the ministry directly after high school graduation and traveled the world on mission trips, but realized he wanted to do something else. He went to work at an American Ninja Warrior-type gym and found his calling.
A sponsored athlete and motivational speaker, Gill still finds time to lead mission trips and teaches eight classes a week for children. “I tell my students to identify their passion, take the time to steward it, and they’ll discover their opportunities.”
Burkett thanked Gil for his inspirational presentation, and ended the event with a reminder that the next HMBA meeting will be the annual Legends Luncheon on December 15 at Maggiano’s.
The Houston Mortgage Bankers Association held a Distinguished Producers Panel Discussion recently at Stewart Title on Post Oak Blvd. HMBA invited four highly-regarded top producers in the lending industry to share their experience and advice at the breakfast event with more than 100 mortgage bankers and their guests.
HMBA president Greg Burkett introduced Joe Thompson, president-elect of HMBA, who moderated the discussion with panelists Debbie Cash, VP and Branch manager at Starkey Mortgage; Chad Helmcamp, Senior Loan Officer at Legacy Mutual Mortgage; Chris Kelso, Branch Manager/Loan Officer at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation; and Paul Vincent, Mortgage Banker at Sente Mortgage.
Panelists offered insights on building and maintaining repeat and referral business; adjusting to changing customer demographics, particularly millennials; innovative loan and office procedures; effective community outreach activities; personal "down-time;" and the future of the mortgage industry.
"We at HMBA are reaching out to our fellow mortgage bankers, realtors, and the public to provide informative programs. This was a great panel, and the information presented was extremely helpful for everyone who attended," said Burkett. “We plan to have more such events in the near future.”
Houston Mortgage Bankers Association featured Steve Lufburrow, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Houston, as the speaker for their September 7th monthly luncheon meeting at Maggiano’s restaurant. HMBA president Greg Burkett introduced Lufburrow and noted that Goodwill Industries has over 100 locations across the greater Houston area and employs more than 2,000 people.
In his remarks, Lufburrow presented a brief history of Goodwill and its mission to provide education, training and job opportunities to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, improving the lives of individuals, families and communities. Lufburrow emphasized that he has been fortunate to work with so many people that love life and the opportunities that they are given.
“Steve was very inspirational and challenged us to value everyone that we come in contact with because everyone is important,” said Burkett. “It was a privilege to have him speak to us.”
Bill King, former Republican candidate for mayor of Houston and a columnist for the Houston Chronicle, was the featured speaker at the August 10 luncheon meeting of the Houston Mortgage Bankers Association. King, a partner in the tax firm Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson, was accompanied by Alison Leland, Director of the Bonner Leaders Program at the University of Houston and an instructor of political science in the Honors College, and Brinda Penmetsa, an Honors College student majoring in finance.
King’s presentation, entitled “The City of Houston’s Deteriorating Financial Condition: Can Houston be another Detroit,” detailed his concerns about the potentially negative financial impact of maintaining the city’s employee pension plans in their current forms. According to King, the existing plans may be financially unsustainable in the future and he recommended they be converted to defined contribution and defined benefit plans. He confirmed that most of his proposed changes would require approval by the Texas Legislature.
“Bill King’s knowledge of municipal finance issues is unparalleled, and we were honored to have him address our group,” said HMBA president Greg Burkett. “His in-depth presentation definitely gave everyone in attendance food for thought on this important issue that affects all present and future Houstonians.”
HMBA upcoming events include a “Distinguished Producer Panel Discussion” to be held on September 27 at Stewart Title, 1990 Post Oak Boulevard. The next monthly luncheon meeting will be held on September 14 at Maggiano’s and will feature Steven P. Lufburrow, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Houston. Please visit http://www.houston-mba.com/ for more information.
Houston Mortgage Bankers Association welcomed Houston Chronicle columnist and “Drive-thru Gourmet” Ken Hoffman as speaker for their July 13 luncheon meeting at Maggiano’s restaurant.
HMBA President Greg Burkett introduced Hoffman who regaled the audience with a hilarious, semi-serious account of bodily injuries he had received in the course of his long journalism career. His list of painful encounters included confrontations with singer Rudy Vallee, basketball great Clyde Drexler, tennis champion John McEnroe, and the owner of the famous Lombardi’s Pizza in New York City, among others. At the conclusion of Hoffman’s remarks, Burkett presented him with a check from HMBA for his favorite charity, CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection).
Burkett announced that upcoming HMBA meetings will include a presentation on the city’s finances by 2015 mayoral candidate Bill King on August 10 and a “Distinguished Producers” panel to be held in September.
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