`The Secret' is out!!

2006 was hardley a banner year for Smart Rate Mortgage. To say it was "challenging" is an understatement at best. While the real estate market is softening in many parts of the country, the State of Michigan is in what some have called a one state depression. The big three automakers are in the process of cutting 10s of thousands of white collar and union jobs. It's having ripple effect on their suppliers, retail, the restaurant industry, and the real estate and mortgage businesses in this state just to name a few. I don' t mind telling you that it hurt us bad.

We're taking steps to build our business back up including cutting our overhead and aligning ourselves with a federally chartered bank that allows us to originate loans in all 50 states. We've also partnered with several nationally recognized coaches and gurus in the network, mortgage, and information marketing arenas as we look to diversify our business.

Why am I sharing this with all of you? We were encouraged to watch a movie by one of our new business coaches. We were promised that the 90 minute film would transform our lives. We had to check it out!

The film's trailer is urgent and haunting. A swell of chanting builds -- burning candles illuminating sacred-looking texts, a cast of shadowy characters hovering over a mysterious scroll. "A year ago, my life had collapsed around me," comes an accented female voice. "I'd worked myself into exhaustion, my father died suddenly and my relationships were in turmoil. Little did I know at the time, out of my greatest despair was to come the greatest gift." It's a provocative movie clip. And one that does the trick. Who doesn't want in on a juicy secret?

You won't catch this movie at your local theatre however. "The Secret" is relying instead on a clever viral marketing campaign that has successfully harnessed the Internet and word-of-mouth buzz to reach the masses. The film can be watched online for $4.95 or purchased as a DVD, at $29.95, through the Web site, http://thesecret.tv. IT WAS THE BEST $4.95 WE'VE EVER SPENT!!

"The Secret" has sold more than half a million DVDs and more than 100,000 online views but producers estimate millions have seen the movie. So just what is this big secret stirring so much commotion? Its principles are tucked in the words of the greatest thinkers, writers and leaders throughout time -- Plato, Thomas Edison, Carl Jung, Albert Einstein and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., among them. It's the law of attraction. Like a magnet the thoughts and images held in one's mind determine what is attracted to them and, ultimately, the quality of life they live. Go anxiously through the day with a negative loop of thoughts in your mind, anticipating bad things will happen, and they will. Approach that same day with positive thoughts, anticipating good things, and they'll be drawn to you. Keeping the faith It's a philosophy the 25 teachers in the film say they have seen applied successfully to all aspects of life -- finances, career, health and relationships. Deep down, every single person knows this. Every person knows, deep down, life is not meant to be hard. It might sound like hocus-pocus to some, but these principles, these laws of the universe -- some would call it quantum physics -- are as predictable as gravity. There's no society on Earth that doesn't talk about the benefits of visualization and positive thinking. Most people are living life as victims -- victims to life. But you don't have to be a victim. Thinking negative thoughts about mounting debt or a dead-end job will only ensure more debt and more years of unfulfilling work.

My brother Greg and I needed this lesson very much. It energized us and spurred us into even futher action to make 2007 a banner year in terms of our personal well being, business success, and our giving to others. Have you seen "The Secret"? I'd love to have your comments.

Until next time...

Are you pre-qualified or pre-approved for a loan?

Before you begin to shop for a new home, you should set up a time to figure out how much you can afford. This will put you in a better position as a buyer. That’s when it is important to understand the distinction between being pre-qualified for a loan and pre-approved for a loan. The difference between the two terms will be crucial when you decide to make an offer on a house.

To get pre-qualified for a loan, I will collect information about your debt, income, and assets. We’ll look at your credit profile and assess goals for a down payment and get an idea of different loan programs that would work for you. I will issue you a pre-qualification letter indicating the amount you are pre-qualified to borrow.

It is important to understand that a pre-qualification letter is just an estimate of what you are eligible to borrow, not a commitment to lend. Getting pre-approved for a loan gives you competitive advantage when the time comes to bid on a home because you have been approved for a loan for a specified amount.

To get pre-approved, you will complete a mortgage application and provide me with various information verifying your employment, assets and financial status such as W-2 forms, bank records and credit card statements. We’ll review your mortgage options and submit your application to the lender that best meets your needs. Once the application process is complete you will receive a pre-approval letter indicating the amount your lender is willing to lend you for your home.

A pre-approval letter is not binding on the lender; it is subject to an appraisal of the home you wish to purchase and certain other conditions. If your financial situation changes (e.g. you lose your job), interest rates rise or a specified expiration date passes, your lender must review your situation and recalculate your mortgage amount accordingly.

Please feel free to visit smartrate.com, fill-out a FREE No-Obligation Secure Online Loan Application or call me in my Michigan office at 586-323-2920. I am here to help you with all your mortgage needs.