NAMB President's Corner:A President's Thoughtsmortgagepress.comNational Association of Mortgage Brokers, NAMB, HR 4213,
As this past calendar year has come to a conclusion, I find
myself reflecting on many of the events of 2000. The National
Association of Mortgage Brokers continues to make significant
strides each year, and this past year was no exception. However,
the landscape of the mortgage industry is not static but rather,
ever-changing. The evolution of our industry calls for dedicated
leaders, committed volunteers and the courage of all to seek higher
ground for the industry we love so much.
Mortgage reform has been an NAMB agenda priority for nearly five
years, dating back to the initial HUD negotiated rule making,
through the Mortgage Reform Working Group, to the more recent
sessions at HUD, with participation from the industry and consumer
advocates. There has been a joint HUD/Fed report, hearings held on
the Hill and eradicating predatory lending has become an industry
mission. NAMB has been there from the very beginning, participating
in all aspects of discussion and establishing itself as a force in
the industry. We have spent our time, money and effort to be
treated as both a leader in total mortgage reform and as an equal
in the origination of mortgage loan requests. The introduction of
HR 4213--The Consumer Mortgage Protection Act of 2000--in the last
Congress has now set the tone for our new Congress.
And now, after all that we have done, we stand at the crossroads
of what will define our industry for many years to come. True
mortgage reform is within our grasp. It has become an issue that
many committee chairs and legislators on the Hill want to address
now. Over the past few months, NAMB has been working with its
industry partners to achieve a revolution in our industry that will
level the playing field and bring the association into the new
millennium--rules and regulations that will be fair to both
consumers and the industry; rules and regulations that will
simplify the mortgage process and make it understandable to all
involved.
We cannot afford to be worn, weak and non-responsive. I need
each and every member of the mortgage industry to renew their
commitment, gather their strength and unite with NAMB to achieve
the goals that we have pursued for so long. United, we can achieve
our final destination, the last rung in the ladder of leadership
and change the face of our industry forever.
I have always been fond of saying that there are really only two
types of people involved in changing our industry for the
better--people who participate and people who observe. As we near
this critical time in our profession, I realize that I have been
wrong. There are really three types of people in the
industry--those who make things happen, those who watch things
happen and those who wonder what happened.
Change is approaching at the speed of light. If you don't want
to wake up one morning and wonder what happened, then become
involved, become educated and join the National Association of
Mortgage Brokers. At the very least, you should be informed enough
to compete in the new world that will shape our industry. Without
information, insight and action, you will be ill equipped for the
future and become a casualty of the inevitable. I ask those that
make things happen to continue the good fight. I ask that those who
watch what happens to become involved and help us achieve success.
Lastly, I ask those who seem to constantly wonder what happened to
re-prioritize their lives, get informed and help secure the future
of their industry.
Neill E. Fendly, CMC, President
National Association of Mortgage Brokers
