Opteum acquires Integrity Home Funding

In good companyDoug AndersonNAMB 2004 Convention,Salt Lake City Have you ever heard the expression, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours?" The companies listed below help you, as a mortgage broker, stay in business every day of the year. They are the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) industry partners, sponsors and exhibitors at the 30th Anniversary NAMB 2004 Annual Convention and Exposition in Salt Lake City. Each of these companies are sponsors and major contributors to NAMB, providing services that keep the mortgage broker in business and help us maintain the market share that we have enjoyed during the past 10 years. I hope that many of them are on your list of preferred wholesalers and vendors. Some of these companies have given more than $250,000 in time, money and personnel to NAMB's Annual Convention and Exposition, along with additional contributions throughout the year. They are true friends of NAMB. As you have seen in the past two years, there are some entities that do not support NAMB. However, our friends have been plentiful and have stood by our side through thick and thin. They believe in what we do as brokers, how we treat our clients and how we deliver our loans. They show their appreciation by supporting NAMB with legislative support, personnel and financial considerations. Who are these white knights? Take a look: NAMB Platinum and Double Platinum Industry Partners Countrywide Wholesale Business Channel Decision One Mortgage InterFirst Wholesale Mortgage Lending Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Bank of America Chase Home Mortgage First Magnus Financial Corporation Freddie Mac Mortgage Investment Lending Associates Washington Mutual Collectively, these 10 companies are partners with you as NAMB members and individual mortgage brokers. They sponsor our trips and raffles (InterFirst and Countrywide), NAMB's Affiliates of the Year (Freddie Mac), and our Legislative Conference in Washington (Countrywide). They also sponsor the parties we attend--the 2004 Annual Convention Opening Reception (InterFirst) and the coffee station (Bank of America). They also have sponsored our Leadership Conference (First Magnus). The truth of the matter is that if these companies weren't here for NAMB, we would not be able to hold our Annual Convention and Exposition. All of our sponsors and industry partners give us the tools to be better at what we are best at. The names I have listed above belong to our platinum and double platinum industry partners. I know it is easy for us to say they these lenders "should" give to us because they make so much from the business we provide, but think about the many lenders that are not on this list! Those companies also take their fair share of profit, but they do not collaborate with NAMB to help you become more successful. NAMB also has gold, silver and bronze levels of sponsorship for wholesalers, affiliates and vendors. These companies should be recognized as well. Again, I am asking you to make sure that these companies are in your markets. You can be certain that all of NAMB's Sponsors will be major contributors at the Convention this year. NAMB Gold, Silver and Bronze Sponsors 1st Metropolitan Mortgage Aegis Funding Corporation Carteret Mortgage Corporation CitiFinancial Mortgage ComUnity Lending Ellie Mae Fannie Mae IndyMac Bank InterBay Funding M&T Mortgage Myers Internet National City Home Equity National City Mortgage Principal Residential Mortgage Saxon Mortgage Inc. United Guaranty United International Mortgage Bank Am I writing this article to promote these companies? Absolutely! They have been there for NAMB in the past, and I'm sure they will be here for us tomorrow and for years to come. The best way to show your support is by participating in their breakout sessions, attending their functions and asking them questions about their products during the Annual Exposition. You and I both know that in today's mortgage marketplace, we will have to do our business faster, better and smarter. NAMB's sponsors have the tools that can keep you in business through the next decade. Show them your support, and I'll meet you at the NAMB 2004 Annual Conference and Trade Show, "Racing to New Heights," from Saturday-Tuesday, June 5-8, in Salt Lake City. Then we can all scratch their backs! Doug Anderson, CRMS is NAMB 2004 Convention committee chair and an NAMB director. He may be reached by phone at (303) 744-8138 or e-mail douganderson@namb.org.