Real Estate Mortgage Network Inc. (REMN) has announced the launch of its new consumer-direct lending division, officially doing business as FinanceMyHome.com online, to serve the needs of homebuyers who prefer the convenience of securing mortgages online. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, FinanceMyHome.com is a consumer-direct platform to help qualified homebuyers secure a loan quickly and easily and at their own convenience. As online price comparison shopping has grown, the launch of FinanceMyHome.com is REMN’s answer to the Internet generation’s demand for immediacy.
FinanceMyHome.com offers a full menu of traditional mortgage products, including conventional, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, jumbo loans, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans, and Fannie Mae HomePath loans. Customers will have access to FinanceMyHome.com’s FHA 203(k) Concierge Service, an initiative that ensures the 203(k) process runs smoothly for all parties involved. An in-house short sale department is also in place to help loan originators and realtors navigate the short sale process in an efficient manner.
“FinanceMyHome.com is geared toward that 20-something or 30-something who wants to know what amount they qualify for and what zip code they are looking for a home in, opening a direct line of communication with them either via phone or e-mail,” said Tim Bartosh, senior managing director of FinanceMyHome.com. “We provide the consumer with a ballpark figure of what they qualify for and give them a snapshot of the next steps they need to take in order to secure financing and get the homebuying process underway.”
The user-friendly FinanceMyHome.com site offers a range of tools for consumers, including:
►A detailed “Education Center” that provides a list of factors to consider when considering homeownership.
►A “Useful Tools” module featuring a checklist of documents needed for the homebuying process; mortgage calculators to estimate income qualifications, average monthly payments and affordability; and a Widget powered by Zillow that provides the current estimated market value of a property by entering the street address and location.
►A “Client Testimonial” page where site users can recount and critique their experiences with FinanceMyHome.com’s representatives.
►A “Loan Tracker” feature that provides clients the ability to monitor the progression of their mortgage, from application through closing.
In addition to traditional networking with referral partners, FinanceMyHome.com will be marketed through branded television and radio ads, in addition to utilizing a multi-site social media campaign.
“As we see it, the Internet has become more about recommendations for younger generations,” said Bartosh. “Right now, we are using Facebook to have people follow us and comment on their experiences with us. These comments and recommendations are then pushed out to our audience of followers on Twitter (@finance_my_home). Our LinkedIn page is used for Realtors and title companies in building out our referral network.”
Bartosh, who serves as the company’s senior managing director, joined Real Estate Mortgage Network Inc. (REMN) in November of 2010. He spent the previous 16 years as chairman and chief executive officer at CTX Mortgage Company. FinanceMyHome.com’s leadership team is comprised of a core of industry-savvy veterans, including Managing Director Matt Payan, Directors of Consumer Direct Ron Lopez and Ronald Blake, and Operations Manager Theresa Finchum. REMN, doing business as FinanceMyHome.com, is currently licensed to originate in 15 states with more than a dozen additional states pending. In 2010, REMN closed nearly $3 billion in home loans, further solidifying its position as one of the largest independent non-bank lenders in the country.
“Our average loan originator has more than 12 years of industry experience and is licensed in multiple states,” said Bartosh. “App takers basically just sell rates, but we are looking at our higher-quality loan originators having higher conversion rates as they provide greater value to the customer. Our focus on quality is what will differentiate us from the other low-quote providers in the marketplace.”
The company is also looking to establish REMN University, a recruitment program designed to train loan originators and grow and cultivate a strong team from within the company’s own ranks.
“Strategically, you need to have that farm network to grow loan originators internally and retain a team a highly-skilled loan originators,” said Bartosh. “We are making a name for ourselves in the marketplace as there is a lot of talk on the street about FinanceMyHome.com in the Dallas area right now. We are looking to add more than 100 new employees before the end of 2011.”
