[Gustan Cho]

Dustin, it was one hell of a Twilight Zone. I think you should take the Utah Principal Lending Manager exam now, while certain things are still fresh. Plus I have tons of practice tests that I can give you. If you are not planning on managing a branch in Utah, you do not have to go through this ordeal.

[Gustan Cho]

Thank you, @sapna. There are a few things I’d like to cover with the technical and digital media marketing team, Sapna. What’s going on with Best Mortgage Calculator? I spoke with Chad Burns yesterday, and he is looking into an organic lead generation platform like MLOBOX, GOAT GENIE, VONK, and others. What’s the progress with http://www.onlinebusinesssolution.org? I spoke with Christina from Reddit yesterday, and she will go over how we can get http://www.gcaforums.com and other websites on Reddit organically for d. I will discuss it with you, @Ravi, @marga, @Anngelli, and @April Ramirez. On another note, I want to target recruiting ethnic teams throughout the United States, like Dejon Ivenovic. I want the loan officers, loan officer assistants, and business development managers from the following ethnic groups:

1. Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries

2. Serbia

3. Vietnam

4. Korea

5. China

6. Thailand

7. Russia

8. Poland

Are there any other ethnic groups that have a substantial population in the United States? I also spoke with a postcard direct mail marketing agency via email yesterday. What they do is send out postcards to target leads. I used to own larger apartment complex communities of 300 units or larger. Tenants in those apartment complexes are paying rent of $1,500 or more per month, which many of them can use to buy a house, and their mortgage payment will be comparable to their rent payment. Let’s think about aggressively pursuing and implementing such a marketing plan on http://www.onlinebusinesssolution.org. Could you review this post and reply with your ideas? I like to work with Chad Burns. Chad lives in Southern California, and they have the largest immigrant groups in the United States. The whole state has huge ethnic communities.

onlinebusinesssolution.org

Online Business Solution

Online Business Solution

[Gustan Cho]

Here’s my Utah Principal Lending Manager (UTAH PLM) Certificate.

[Gustan Cho]

I want to share my experience studying, taking practice exams, and registering for the Utah Principal Lending Manager exam. This Utah PLM exam was not a hard test. The problem is that you cannot get hundreds or thousands of practice exams: Questions and Answers. The NMLS schools that offer the Utah Principal Lending Manager Exam are limited to two or three. These schools offer limited practice tests on questions and answers on Utah PLM exams. I want to thank Angie Crippen of OnCourse Learning, who went above and beyond in helping me, my assistant Marga Jurilla, and my National Operations Manager, Angie Torres. This exam was the Utah PLM – the Test From Hell. As I told you folks, the Utah PLM exam was not difficult. The hard part was when you take the exam, a 3- or 5-hour multiple-choice test consisting of 225 questions; the computer will display your score. The great advantage of the Utah Principal Lending Manager exam is that you do not have to retake the sections of the test that you have passed. The bad part is when Pearson Vue computes your score; for example, my first time taking the Utah PLM exam was a 69%, I missed it by one percentage point. I do not have the test booklet to study which questions I got wrong or correct. It was a real brain teaser. Therefore, I tried to remember the questions I was unsure of and took the exam again the second time. The second time around, taking the Utah PLM exam, I think I scored a 62%, which was worse than the first time score of 69%. You see, I changed my correct answers and put the wrong answer. Therefore, my score was worse. Then there was a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and so on. I took the Utah Principal Lending Manager Test multiple times, where I showed up to the test center every day, and the staff and proctors at Pearson Vue knew me by my first name. When I passed the Utah Principal Lending Manager test on April 15th, 2024, I was ecstatic, and the entire support, ops, and proctor staff at Pearson Vue screamed in joy. I do not know how and why I passed, but I passed. I bought pizza and drinks for lunch for all the staff at Pearson Vue in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and thanked them for their support. Now, was I home free? Hell no. Al Jurilla, Marga Jurilla, and Angie Torres have diligently worked to submit my Utah Principal Lending Manager application to the Utah Department of Real Estate. I do not know exactly the true details of the back-and-forth, and I will have Marga Jurilla, Al, or Angie Torres explain, but this damn test was only good for 90 days. One year has passed, and Mr. Mike Paige, the Utah Department of Real Estate and Mortgage regulator, denied my application. WTF!!!! Long story short, I told my staff there is no way in Hell I am going to retest the UTAH PLM exam. A couple of weeks passed, and Marga emailed the UTAH PLM certification, which means I have passed the exam. It was reincarnation. I will ask Marge and Angie if they can add to this post so that whatever happened to me will not happen to you. Marga and Angie, can you please fill in the details? Thank you.

[Gustan Cho]

In the U.S., the housing and mortgage market is as follows on Friday, May 2, 2025:

Rates & Lending Activities

30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates: The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.76%, down from last week.

15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages: These rates now sit at 5.93%, which is lower than before and beneficial to borrowers looking for shorter lending terms.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs): The average rate for the 5/1 ARM rose slightly to 6.19%, indicating some volatility in the adjustable-rate market.

Refinance Rates: Refinance rates are largely unchanged as the 30-year fixed rate is 6.79%.

Real Estate Market Conditions

Home Prices:

Real estate prices also continue to rise, with the national median existing home price now at $402,300, a 3.4% increase from last year.

Inventory Levels:

Home inventory surged as the number of houses listed for sale exceeded one million for the first time since 2019.

Buyer Sentiment:

Americans’ perception of the housing market is negative. A Gallup report shows that 72% of Americans view this as a bad time to purchase a home due to its associated costs.

Trends & Policies Updates

Construction:

CRH, a major building materials producer, foresees a lagged recovery for the U.S. residential construction market. It expects a recovery in 2026 owing to the persistent damage the economy suffers from high interest rates and inflation.

Building Construction Code Improvements:

Supporters claim that U.S. building codes should be changed to permit single-stair, 6-story walk-up apartments, as seen in European architectural design. They state that this could decrease construction expenses by 10% and expand the housing supply in the market. On the other hand, fire safety authorities raise issues regarding potential dangers.

Watch the Economic and Housing Market Update from Realtor.com for May 2, 2025, if you want further details.

Don’t hesitate to ask if you require region-specific information or have other inquiries!

[Gustan Cho]

As of Thursday, May 8, 2025, the snapshot of the U.S. housing and mortgage market is as follows:

Mortgage Rates & Lending Trends30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates:

The average remains unchanged from the previous week at 6.76%, lower than last year’s 7.09%.

15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates:

These have decreased slightly to 5.89%, down from 5.92% last week.

Refinance Rates:

Concerns over inflation alongside a potential economic slowdown are causing average refinance rates to fluctuate between 6.5% and 7%.

Regional Variations:

California, New York, Florida, and Texas residents are offered some of the lowest rates, ranging between 6.71% and 6.88%. In contrast, West Virginia, Illinois, and Alaska sit in the higher average bracket, experiencing rates between 6.97% and 7.06%. Housing Market Conditions

Inventory Levels:

The total number of homes available for sale in the United States has exceeded one million, marking the highest since 2019. This occurs as sellers return to the housing market, while demand remains tempered due to affordability issues.

Home Prices:

The National Association of REALTORS® notes that during the first quarter of 2025, 80% of metro areas recorded increased median home prices. The median price for single-family homes in the United States rose by 3.4%, reaching $402,300. Syracuse, NY, notably recorded the highest annual price growth, soaring at 17.9%.

National Association of REALTORS®

Market Sentiment:

As reported by Gallup, a survey of American adults showed that only 26% of respondents believe that the current period is favorable to buying a home. Among non-homeowners surveyed, only a third expected to purchase a home within five years, indicating growing affordability issues and chronic affordability challenges.

Industry Outlook & Policy Developments

Orders Construction Sector:

CRH, the largest producer of building materials in the United States, expects a further delayed recovery in the residential construction market, now forecasting a rebound in 2026. This is due to sustained high interest rates and inflation.

Building Code Reforms: Campaigners argue that U.S. building codes should be revised to permit the construction of single-stair six-story apartment buildings, a design prevalent in Europe. Supporters claim this could reduce construction costs by 10% while increasing the number of available housing units. On the other hand, officials concerned with fire safety voice concerns over potential threats.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for tailored queries about mortgage rates in Illinois or specific trends in the Chicago housing market!

[Gustan Cho]

I’m truly sorry to hear about the fear and uncertainty your friends in Little Village are experiencing. This situation underscores the importance of accessible legal support and community resources for immigrant communities. Here are several organizations in Chicago that offer legal assistance and support to immigrants:

🏛️ Legal Aid Organizations in Chicago

1. Legal Aid Chicago

   • Services: Provides free legal services to low-income individuals and families in areas including immigration, housing, and public benefits.

   • Contact: (312) 341-1070

   • Website: legalaidchicago.orgNational Immigrant Justice Center+1Immigration Advocates Network+1Justia+1IDHS+1Legal Aid Chicago+1LinkedIn+1

2. National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC)

   • Services: Offers legal representation for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, including assistance with DACA, asylum applications, and detention issues.

   • Contact: (312) 660-1370

   • Website: immigrantjustice.orgNational Immigrant Justice Center

3. Instituto del Progreso Latino

   • Services: Provides immigration legal services, including naturalization assistance and family-based petitions.

   • Contact: (773) 890-0055

   • Website: institutochicago.orgImmigration Advocates Networkinstitutochicago.org

4. Latinos Progresando

   • Services: Offers immigration legal services and community engagement programs, focusing on serving Latino immigrant communities.

   • Contact: (773) 542-7077

   • Website: latinospro.orgTRP IMMIGRANT JUSTICE+3JCFS Chicago+3IDHS+3

5. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago

   • Services: Provides a broad range of legal counseling and representation to immigrants, including citizenship and family reunification assistance.

   • Contact: (312) 655-7000

   • Website: catholiccharities.netCatholic Charities

📚 Additional Resources

• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)

  • Services: Connects immigrant communities to legal aid, social services, and policy updates.

  • Website: icirr.orgWikipedia+8ICIRR+8ICIRR+8

• La Voz Immigration Resource Guide

  • Description: A bilingual guide designed to assist migrants with information on work, health, education, housing, and legal rights.

  • Access: Available online and through a WhatsApp channel for easy dissemination. El País

Please let me know if you or your friends need assistance connecting with these organizations or require more specific information. I’m here to help.

[Gustan Cho]

I appreciate your willingness to dig deeper. Because you didn’t indicate which strategy you wanted to go further with, I will provide a practical step-by-step plan to make a social media content strategy to boost your professional profile and get organic leads as a Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO). Establishing a presence on social media platforms can be beneficial in targeting and reaching prospective homebuyers and building lasting relationships with them. This is important for market positioning and becoming a market leader. Please let me know if you would like me to dive deep into another strategy (for example, a Google Ads campaign, CRM optimization, etc.), and I will adjust my response accordingly.

Social Media Content Planning for Mortgage Loan Originators

Effective social media content plans allow for cultivating active leads, assisting in branding, and providing a reputation as an industry thought leader. Social media channels should be utilized to market to mortgage homebuyers, such as first-time home buyers and real estate agents, as referred clients who participate in the marketing strategy. Below are strategies for creating and using social media content to achieve the specified outcomes.

1. Establish Goals and Identify Your Audience

An audience and clearly defined goals will ensure that your content is kept focused and achieved effectively.

Goals:

– Inbound Leads (e.g., calls or requests from prospective clients or real estate agents).

– Establish local reputation as a mortgage authority.

– Teach prospective home buyers about acquiring early-stage leads.

– Deepen networks with referral partners.

Target Audience:

– Primary: Local first-time and move-up home buyers or niche borrowers (e.g., self-employed or veterans).

– Secondary: Realtors, CPA, and financial planners with referral potential.

– Demographics: Age (25-40 for first-time buyers), income bracket, and geolocation (Such as your city or region).

Actionable Steps:

– Identify and document 2-3 specific outcomes (e.g., “Generate 10 organic leads per month via social media”).

– Create a client avatar. “Sarah, 30, first-time buyer in [City], and earns $60K, currently employed, actively researching FHA loans online.”

– Identify your audience’s active channels, including Facebook for buyers and LinkedIn for professionals.

2. Pick the Best Platforms

Focus on 1-2 platforms your audience frequents the most to avoid burnout while maintaining productivity.

Platforms Suggested:

Facebook: Great for first-time home buyers and local demographics. Use groups, pages, and targeted posts.

-Instagram: Ideal for visual marketing (Reels, stories) to attract younger audiences and customers.

– LinkedIn: Most effective for networking with realtors, CPAs, and other industry professionals for referral purposes.

– YouTube: This is best for educational videos with long-form content, such as “How to Get Pre-Approved,” which can also rank on Google.

– TikTok (optional): Effective for trendy short videos with high engagement from younger audiences.

Take Action

– First, add yourself to the groups on Facebook and Instagram because they are relatively easier to navigate and offer a wider scope.

– Set up professional accounts and use a clear phrase in the bio section, such as “Helping [City] families achieve homeownership | Mortgage Expert.”

– Use a bio from your social media platform to direct traffic to your website or lead capture page using the page (i.e., linktree).

3. Develop a Content Strategy

Captivating your audience takes action. Use videos as the primary approach; posts with video content get three hundred percent more engagement than static pictures or text. Diversify content formats to captivate your audience.

Content Pillars (themes to focus on):

1. Informative: Cover topics related to the mortgage world, explaining the processes, types of loans available, or trends in the market. Use a title like “What’s an FHA Loan?”

2. Market Updates: Monitor interest rates, home prices, and other local indicators and inform clients.

3. Clients’ Success Story Highlights**: Accumulate testimonials or case studies, edit them out, and highlight them with the client’s permission.

4. Behind-the-Scenes: Share off-screen clips of your personality or workday(“A Day in the Life if an MLO” for instance).

5. Call-to-Action: Ask the audience to instigate pre-approvals, schedule consultations, or book seminars.

Types of content:

– Videos: TikTok and Reels (30-60 seconds) or Longform YouTube videos (5-10 minutes).

– Infographics: Present information more engagingly (like simplifying “5 steps to Home Ownership”).

– Captions: Tips, FAQs, or polls to get people talking.

– **Stickers**: Mini-slide updates or polls.

– Live Mortgage Q&As: Hold an open weekly session to review mortgage queries.

Example content pieces include:

– “Avoid These 3 Pitfalls As A First Time Buyer” (Video).

– “Current Interest Rates: What You Need to Know” (Infographic).

– “Just Closed A Loan For A Family In X City” (Testimonial Post).

– “Submit your questions about VA Loans, I will answer all of them!” (Live Q&A).

– “Try my quiz, see if you’re geared to purchase property!” ( Story with Lead Capture link).

Steps to action include:

– Developing a list of 10-15 content pieces based on audience problems, like affordability or rate hikes.

– Use free tools like Canva to design informative graphics or video thumbnails.

– Use your smartphone to capture videos in well-lit, uncluttered settings.

4. Create a Content Calendar

Content planning ahead of time ensures consistency. Posting 2-3 times a week is a sufficient cadence for your schedule while also capturing the audience’s attention.

Sample Monthly Content Calendar (Facebook/Instagram):

– Week 1:

– Monday: Video: “How to Improve Your Credit Score for a Mortgage?”

– Wednesday: Post: Local Market Update (e.g., “Home prices within [City] increased by 5%”)

– Friday: Story: Poll (“Are you pre-approved? Yes/No”) – Interactive

– Week 2:

– Monday: Infographic: “FHA vs. Conventional Loans”

– Wednesday: Testimonial: Client success story

– Friday: Live Q&A: “Ask a Mortgage Expert”

-Week 3:

– Monday: Video: “What’s a Debt-to-Income Ratio?”

– Wednesday: “3 Tips for First-Time Buyers”

– Friday: Story: Behind the scenes (Text: “At an open house today!”)

– Week 4:

– Monday: Video: “Monitor…”

Actionable Steps:

– Use Buffer or Hootsuite to schedule posts for free.

– Film four videos in one session to publish throughout the month.

– Optimize weekday scheduling, such as 7-9 AM or 6-8 PM.

5. Engage and Build Relationships

Social Media provides two-sided communication, and engaging with the audience strengthens trust while reinforcing brand recognition.

Actionable Steps:

– Reply to comments and direct messages within 24 hours.

– Join local Facebook groups like “[City] First-Time Homebuyers” and provide answers to questions without sounding like you are trying to sell something.

– Interact with realtors, builders, or local businesses and follow them—leave comments on their posts to engage.

– Include hashtags like #FirstTimeHomebuyer, #MortgageTips, and #[City]RealEstate to broaden reach.

6. Drive Lead Generation

When clear CTAs and contact info collection are established, engagement can be converted into leads.

Actionable Steps:

– Launch a CTA campaign with social media posts.

– Use Facebook ad targeting tools to run ads. For example, use “boost post” tailored for brand interests, such as 25–40-year-olds living in [City], and set budgets between $100 and $200 monthly.

7. Measure and Optimize

Brand engagement should focus on areas that improve social media ROI.

Focus Key Metrics

– Leads: Total Inquiries or email signups

– Engagement: Overall post activity, including saves

– Conversions: Closed Loans from Social Media

– Reach: Impressions of social media posts

Actionable Steps:

Integrate CTA’s centered around inquiries or account follows to increase ROI and leads.

– To analyze engagement levels, experiment with various content formats like videos versus infographics.

– Prioritize your marketing strategy monthly based on what drives the most leads, such as shifting emphasis to Reels if they perform well.

8. Reflection and Adaptation

With practice and learning, social media marketing and management skills can be acquired over time.

Actionable Steps:

Follow MLOs like Jennifer Beeston on YouTube or Christine Megargel on Instagram, who post inspirational content.

– Enroll in free courses from HubSpot Academy or Coursera on topics like “Social Media Marketing 101.”

– Network and train with peers by joining the Mortgage Bankers Association or Good Vibe Squad groups.

– Stay trendy by creating Reels with popular music and audio.

30-Day Social Media Outreach: 1-Month Action Plan

Aim to acquire 5-10 organic leads, such as pre-approvals or interested emails.

Week 1: Create a profile, post three posts consisting of an intro, market update, and infographic, and join two local Facebook Groups.

Week 2**: 3 posts consisting of a loan types video, a testimonial, a CTA post, conduct a Live Q&A session, and a $50 Facebook lead magnet ad.

Week 3: 3 posts consisting of a credit score video, a recap of a local event, a poll, actively engaging in group discussions, and following 10 realtors.

Week 4: Post thrice (video about DTI, story about the client, and CTA post), analyze metrics, change ad budget or content focus.

Necessary Tools:

-Canva – Free to create graphics and edit videos.

Buffer/Hootsuite- A free tier is available for scheduling posts.

Linktree- A free account is available to link to the website/lead magnet.

Mailchimp – A free tier is available to capture emails and send newsletters.

Expected Results

With enduring effort of 2-3 hours a week:

– Month 1**: Build a minimal following of 50-100 and attain credibility alongside 1-3 leads.

– Month 3: Attain 200-500 followers and secure 5-10 leads monthly alongside 1-2 referral partnerships.

– Month 6: Generate 10-20 leads monthly and 1-3 loans via social media while reaching 500-1,000 followers.

Tips for Success

Stay true to yourself: Strive to showcase your personality to your audience.

Leverage Local: You can use your knowledge of the [City] market to target local buyers.

Focus on Video**: Prioritize short, snappy videos like Reels as they receive the highest engagement.

Be Consistent**: Staying present in your audience’s timelines helps keep them at the top of their minds.

Test and Learn: Try different approaches and analyze the outcome to plan the future strategy.

Why This Works in Today’s Market

In the current market, the overvaluation of home prices and other factors means buyers are careful and spend much time doing investigative work. Through social media, you can teach them long before they need a lender, earn their trust, and capture the leads before they’re committed to a lender. In this case, you will gain more visibility in a competitive market where buyers need guidance due to affordability issues by building multi-faceted, locally-focused content that speaks to a rooted expert’s value.

I can offer a more detailed overview of content strategies, Facebook ad mock-ups, or other strategies like Google Ads, CRM setup, or mailers guidance if you’d like. Just tell me what you would like to dive into!

[Gustan Cho]

As of my latest information, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has conducted several investigations into suspected election fraud, especially in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

Here is a summary of notable details:

Active Investigations: The DOJ has scrutinized a number of election fraud allegations, especially those made after elections. In many instances, such claims remained investigable due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

Convictions: Several people have been convicted of electoral offences. However, in most instances, these were marginal offenses, not due to systemic fraud.

Disinformation Focus: The Department of Justice has also dealt with misinformation surrounding election fraud and its elections, which is eroding the faith of many of the electorate in the elections.

Bipartisan Supervision: Numerous state and federal authorities are still conducting investigations and overseeing the election to ensure legality and transparency.

For the most precise and timely details, I recommend checking official announcements from the DOJ or accessing them through trusted news outlets.