[Lisa Jones]

Can you provide examples of ineligible business uses of funds?

[Lisa Jones]

Can you elaborate on the SBA loan guarantee process?

[Lisa Jones]

About 8 years ago, I started a large garden. The last 2 years, I haven’t done much with it. Last year, I only had garlic and onions in it because they had been planted months before. By the time spring came around, I had no interest in it, and it all went to weeds. With this whole lockdown thing and an increasingly unstable food supply chain, I decided it was time to get my garden back in order.

Luckily, the garlic I didn’t pull up last year overwintered in the beds, and I was able to pull them up and transplant them properly. Unfortunately, I never started any onions, so whatever I get from the seed I planted will probably be small, but something is better than nothing(at least in this case). I have fruit trees in bloom right now or about to be soon; apple, peach, cherry, plum, pear, mulberry, and an almond tree. Some bushes and vines like currants, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and boysenberries. I have perennial herbs: rosemary, sage, thyme, chives, lovage, mint, and lemon balm. Recently, I planted many seeds directly into the garden: peas, carrots, radishes, spinach, lettuce, mizuna, collards, cabbage, and bok choy. I just started some in flats in the greenhouse; they are a little late, but they should do fine: tomatoes, peppers, basil, parsley, oregano, chamomile, marjoram, and perilla. In a few weeks, I will be planting beans, squash, melons, and cucumbers. I just realized I forgot to plant potatoes, celery, turnips, and parsnips.

My front and back yards have been converted to garden space, and most of the plants there, including most of the flowers and weeds, are edible.

[Lisa Jones]

Mortgage loan originators (MLOs) are currently facing a difficult environment as interest rates, home prices, inflation, and the stock and mortgage bond markets remain volatile. These factors have decreased home affordability, priced out prospective homebuyers, and eliminated virtually all refinancing opportunities. In these circumstances, MLOs must strategically use innovative lead generation techniques, personal brand building, and digital and traditional marketing to adapt and thrive. In this post, I will provide useful recommendations to enhance lead generation using social media, mailers, customer relationship management systems, Google Ads, LendingTree, forums, and classified ads.

Understanding The Current Market Challenges

High Interest Rates: Interest rates are at historic highs, decreasing affordability and demand for purchase and refinance loans.

Overrated Home Prices: Increasing home prices and stagnant wages present obstacles for lower-income families and first-time buyers.

Dead Refinance Market: Due to high rates, refinance activity has slowed dramatically, forcing MLOs to concentrate on purchase loans.

Economic Volatility: Increased uncertainty due to inflation, stock market fluctuations, and instability in the mortgage bond market contributes to a lack of buyers.

Fierce Competition: Large lenders and well-funded nonbanks capture MLOs’ attention, making the market even more aggressive.

To differentiate themselves in a crowded market, MLOs need to prioritize effective lead generation, relationship building, personal marketing, and low-cost advertising.

How Mortgage Loan Originators Can Generate Leads and Thrive

1. Look Into Untapped Markets and Niches

The great thing about targeting specific niches is that MLOs can position themselves differently. They attract clients who have distinct needs. These can be:

* Home buyers for the first time: Provide educational materials and workshops that walk them through the step-by-step procedures while highlighting minimum down payment options, such as lower than 3% FHA or VA loans.

Non-QM Borrowers: Go after self-employed or gig workers who may qualify for non-qualified mortgages.

Affordable Housing Programs: Support lower-income government-subsidized programs that buyers are priced out of.

Local Markets: Capturing regional buyers using geo-targeting search terms like “mortgage lender in [City].

Actions Items:

– Select a focus area that fits your knowledge or draws from local market gaps.

– Design niche content, such as tailored blogs and video posts that solve specific problems for the niche. Create collaborative town guides with Realtors targeting these demographics.

2. Establish Referral Partnerships

Real estate agents, especially, provide high-quality leads through referral partnerships. One in four borrowers considers a lender recommended by their agent, making these relationships golden.

Actionable Steps:

Collaborate With Realtors: Grant them the ability to use branded marketing collateral, co-host workshops, or provide mortgage consultations during open houses.

Engage Other Professionals: Maintain contacts with CPAs, financial planners, or divorce attorneys who may offer clientele.

Create Referral Programs: Put referral rewards or mutual agreements for referrals.

Employ Modern Methods: Use “shared mortgage apps” or social media to create authentic connections with realtors.

3. Use Paid and Organic Strategies Together with Digital Marketing

Brand promotion and lead generation via the internet cost less money. Self-created leads are about 300 percent cheaper than purchased leads with a better ROI.

Social Media Branding and Organic Leads

Use social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to enhance personal branding and generate organic leads. Video content is best for maximizing engagement and lead generation.

Learning Social Media

Select one platform to start: Prioritize the one with active clients (e.g., Facebook for for-borrowers, LinkedIn for employed).

Outline Educational Topics: Design videos or infographics on relevant subjects, such as the mortgage process, interest rate trends, and homebuying hints.

Participate Actively: Regularly post relevant content, respond to group inquiries, and facilitate live Q&A sessions.

Gather Ideas from Others: Watch influencer MLOs, such as Jennifer Beeston, who has over 50,000 YouTube subscribers.

– Enroll in Courses: Search engines like Coursera offer free social media marketing courses.

Concrete Steps:

– Ensure consistent branding when designing your profile. Could you display your logo alongside color schemes and messaging?

– Aim to post 2-3 times weekly with videos, testimonials, and market updates.

– Join town or region-specific Facebook and LinkedIn groups to engage with contractors answering mortgage queries.

– Utilize Facebook’s advertising tools to design tailored ads for relevant groups.

Search Engine Optimization

SEO is a cost-effective way to generate leads and increase site traffic without paying ads. It helps potential clients find your business easily and works 24 hours a day.

Actionable Steps:

Design your website around keywords, such as “mortgage lender in [City]” or “first-time homebuyer loans.”

Write lengthy content, such as guides to FHA loans or relocating to your area, which helps improve your ranking on Google.

– Obtain backlinks through sponsored posts on real estate or finance blogs.

Please confirm that your Google My Business (GMB) page has the right contact information and client reviews.

Google Ads

Google Ads funnels “warm” leads actively searching for mortgage products, presenting high intent and pre-qualified prospects.

Pros:

– Exact match targeting with keywords “mortgage loans” or “first time buyer mortgages”.

– Clicks can be cheap, costing only a few cents or dollars based on competition.

– Because of the user intent, the conversion rate is extremely high.

Cons:

– Needs budget control; otherwise, there is overspending.

– Highly sought-after keywords (like “mortgage loans”) can be costly.

Actionable Steps:

– Test a low budget of $500 – $1000 monthly and target specific keywords like “first time homebuyer loans [City].”

– Monitor CPC and conversions using Google Adwords

– Optimize landing pages by adding prominent buttons (pre-approval quotes within a click).

– Grab a PPC consultant to maximize ROI if you’re inexperienced with PPC.

Email Marketing with CRMs

Marketing emails and spam from this website are not permissible. While email marketing has a high return on investment, it allows a business to nurture leads and maintain customer relationships. A proper lead management system, such as CRM, is essential for automating many processes.

Pros:

– Very economical with a good return value.

– Gives customization freedom, such as targeting new first-time buyers versus refinancers.

– Maintains consistent communication with your audience through newsletters or other updates.

Cons:

– An email list with value is critical to avoiding spam traps.

– Email open rates will need higher value-driven content to sustain engagement.

Actionable Steps:

– Utilize CRM systems like HubSpot, Lofty, or Aidium to track leads and automate client follow-ups.

– Create an email list by offering valuable marketing content, such as eBooks like “How to Be a Master Shopper on Mortgage Loan Rates.”

– Provide newsletters containing industry tips, market updates, and client success stories weekly or bi-monthly.

Enhance your contact database by appending zip code-verified emails and phone numbers using Accurate Append.

4. Use Paid Lead Generation Opportunities

Purchasing leads from reputable providers can help fill the gaps of organic work. While the cost and quality vary significantly, leads typically run from $50-$100 each and are often sold in bulk to multiple loan officers, diminishing exclusivity.

LendingTree

LendingTree markets to 720+ borrowers, obtaining high-intent leads. They offer to connect them to up to five lenders. Most leads originate from clients with credit scores above 720.

Pros:

– Nearly 75% of consumers know and trust the brand.

– Can be filtered to target specific segments such as FHA, VA, jumbo, and other classifications.

– Users receive validated data and dedicated account manager assistance when requested.

Cons:

– Compelling competition with New Direct mortgage lenders, as leads are sold to multiple lenders.

– Increased cost per lead compared to what can be generated independently.

It seems that effort must be taken to follow up appropriately, otherwise the leads will not be converted.

Actionable Steps:

– Use LendingTree’s lender portal to access real-time data and select campaigns for which you have underwritten criteria.

– To minimize competition, compete in narrower loan types (like non-prime or small loan amounts).

– An integrated, strong CRM should be used to speed up lead nurturing.

Other Providers of Leads

Good Vibe Squad: They provide proprietary leads, and their CRM is strictly formulated around video marketing.

Loanbright: Uses customized criteria to generate exclusive leads.

Kaleidico: It exclusively generates leads through content marketing, SEO, and Google AdWords and directly to the customer’s CRM.

Phonexa**: Provides marketing software for tracking calls, web leads, and clicks, and contains unique mortgage call tracking features.

Actionable Steps:

– Sample leads from different providers to assess and evaluate conversion rates.

– Use the bargaining tool for exclusivity or set specific criteria for borrowers.

– Use CRM analytics to focus on the best potential candidates.

Traditional Marketing Tactics

These days, traditional techniques like mailers and community presence might not have the same impact, but they are beneficial for local outreach.

Mailers

They can be used for targeted advertising. Could you attach QR codes to the mail that lead to calculators or mortgage landing pages to attract potential clients?

Pros:

– Effective and easy to remember for the older generation.

– Capable of including targeted offers or insights into the foreclosure markets.

Cons:

– Digital marketing has a greater ROI.

– An effective postal campaign involves great design and targeted mailing lists.

Actionable Steps:

– Build a targeted mailing list with data providers. Accurately Append is one option.

– Include QR codes that lead to landing pages with lead capture forms.

– Test scaling after measuring the aftermarket response rates on smaller batches, such as 500 mailers.

Community Engagement

Brand trust and visibility increase with sponsorship of charitable events and local youth sports leagues.

Actionable Steps: Participate in Online Forums as well as Classified Ads

In establishing authority, online forums and classified ads can generate leads locally.

Great Content Authority Forums

Focused on mortgages and related topics.

Pros:

– You can register and contribute for free.

– Answering questions builds an authoritative perception.

Cons:

– Participation requires a time investment and does not guarantee leads.

– Building reputability often requires prolonged activity.

**Actionable Steps**:

– Search active threads and sign up for relevant forums with active mortgage discussions.

– Respond to questions with relevant informative answers without sales pitches to earn a positive reputation.

– Add your website link to your profile or signature if the forum allows.

Classified Ads

Posting on Craigslist or local classified sites can appeal to budget buyers.

Pros:

– Sponsored ads have low or no cost.

– Targets a local audience.

Cons:

– Compared with digital ads, the leads generated from these sources may not be the best quality.

– Potential increase in spam or unqualified inquiries.

Actionable Steps:

– Use specific phrases in your advertisements, for instance, “First-Time Homebuyer Loans in [insert location]”.

– Provide a hyperlink to a lead capture form via a landing page.

– Keep track of replies and sift out the unqualified leads.

7. Strengthen Personal Branding

A strong personal brand sets you apart in a saturated market. Uniformity on all platforms fosters recognition and builds trust.

Actionable Steps:

– Direct traffic from your social media to a professionally designed website, which is the hub of your online presence.

– Ensure branding uniformity, including logo, colors, and messages across your website, social media, and all marketing materials.

– Enhance your branding by sharing client testimonials and successful projects.

– Establish a unique “value proposition” tagline for yourself (for example, “Helping First-Time Buyers Achieve Homeownership”).

8. Streamline Operations for Maximum Efficiency

To navigate tough times, MLOs need to cut costs while maintaining productivity.

Actionable Steps:

– Set up a customer relationship management (CRM) system to carry out autonomous and repetitive tasks such as emails and follow-ups.

– Implement AI predictive analytics tools to detect leads with high potential

– Implement digital solutions such as loan prequalification apps and e-signatures to simplify and streamline processes.

– Analyze Marketing ROI through CRM Analytics and Campaign Heat Maps

9. Continuous Learning: The Adaptability Trait

In the ever-changing mortgage sector, staying informed allows one to better deal with rate increases or changes in regulations.

Steps you can take:

– Check out the HousingWire, Mortgage News Daily, and McKinsey’s reports for updates.

– Participate in strategy development webinars and other networking conferences.

Obtain valuable resources and training from pro groups like the Mortgage Bankers Association.

How To Get Quality Leads

Referral Partners: Real estate brokers, CPAs, and financial planners highly refer to their clientele, making them warm business leads.

Organic SEO: Well-optimized content greatly improves traffic at little cost.

Google Ads: Use this for targeted ad placements because you will find pre-qualified borrowers who are actively looking for loans.

LendingTree: Provides high-intent leads with flexible targeting, but the leads are shared without competing lenders.

Good Vibe Squad/Loanbright/Kaleidico: These companies tailor leads to your liking and provide exclusively to you.

Social Media: can also be used to market products as an organic lead generator when appropriate, and constant value-added content is used.

Community Events: Local sponsorships or seminars enhance trust and capture local opportunities.

Treating Income Issues

Trim Your Budget: Cost-cutting is mandatory; however, non-essential expenses (e.g., unused subscriptions, office space) should be reduced.

Expanded Services: Provide consulting services, educate prospective buyers, and take advantage of insurance and related fields.

Talk with Your Boss: If you work for a lender, negotiate with them for reduced commissions, better advertising, or increased budgetary support for the loan programs.

Build a Cash Reserve: Put away funds during periods of high interest to weather slow periods.

Focus on Retention: Past clients are nurtured for future refinances or referrals when rates fall after some time.

Will These Strategies Work?

Social Media: Effective for branding and generating organic leads as long as there is consistency, value, and video content.

Mailers: Effective regionally, though they are only moderately effective without targeted lists and eye-catching designs.

CRM Email Marketing: Extremely beneficial for maintaining relationships and tending to leads, especially with automated systems.

Google Ads: Very beneficial for high-intent leads, but requires careful budget management.

Lend

kaleidico.com

50 Innovative Mortgage Marketing Strategies for 2025: Beyond the Basics

Discover 50 innovative mortgage marketing strategies for 2024, from AI to SEO, and boost your lead generation with cutting-edge digital and traditional tactics.

[Lisa Jones]

Here’s a comprehensive blog page about Career Opportunities with NEXA Mortgage and Gustan Cho Associates

https://gcaforums.com/career-opportunities/

gcaforums.com

GCA FORUMS Career Opportunities

GCA FORUMS Mortgage Group has career opportunities for loan officers, independent P&L branch managers, and REALTOR/MLO partners

[Lisa Jones]

What can you grow in your garden for vegetables to make a nice salad in Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin?

What do you like to plant in your garden?

• This reply was modified 6 days, 8 hours ago by  Gustan Cho.

[Lisa Jones]

Here are a few of the most well-known lenders that concentrate on providing financing for mobile home parks (MHPs):

1. Live Oak Bank

Provides loans specifically for the mobile home communities and manufactured housing MHPs.

2. Lennar Multifamily Communities

Also provides financing for the mobile home park and other multifamily MHPs.

3. Wells Fargo

Provides receivables in commercial real estate and issues loans for mobile home parks in its commercial lending operations.

4. Citi Community Capital

Concerned with affordable housing funding, and can also finance mobile home parks, especially those aimed at low-income areas.

5. Greystone

It is a real estate lending firm that finances different categories of properties, including mobile home parks.

6. Northmarq

Services the mobile home park sector within commercial real estate financing.

7. Berkadia

Provides other financing for the mobile home part of multifamily properties.

8. First Capital

Focuses on financing manufactured housing and mobile home parks.

9. SBA (Small Business Administration)

It is not a direct lender but guarantees loans for businesses involving mobile home parks through listed lenders.

It’s crucial to look into the specialized mobile home park lenders and their loans to understand how to qualify for financing. They all have unique products, terms, and requirements. Let me know if I can help with anything else!

[Lisa Jones]

If you’re a Business Development Manager (BDM) seeking to establish partnerships with unfamiliar Realtors, the strategy is to make contact with them directly, establish trust quickly, and provide them with an irresistible offer. Since you are starting from scratch, aim for making a positive first impression that breeds trust and sets the stage for collaborative synergies. To help, here are some piece of advice on how to do this:

### 1. Research and Identify the Right Realtors

**Why It Matters**: As with any cold communication strategy, reaching out to warm prospects increases success rates. As with any niche or market, Realtors are busy professionals, so make sure you align with their objectives or pain points from the start.

**What To Do**:

– **Identify Niche**: Find Realtors specializing with First Time Buyers or Investment Properties using LinkedIn, Zillow, or local MLS data. If it is an advantage that Gustan Cho Associates’ non-QM or no-overlay loan expertise, focus on Realtors whose clients are turned away from other lenders.

– **Look At Their Activity**: Check for Realtors that have active social media presence and take part in local forums or even larger groups—they’re more likely to engage.

– **Make It Easy On Yourself**: Personalize campaigns for 5-10 Realtors in your local market to begin with.

**Action**: Start creating a document with their: name, contact details, and a short description of their niche or most recent activity (for example, “Jane Doe—fixer upper content on Instagram”).

### 2. Use a Warm Introduction (Even If Cold)

**Why It Matters**: Realtors get pitched constantly. A warm vibe – even without prior connection – cuts through the noise.

**Step-by-Step Instruction**:

– **Utilization of Shared Experiences**: If you have any mutual connections or contacts, bring them up. Comment or reference on social media about local events they attended or anything personally related to their digital footprint. For instance, mention: “Your post about that intricate deal was something to behold—especially the way you executed it. Bravo!”

– **Leverage Value**: Mention it in context to the reputation of GCA (Gustan Cho Associates). “I’m with Gustan Cho Associates—the best at closing impossible loans—so probably a few of your clients could be benefited here.”

– **Channel Options**:

– **Email**: Clear email body says “Hello [Name], I’m [Your Name] the BDM at Gustan Cho Associates. We are great with [exact skill, e.g. quick closings or non-QM loans]. Want to discuss a strategy to improve your next transaction? A swift cup of coffee works or just a call?”

– **LinkedIn**: Let’s create a connection like so: “Hi [Name], I’m BDM at GCA and I have worked with [niche]. I believe there are some exclusive loan options that we have that could enhance your deals and save them. Would you be okay if I DM you so we could discuss?”

– **Phone**: Taking 30 seconds for a call could really stand out, if you manage to get their number: “Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from Gustan Cho Associates.”

“I help Realtors close more deals with our [specific benefit]. Can we set aside 10 minutes to discuss it?”

**Tip:** Try your best to combine all three channels. Some Realtors prefer emails while others appreciate calls.

### 3. Provide Measurable Value Right Away

**Why It Matters:** Realtors are not going to partner unless there is value for them. As a BDM, focus on improving their operations or making their business more successful.

**What You Need To Do**:

– **Offer A Solution**: “Have you ever had a deal go ghost due to financing? I have more than 210 lenders available without any overlays. Let me pre-approve your next buyer and I will do it at no cost and no strings attached.”

– **Give Out A Resource**: “I have put together a simple resource guide on [insert topic here: specifically non-QM loans for self-employed buyers]. Would you like me to send it to you? It could be useful for your customers.”

– **Special Offer**: “With our Preferred Realtor Program, you receive exclusive leads, and co-marketing opportunities. Would you want to find out more?”

– **Testimonial**: “Who here has heard that we just closed a deal in 14 days for a Realtor’s client who got denied in every possible place? I am more than glad to walk you through how we can do that for you!”

**Next Steps**: Come up with a one sentence pitch that delivers the statement of everything you love about Gustan Cho Associates (for example “We close 100% of pre-approvals with options other lenders don’t have”) and use it as a mantra.

### 4. Casual Meetup With No Strings Attached

**Why You Should Care**: Face-to-face communications are way more effective than online ones, meaning more trustworthy, without prior contact. This gives your clients an easier way to join in.

**Steps to Accomplish This:**

– **Event Suggestions**:

– “Come to my coffee drop-in” “I’m hosting a quick coffee meetup for local Realtors next Thursday. Come say hi and let’s talk shop.”

– “Lunch-and-learn” “Come join me for a 30-minute lunch next week. We’ll discuss how we’re closing tough loans real fast. Bring a question or a deal you’re stuck on.”

– **Invite** “Extend the invite via email or LinkedIn. It can be as brief as – No sales pitch, just good coffee and an opportunity to connect.”

– **Venue** “Reasonable locations could be a café or a co-working space. Opt for something central and keep the attendance 5-10 invitees for intimacy.”

– **Follow-Up** “Bring a one-pager about your program and swap contact details. Then, you can follow up with – Great meeting you, let’s get that [specific idea] rolling.”

**Tips**: Persuade a neutral party like a title rep to co-host. Enhances credibility and draws a crowd.

### 5. Use Digital Presence Proactively

**Why It Matters**: Real estate professionals identify their business associates before attending any event. Having strong online presence makes you approachable.

**How To Do It**:

– **Content – Highly Specific**: Share tips on LinkedIn and Instagram with targeting specialists. Post content such as “3 Ways Realtors Can Spot a Reliable Lender” or “How We Saved a Deal with a 500 FICO Buyer.” Don’t forget to tag the Realtors you are targeting.

– **Testimonials** Share a hypothetical video or quote from realtors: “Jane closed her last deal with us in 10 days because our team is ridiculous.”

– **Call-to-Action**: As we discussed, tweeting “Got a messy deal? DM me, I will consider it!” invites them to reach out first.

### Action

Every week for 15 minutes, post content that provides real value to build reputation.

### 6. Persistence Without Pestering

**Why It Matters**: Realtors don’t engage immediately. You have to stay relevant to them, but not in a dominating way.

**How to Do It:**

– **Follow-Up Cadence:** Try the “wait and see” approach for your first outreach. If no response, wait a week and try a different angle on a different channel, e.g., “I saw rates drop today; could be a win for your buyer. Free to chat?”

– **Drip Nurture:** Every 2-3 weeks, following up with: “Just closed a specific deal—thought of you!”

– **Stay Posted:** Comment on their posts, share their listing with a note: “Awesome property! I can pre-approve buyers—fast.”

**Tip:** After 3-4 no response touches, put them on a nurture list and check in 60 days, but don’t burn the bridge.

### What is the Best Approach for a BDM?

The best approach merges **relationship outreach** and **personal outreach**:

1. **Start Online**: Send a benefit-centric email or LinkedIn message to 10 Realtors to get their attention and highlight key advantages to working with Gustan Cho Associates.

2. **Offline Follow-up**: Enable them to attend a laidback, small group meeting that will happen within the next two weeks to help build rapport.

3. **Close It**: Give them what I call a “one-man show” proposal. Make sure that you keep your end—solving problems that showed up during the initial contact—and build trust.

This combination systematizes everything so that the BDM will be primarily viewed as someone who builds relationships and the company’s services are made known. Some Realtors thrive on referrals, so after a while, you get some partners, deliver results, and voila!

How is your area’s local market? Do tell if you’d like me to refine this for a particular audience!

[Lisa Jones]

We appreciate your input! Nurturing a new referral partner relationship as a mortgage loan officer (MLO) centers on trust, value, and strategic networking. Targeting Realtors and other professionals through direct messaging on LinkedIn is an excellent suggestion, especially with a more refined niche. Those thoughts, as well as further ways to enhance your referral network, are listed below.

LinkedIn Direct Messaging Targeting Strategies: Benefits and Drawbacks

Pros:

• Realtors, financial advisors, and other relevant partners are frequently found on LinkedIn.
• Targeting someone within your value proposition (first-time home buyers, veterans, luxury properties, or non-QM loans) makes outreach more relevant and eliminates the need to stand out from the responsive-focused LinkedIn marketplace.

Cons:

Highly Targeted:

• Specialization can lead to parameters that are too narrow, negating value for realtors who need more education marketing services from you.

Personalized:

• Paying attention to recent posts or clients shows consideration, strengthening brand image.

Costly for You:

• Direct outreach via LinkedIn may take time and require little monetary investment.

Cons:

Response Rates:

• Recipients will not respond to a cold message unless it solicits something interesting or the user searches for partners.

Time Investment:

• Follow-up and timing messages are extremely important for converting interests into actions.
• Crafting personalized messages strategically is crucial.

Perception:

• Unsolicited messages can be viewed as spammy blunders without proper care and consideration.

Best Practices:

Niche Alignment: Combine “Realtor” + “first time homebuyer” + your city on the LinkedIn search filter.

If you like quick, non-QM loans, target Realtors who hint at needing those services in their posts or profiles.

Engage First: Send outlines “On Linkedin” where you briefly follow them, and this will build ignitions for intentions to get known closer.

Small, Simple, Meaningful Message:

• A person can also send messages to potential buyers.
• One serving gives the potential buyers a new suggestion: “Let’s meet, get coffee, I pay.”
• You can’t keep them over 100 words.

Follow Up:

• If they don’t respond after a week, send a gentle follow-up: “Just following up—still believe we could make a great impact through [specific benefit].
• Would be awesome to connect if you’re available!”

Track Results:

• Start a spreadsheet to document who you contacted, their area of work, and their responses to further tailor your approach.

This is useful if lined up effectively. Try setting a goal of 10-15 tailored messages sent out weekly and truly centering on the content of the messages rather than the number sent.

Further Suggestions to Develop Referral Partners

Other than LinkedIn, broadening your target range greatly improves your likelihood of success. Here’s how:

Use Local Networking Gatherings

Why:

• When establishing trust, in-person interactions are prioritized over online interactions.
• Realtors frequently visit open houses, meetings held by the chamber of commerce, or real estate investor clubs.

How:

• Attend with business cards featuring catchy phrases like “Creative Solutions, Fast Closings” and inquire about their challenges, such as “What do you struggle with the most when working with lenders?”
• Please provide a detailed answer on how you intend to assist, for instance, promptly pre-approving their buyers.

Tip:

• As a realtor, consider organizing a tailored breakfast or happy hour event showcasing your niche.
• Market it as a “meet the lender” occasion.

Partner with Complementary Professionals

Who:

• Realtors are not the only ones who matter. Homebuyers interact with title company representatives, real estate attorneys, CPAs, financial planners, and divorce lawyers.

How:

• Take on the role of their mortgage specialist and offer great mortgage rates.
• For instance, extend this offer to a CPA: “I can assist your clients in converting tax refunds into down payments.
• Let’s host a webinar together.”
• You can tell a divorce attorney: “I focus on newly single clients who need refinancing or purchasing assistance.
• May I send you my information?”

Edge:

• It is a well-known fact that realtors compete more for MLO referrals.

Create a Referral Incentive Program

Why:

• Everyone desires profit.
• Defining a purpose in a structured program is reward-based and self-benefitted.

How:

• Offer a tangible gift according to the tier of clients referred.
• For example, “For every referred client who closes, I’ll reward you with a gift card of $100” (subject to local RESPA compliance; check local rules).
• Or make it costless and say, “I’ll pre-approve your clients with buyer’s cards in 24 hours; it’s a guarantee.”

Execution:

• Send emails or one-pagers to existing contacts and new meetings.
• One-pagers are great for meetings.

Showcase Expertise Online

Why:

• Referring partners are looking for someone with reliable expertise as an MLO.
• Showcasing content makes you credible.

How:

• Create and post informative short-form videos on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube.
• Consider “How Non-QM Loans Save Deals” and “Why VA Loans Are a Game-Changer for Veterans.”

Bonus:

• Feel free to offer to guest speak at their team meetings or client seminars.

Use Existing Clients as Introduction Leverage

Why:

• Satisfied homeowners who purchased through you have real estate connections.

How:

• In the post-closing meeting, tell them, “I value working with more clients like you.
• Is there a Realtor or real estate professional you’d suggest I connect with?”
• If they say yes, ask for an intro email or permission to use their name and say they agreed to be mentioned.

Optimal Approach to This Problem

Your specific strengths and the market you are in will determine the “best” approach:

• If you are tech-inclined and patient, targeting LinkedIn messages is one of the cheapest.
• You must stick with it for 3 to 6 months to see traction.
• If you are more of a people person, you can attend local networking events and even host your own.
• The latter, in particular, should help you to forge deeper and faster connections.
• If you have a specific niche, focus on content and complementary partnerships to elevate your position and become the sought-after expert.

A combination of approaches usually yields optimal results. For example, you could use LinkedIn to identify prospects, meet them personally to finalize the deal and maintain the relationship by offering consistent value (such as updating them on rates or a weekly special for their clients). As time passes, your referral network will continue to grow, thanks to partners witnessing the results you deliver.

What is your area of specialization or unique value as an MLO? If you provide more information, I’d be happy to customize this further!