We’ve all had to get a home loan and most of us have been smart about it — we go to a mortgage company.
A few still think the internet is the font of all knowledge and thrift. It’s oh-so-easy to find someone who will loan you money. If they don’t spam you, they (literally) pop up on you. Only those who seek to enlarge parts of your body seem to have a more sophisticated system of getting our attention.
Really now, would anyone do business with a site named financefix.com? Yes, there are ... those whose finances are in need of “fixing,” which probably means they’ll get what they deserve.
The internet has opened new challenges for everyone in this business. It has meant that those who do business the traditional way must adapt to the new times, and those who serve the business must work hard to stay ahead. Can you imagine the thoughts of those whose livelihood depends on MLS?
The internet is making it easy — check that: too easy — for the consumer to think the American Dream is just a mouse click or two away. The challenge faced by agents and lenders, and even builders, is to get faces in front of people and let them know that you don’t find happiness when you deal with people you can’t see, and whose only interest is your wallet.
• • •
Congratulations to all who brought home awards from the Florida Association of REALTORS convention and from the Orlando builders conference.
And to Russell Grooms for his continuing rise in the FAR ranks. Becoming the FAR president-elect is a long road, one which has more potholes than even the Better Jacksonville Plan could fill, and he’s proven himself a good statesman in addition to being two things we already know: a good REALTOR and a good fisherman.
There’s lots of leadership here. Cathy Whatley is on the verge of the National Association of REALTORS presidency, Ron Coppenbarger is just a year past running the Florida Home Builders Association and now Grooms has moved to president-elect of FAR.
And now, Gov. Bush, you can do us a favor by appointing a North Florida resident (at least one, preferably two) to both the Florida Real Estate Commission and the Construction Industry Licensing Board. We have good spokesmen at the top of the associations; we need them on the regulatory bodies, too.
• • •
By the time you read this, our Michele Newbern Gillis may have added a baby boy to her family. If she hasn’t, it going to be soon. Believe me, very soon.
She’ll be taking maternity leave and some extra time so she and Frank can enjoy their first, so please send anything you have to our newsroom at [email protected]. Or, call me at 356-2466.
— Fred Seely is editor of Realty/Builder
Connection and can be reached at