Tag: closing

Thank you team! Much appreciated!

I just wanted to share an experience I had last night. We had a file which is closing, Friday December 29, between the holidays. The last day to send/sign the CD was last night, Tuesday December 26, and our rate lock also expires the same day. The borrower was looking forward to moving over the holiday weekend, the file also helped the real estate agent hit his “goal” for the year. Therefore, it was very important that it close this year to all parties involved.

We received the CD and noticed that we were not using all the expected seller concessions. This was all happening late in the day and we needed solutions. Jana Spencer and David Garret (underwriters) were both on the phone an hour +, past business hours helping with a solution. Once the situation was resolved, we realized our closer had went home for the evening. In a panic, we sent out an email to all the closers asking for help. We received a response within a few short minutes from Bonnie Carroll at 9:08 PM EST. Regardless of where Bonnie is located – it was after hours, and she could have just as easily ignored the email with no repercussions. Bonnie sent out my CD, borrower signed around 10:00pm. Bonnie, Jana and David saved my closing, and saved me the hassle of all the apologies I would have needed to make. Thank you team! Much appreciated! Best wishes in 2018! #benchmarkdoesitbetter, #sometimesthisbusinessmakesmeold #happy2018

Colin Quiney — Loan Officer in Grand Rapids, MI

An Experience That Truly Is The Benchmark Magic.

Just wanted to share an experience that truly is the Benchmark Magic.

David Zambelas is one of our loan officers here in Greenville, and he does unbelievable work on a regular basis. It is truly a pleasure to work with such a consummate professional day in and day out. He had a past client that was under contract for a condo. After waiting 30 days for FHA approval, they denied the condo submission, devastating his client who was desperate to be in her new home before the holidays.

David received a new contract for a recently built Townhome this Monday 12/11 at 2:43 pm, at which time he and I discussed the potential closing dates. The kicker is, the seller is going to be out of town for a couple weeks through the holidays, which would require us to close no sooner than mid-January, but if we moved extremely fast and accurately we’d have a chance to potentially close the following Friday on 12/22.

What anyone would call a long shot in this business.

Remember, David does unbelievable work, so after getting his team working on their pieces, having his client sign new disclosures just 2 hours after obtaining the new contract, updating all the required documentation, and moving the file in to processing……we had a file complete with Title, Appraisal, New Construction Docs, CO, the whole shooting match…..in less than 3 days.

Since we had a full file to submit, I made a call to Becky Ruiz to see if she would be able to help push this file into Submissions ASAP. As always, Becky’s greatness shined through the phone, and moments after hanging up I received the email from Emilio Santos – “file submitted”.

I then called our Underwriter, Melissa Soliz, to check on the possibility of fitting this into her workload today or Monday, while explaining the situation. Greatness shined through the phone again, and she happily obliged to review the file TODAY.

Long story short, we just got a full CLEAR TO CLOSE on Friday 12/15 11:57 am (3 days, 21 hours, 46 minutes after contract receipt) on an FHA purchase, within 2 hours of submission.

We are closing next Friday 12/22 at 3:00 with time to spare.

David’s client is so happy, she is getting her wish….to move into her new home before the holidays. Talk about a Christmas Miracle.

All Thanks to the combination of hard work from David, Donna, Jeremy, Jared, Emilio, Becky, the lockdesk, and Melissa.

That’s magic. Benchmark Magic.

Steven Gosson — Operations Manager in Greenville, SC

We Are Clicking and Looking Great

I have to say that we are clicking and looking great.. I just left a closing and we were in and out in 32 minutes – all parties were like really we are done.

Priscilla – turned my close docs around and bang issues a funding number.

On my closings – This has been happening like clockwork for me lately and it is so much appreciated.

Thank you so much for being awesome for me, all.

Paul Edgell — Loan Originator in Freehold, NJ

When we finish strong, we do not create ‘raving fans’ we create ‘disciples’!

Making a prospect a Client is a process – it not an event. So many folks are involved in the process once the prospect goes under contract…we have the set-up folks, we have the appraisal department, we have the lock desk, we have the underwriter, we have a ton of people working on the request for financing however none of them, in my opinion, have the pressure to get everything done turbo fast like the Closer does. Yes, every department is important but the Closers are the ones who are closest to the finish line and they are really the ones who make sure we finish the race on schedule – many forget how something started but everyone remembers how we finish. When we finish strong, we do not create ‘raving fans’ we create ‘disciples’!

Every transaction the Closers make sure we cross the finish line and make us look good not only to our Clients but also to our Partners. I am thankful to all the folks in the Closing Department who make this happen every day for the Raleigh Branch – they are ALL are 5 Star! There are 4 ROCKSTARS I would like to highlight (in alphabetical order):

Velma Gray
Patti Jamme
Rudy Lugo
Shannon Turner

Everyday these 4 ROCKSTARS and the entire Closing Team grinds to make it happen – I am thankful for EVERYONE in the Closing Department!

In closing, good people have good leaders – I am thankful that Jody Price’s leadership in the Closing Department and I am truly thankful for Kay Domm as well.

Kevin Martini — Branch Manager in Raleigh, NC

Nobody Does It Better, Truly The Best!!!

Hey guys, wanted to give KUDOS to an amazing team effort.

Chris Montz, had a file referred to him from a new realtor. She needed to close the first week of November. He set the expectations but told her we would do our best. Chris received the contract and 9 days later the file is cleared to close and a package has been sent to the closing attorney.

Today, I received a clear to close 17 days ahead of contract close date, on one of my files. 17 days from contract to clear to close, with no rush. Both realtors involved in this transaction have not been referral partners, I believe this is going to change. We have moved the closing date forward and everyone is thrilled. Same great team!

17 years in this industry and I am amazed each and every day with Benchmark. Nobody does it better, truly the best!!! WOOHOO :)

Valerie Barnett Spring — Branch Manager in Birmingham, AL

Talk About Benchmark Magic!!

Talk about Benchmark Magic!! This was Houdini-like!

This past Friday while in the meeting in Key Biscayne[ on the Benchmark Production Trip for 2017], my Loan Manager Tim let me know the desk review on the loan for my personal Financial Planner came in quite a bit lower. A field review was now needed, and those can take 3-4 days. Of course closing was the following Thursday, (back to back closing and moving trucks lined up et al) so with TRID we needed to get the field review back on Monday, clear to close through Vicki in underwriting, lockdesk cleared and closing docs out to the attorney by end of biz on Monday. And this was Friday late morning… Ummm. Good luck with that…!!

I got with Poulin, who had us circle the wagons with Debbie Neill for a super-rush appraisal request for the field review.

We received the field review Monday early afternoon, value was confirmed, and within an hour we had Clear to Close, and closing department was getting docs out.

I have been in this biz for 27+yrs, and even when I owned my own company, I would not have thought it possible for this to happen in our crazy industry.

THANK YOU to Tim Jones, Jim Poulin, Vicki Maley, Debbie Neill, lockdesk, and our amazing closing department.
It is an honor to work with all of you; the focus is always on the client, and THAT is what makes the Benchmark Magic so powerful!!

Great job all! Happy Client Out of the Hat trick a success!

Chris Young — Greensboro NC Branch Manager

A True Professional With A Servant Heart

So the loan has its clear to close and so many people involved with the transaction think the job is done and I know it is not however sometime I think it is :)

I have first-hand confirmation that attorneys are not the easiest people to work with nor are their gate keepers. Even when we are on cruise control from time to time there is a last-minute change – this is not pressure, this is STRESS however everyday this is what the closer does.

I am thankful for every Benchmark closer…they have a very hard job to push and pull the loan across the finish line. Here is what is crazy…not one closer is better than another closer – everyone the works on my files is a true professional with a servant heart to make things happen!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE OF OUR CLOSERS – I am thankful for what you do every day during normal business hours and for the extra effort after business hours too.

Kevin Martini — Branch Manager in Raleigh, NC

Consistently There For Us

I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know what an outstanding job Melissa Truex does for us. Sometimes you forget how good someone is, because there are never any issues. We have worked with a couple other closers recently and it reminded me just how great of a job Melissa really does. Melissa is a top-notch closer and never (for us) makes mistakes! Every time our branch needs anything she is consistently there for us, if she doesn’t know the answer to our question(s) she will find out from someone who does. We could not be more thankful to have her as a part of our team.

Russell Gerry — Branch Manager in Louisville, KY

Impressed by Every Single Operations Department Here at Benchmark

Good Afternoon!

Let me tell you guys how good our closing department is! I just received a call from an attorney that I have a closing with tomorrow, and she could not stop raving about Patti Jamme in closing! She went on and on about how easy she was to deal with and how fast and efficient our closing department is, I am continually impressed by every single operations department here at Benchmark and I wanted to share this great story with you guys!

Keep up the great work!

Jordan Sherer — Loan Originator in Greenville, SC

Exceeded Expectations and Performed Exceptionally

I wanted to give notoriety to the team that has helped me through onboarding and my first file.

Simply put I submitted my first file last Tuesday and got clear to close today.

The impact to be able to transition companies whilst getting a clear to close in under 2 weeks is unheard of and a super recruiting tool.

There have been so many people that have helped, I will not name them all, but EVERY team member I have worked with has exceeded expectations and performed exceptionally.

Please pass my thanks and praise to everyone, blessed to be part of such a great tactical team.

Thank you and cheers!

Nathaniel Merrick, Branch Manager in Tampa, FL