This Is A Family We Are Helping

This guy rolls up his sleeves and grinds – who am I talking about? Trevor Ferguson. Trevor understands that this is not just a request for financing but this is a family we are helping. He makes the process very smooth…he has turbo fast turn time & he is very easy to work with. When I say easy, I mean insanely easy.

Now listen…he does not always say yes however I wish he would but, whenever there is a bump in the process he helps by being proactive to find a solution.

Proud that Trevor is my Partner.

Kevin Martini — Branch Manager in Raleigh, NC

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 Continue to be Touched DAILY by the MAGIC.

Tess, I just wanted to pass a little insight along to you. Cristal and I have been at this a long time. We’ve been through some good stuff, and then there was the BAD.

Today, I made a call to a crusty old farm and ranch Realtor to tell him his deal was Clear to Close. Granted he is a nice enough guy, but still he’s been in this business a long time and he’s seen a lot. When I told him the news, there was a bit of silence on the other end. I kind of fell out a bit as I waited for him to say something. Then he came back with

“I have NEVER had this happen before…. I have been doing this over 20 years and I have closed several VA deals, NEVER has one gone so smoothly and closed on time before!”

Tess, I know it takes all of us to make things go as we plan. We all have to have the right attitude and keep our train on the tracks. This was one of those deals that on our end wasn’t going smoothly. Great credit file, but wrong title company who didn’t get the last piece of commitment to us until yesterday(37 days into the contract), survey company who promised the survey a couple of weeks ago, and a VA appraiser who forgot that they are supposed to have the appraisal done in less than a month…..when nothing else was going as we planned for it to, you swooped down and said “we will keep this moving forward”. I can’t tell you how deeply things like this are appreciated by Cristal and I. Tess, you need to know the impact words like those have on how everything goes. We continue to be touched DAILY by the MAGIC. David, you continue to amaze me as well, and we know that you and your team believe in how things should go – way deep down. This is evident because we see this in Tess. I just wanted to say a real heart felt “Thank You” to you all, the belief you all have in the way we do things, and in Cristal and I, is very touching.

At this point we cannot imagine being anywhere else, and wonder why we took so long to get here.

Tessa Easley — Branch Manager in San Angelo, TX

Above and Beyond

Just wanted to take a moment to give kudos, brownie points, and a gold star to Eric [Lan]. I’ve only had a couple IT needs, but Eric goes above and beyond helping out. His communication/knowledge/follow up, are top notch!!! I’ve owned and operated a computing consulting company, and would have loved to have Eric as part of my staff.

Nancy Massa — Sr. Loan Officer in Balboa Island, CA

There Is An Amazing Crew In The Appraisal Department

Many people just remember the main actors in a show and they forget that EVERY award-winning show has a crew that works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure the main actors can do what they do and that they do it well.

We hit the button in the system to order the appraisal – it is pretty simply isn’t it? However, there is an amazing crew in the appraisal department that are World-Class, and, without them, I could not do what I do.

The folks in the appraisal department are like my light switch in the office …let me explain… every morning I turn it on and, expecting it work, it does! Every time I hit the ‘order appraisal’ button, I expect it to work, and it does, & it ONLY does because of the dedicated people in that department.

I am so very thankful for not just one person, I am thankful for everyone in the appraisal department.

Kevin Martini — Branch Manager in Raleigh, NC

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

The True Grit Of Being An Underwriter

One of the definitions for the word ‘grit’ in the dictionary is; ‘courage and resolve’…I believe that Vicki Maley displays the true grit of being an underwriter. She has the courage to push and pull the guidelines to limits and resolve to find a solution. I must also share she has a ton of patience as anyone that knows me, I require a ton of patience.

Every day I am thankful that Vicki is part of our Branch 1859 (Raleigh) …could not imagine doing what I do without her.

Kevin Martini — Branch Manager in Raleigh, NC

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