One of the primary functions we play as a Strategic Growth Partner with our clients is to set up meetings with top producer or sales leader candidates that are keeping their options open. More often than not, these candidates may have heard of, or competed with, our client managers, but never met or sat down to talk about the opportunity of working together. Thus, these are new relationships and opportunities to ‘get to know each other’ with the possibility of establishing a Model-Match and an ‘at bat’ for working together. Top producers and sales leaders WILL keep their options open to learn about and understand an organization’s Leadership, Culture, Operations, Technology, Business Model and Geographic expertise.  The reason: to determine if there is a way to tangibly create greater efficiency to produce work-life balance or to grow their business in a new organization verses their current one. Some managers are really good at these meetings and others are not. Read More >

By Brad Finkelstein

As companies like MetLife exit the business, creating new office and personnel recruitment opportunities for mortgage lenders, a survey from Hammerhouse LLC of originators found that 42% are looking for corporate culture and leadership from a possible new employer.

Products was the response from 24%, while better compensation was the choice of 23%, according to the Mission Viejo, Calif.-based recruiting company’s second annual Survey of Originator Opinions.

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Here’s the scenario: You’re having a great production month: referrals are coming in, loans are closing, and life is good. Everything is working the way you promised and the bond is strong between you and your customer and/or client. Then something happens, such as a delay in a funding, an added closing condition or a title mix-up. The delay can put a strain on the relationship. You will have to have a difficult conversation, so here are tips to accomplish your goal of successfully addressing the issue: Read More >

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA – (February 23, 2012),

Hammerhouse LLC, an expanding national recruiting and strategic growth firm for the financial service industry with mortgage sales and leadership placement at its core, has announced the hiring of Anne Marie Bachmann as VP, Strategic Growth Partner. Anne Marie is being hired to help support Hammerhouse’s client growth and expand the company’s national mortgage recruiting infrastructure. Anne Marie will report directly to Drew Waterhouse, managing director and CEO of Hammerhouse and will be based in our new office in Redmond, WA. Anne Marie’s sales, recruiting and management career spans 20 plus years in the Puget Sound Area of Washington State, and she has been recruiting exclusively within the mortgage industry since 2006. Anne Marie has had the unique experience of being an internal production headhunter for national and regional depositories as well as a regional mortgage banker. Her depth and relationships in the Pacific Northwest span many years and she has impacted many people positively in that time. Read More >

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA – (February 23, 2012),

Hammerhouse LLC, an expanding national recruiting and strategic growth firm for the financial service industry with mortgage sales and leadership placement at its core, has announced the hiring of Anne Marie Bachmann as VP, Strategic Growth Partner. Anne Marie is being hired to help support Hammerhouse’s client growth and expand the company’s national mortgage recruiting infrastructure. Anne Marie will report directly to Drew Waterhouse, managing director and CEO of Hammerhouse and will be based in our new office in Redmond, WA. Anne Marie’s sales, recruiting and management career spans 20 plus years in the Puget Sound Area of Washington State, and she has been recruiting exclusively within the mortgage industry since 2006. Anne Marie has had the unique experience of being an internal production headhunter for national and regional depositories as well as a regional mortgage banker. Her depth and relationships in the Pacific Northwest span many years and she has impacted many people positively in that time. Read More >

I often ask, “How many cold calls did you make this week to top producers (realtors, financial advisors?) in your market?” Eight times out of 10, the answer is zero.

In a perfect world, you would get warm introductions from your current referral partners. But what if you have a list of last quarter’s top producers and you decide you want to work with people on that list? Then you need to call them. Here are some tips for cold calling effectively: Read More >

Are you Model-Matched With Your Current Mortgage Lender?

The mortgage industry is on the verge of a new chapter, characterized by lower overall production volumes relative to years past, greater compliance burdens and lower product-based differentiation among participants. However, lost in this seemingly depressing news are the seeds of real opportunity for firms and individual originators well-suited to the new environment. A much smaller pool of players has created a need to achieve greater production with fewer originators. No, that is not a contradiction—due to the shrinking of the mortgage industry, the loans closed per originator figures are actually headed higher. This reality has put originators with a documentable track
record of strong production in great demand. Could this be the time for you to consider a move to a mortgage lender in which you are better model-matched?  Read More