Kim Murphy | Mortgage Loans in DuPage, Kane, Cook, Lake, Will Counties Illinois

Playing in the rain as a child was always fun. Running and jumping in the puddles. Finding worms everywhere and bringing them home to mom. As an adult the rain has new meaning. The rain can be powerful, destructive, beautiful, refreshing and cool. After a rain you see the grass get greener, the flowers perk up, a rainbow from time to time.

I have been blogging on ActiveRain since May 2007 but paused in November 2007. I was active and addicted in the beginning, made many friends and new contacts. I received many who found me because of playing in the rain. I have closed many loans because of my playing in the rain.

As the Holidays were near and life tends to take over my last blog was November 19, 2007. But during my short time of giving my opinions, my experiences and providing information to the world wide web through Activerain, I became a staple on the first page of google and yahoo when searing for a DuPage Mortgage Lender or other similar versions.

I am #2, 3, 5 and 7 on page 1 of google!

I have recently posted 2 blogs in August but if you notice the older blogs are still showing. Google seems to like me better as I am on the first page several times, but the #1 on Yahoo.

My point being that playing in the rain is still just as much fun as it was as a kid, but realizing the power of it is tremendous. I just closed a loan on Monday from someone who found me on the Internet from blogs that were between May 2007 and November 2007. That is powerful stuff!

I am not suggesting that you should take time away because you will be on page one anyway because someone else could decide they want to play too and take your place.

I have built my business on referrals. I have made a name for myself in the mortgage industry as someone you can trust, a mortgage lender that will answer your calls and give you honest information and advice. I find blogging another way to get the information out there so that more consumers are educated. I am not an expert in any one thing when it comes to mortgages. I know mortgage very well and I know how what I am doing. I say I am not an expert only because every situation is different and programs seem to change almost daily as of late. But I know that no matter the situation I am the perfect lender to help!

So keep playing in the rain and blogging to educate and inspire!

Kim Murphy

1st Advantage Mortgage

Yesterday afternoon in the mail was a letter addressed to my husband from Countrywide. The envelope stamped important information about your account. I typically just shred this because its advertisement to refinance or take a home equity loan. But I opened it this time and the letter reads:

"We are writing to inform you that we recently became aware that a Countrywide employee (now former) may have sold unauthorized personal information about you to a third party. Based on a joint investigation conducted by Countrywide and law enforcement authorities, it was determined that the customer information involved in this incident included your name, address, Social Security number, mortgage loan number, and various other loan and application information."

The letter goes on to talk about the necessary precautions that should be taken and the termination of this individual to access customer information. (I would hope so)

An offer of 2 years credit monitoring has been offered free of charge to my husband! Hold the phone, I'm on that loan too.

At the bottom of this letter is a hot line. I called the hot line number and John answers asking me my name and reference number. I tell John that I would like to discuss the fact that I am a co-borrower on this mortgage loan information that has been sold to a third party.

John takes a moment and says let me read you the script I have been given. He reads the script to me that basically says as a co-borrower on the account my information has not been compromised and therefore I have nothing to worry about. I explain to John that as a co-borrower on the account my information is included on the account. Just as if I was to default on this loan or miss a payment, they would not ignore the fact that I am on this loan and only go after my husband.

After asking to speak with a manger as I was put on hold and assured many times by John that my information is safe. A manager never made it to the phone as they were very busy with other individuals calling, probably about the same thing I called about.

Knowing that your information has been compromised is frustrating. Talking to the Company that hired an employee that compromised your information and having them read from a script as a blanket statement is even more frustrating.

Countrywide, if you are going to take responsibility for this as you should, you should also take responsibility for all parties involved not just the primary on the account.

I know this subject has been covered before however I find it necessary to repeat. I find many buyers and sellers going it alone. You don't have to do it by yourself, you shouldn't fumble in the dark feeling your way through it all. The process of buying or selling a home is not as easy as we may make it look sometimes.

For sellers: Listing your home with a Realtor is a huge advantage! When you list with a professional you will have someone on your side. They will show you an accurate value of your home and list it accordingly, a professional to guide you in negotiating the contract, marketing your home, notifying other Realtors in the area about your home, holding an open house, and working with you to get it sold at a fair and accurate price. When you stick a sign in your yard and pick out a price to sell your house, do you know what the other homes in the area have sold for? Do you know if you are selling yourself short or setting yourself up for a long time waiting by listing too high?

For buyers: Did you know that working with a Realtor is not an expense to you? Working with a professional to show you homes in the area and price range you want is what they do best. When you just pick out homes on the Internet, do you know if they are listed for a fair price? How do you know if you are getting a good deal? Are you sure the area you are looking for has the best schools as you thought? Are there any special assessments that you may not know about ahead of time, will the taxes in that area be affordable?

The above just lists a few things professional Realtors do for buyers and sellers. Behind the scenes many more tasks are completed for you to have the best experience in purchasing or selling a home.

When a Realtor offers you names and phone numbers to an attorney, home inspector, mortgage lender or an insurance agent they are giving you professionals they have worked with in the past. In today's market this is more important than ever! With the real estate market changing almost daily, you want to make sure you are working with professionals that will work with you to obtain your ultimate goal of buying or selling.

The misconception of referrals is that the person referring you to another professional is that they will receive some type of commission. This is NOT true and not allowed! The reason for the referral is to work with another professional and know that the job will be done properly for YOU!

Check with friends or family to see who they are worked with, read the blogs on the Internet and get to know a professional. You will be happy you decided to not go it alone!

Kim Murphy

Providing home loans for Illinois including DuPage, Kane, Cook, Lane and Will counties for over 11 years!