As I’ve been reminded by my Ohio friends, if you don’t like the weather here, just stick around for a couple of minutes. In other words, the weather in Ohio changes and fluctuates faster than my spaceship accelerates to hyper speed. Maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement, but I can attest that since taking residence in this lovely locale, I’ve experienced all four of your Earth seasons in a single day… and on multiple occasions.
I bring this to your attention because Ohio’s weather has seemingly moved back into the late winter months, with overnight freeze warnings and daytime temperatures well below normal. As my loyal readers already know, I’m not a big proponent of these frigid temperatures; however, the cold weather has turned me onto one of your Earthly treasures known appetizingly as comfort food.
Whether it’s goodies with a high sugar content or meals loaded with carbohydrates, comfort food provides you with a feeling of well-being and consolation – and it’s the perfect remedy for cold weather blues. Unfortunately for me, my ship’s small pantry only has room for my favorite indulgent Earth food: Moon Pies. So, if I want some comfort food, I must resort to online grocery shopping (I need to have my groceries delivered due to my appearance, as you can imagine – the last time I visited a grocery store, someone remarked that the frozen calamari had come to life!).
As I loaded my virtual shopping cart with comfort foods, I ran into several cases of foods available in both regular and “instant” varieties. Over my years here on your planet, I’ve tried both varieties of many different types of food: breakfast cereals, soups, mashed potatoes and pudding. It’s a rather extensive list, as I love to embrace your expansive and diverse menus.
Just like most A/B comparisons, there are pros and cons to both regular and instant varieties of food. For example, the instant varieties offer convenience with its preparation, saving both time and effort. However, this convenience oftentimes has a direct impact on quality and flavor. While there are times when “instant” serves a purpose and works for the task at hand, the quality you get by spending the time and effort with the regular versions certainly pay off, as my stomachs can attest.
The same can be said about mortgage lending. There are many online services, big banks and brokers out there who hang their hats on the fact that they offer quick and easy home loan applications and services. It’s a safe bet that by taking up these providers on their “instant” offerings, potential borrowers lose some quality of service while going through what turns out to be a less than appetizing process.
A more tasteful option is credit union mortgage lenders and the home lending TLC we bring to the table. Sure, we also offer speedy and convenient options for borrowers to utilize, like online applications, mobile apps and other digital tech tools. It’s that “personal touch” that separates us from the others.
We’ve long discussed the importance of technology and digital solutions in your overall credit union and mortgage offerings (for example, see my previous post, Press 1 to Speak with Me). It’s a digital world out there, and a significant population of your home loan borrowers consists of individuals who have grown up with technology, making digital solutions a vital part of your credit union offerings. Where the appetizing magic comes in is when we pair that technology with the personal touch that comes with the credit union way of doing business.
With this tasteful twosome, credit union mortgage lenders can satisfy the digital palate while providing a wholesome and fulfilling feast to potential borrowers. Plus, there’s another tidbit of information you need to communicate: While the “instant” version of a mortgage appears to be faster, it takes about the same amount of time as all other home loan processes. After all, there are limits to how quickly a mortgage can be applied for, processed and closed, limits that seriously level the playing field for all home loan lenders.
The important point here is to make sure you’re always transparent with your potential borrowers and members when it comes to the ins-and-outs of the mortgage loan process, the qualification requirements and timelines. After all, transparency is a huge differentiator of trusted credit union lenders.
Don’t leave a bad taste in the mouths of your potential borrowers and members. Provide them with your full gourmet mortgage menu, satisfy their home loan appetites and make sure they leave the [closing] table satisfied and with a set of keys to their new home in hand!