Happy Holidays!

Hello, Friends!

As I am sure you are bustling around with gift buying, parties, and cooking or travel preparations, we wish you a SAFE AND MERRY HOLIDAY, wherever you are! My kids are in full sugar swing. In fact, when I lay down with Pablo for a few minutes at night to settle my little rascal in, it takes him about 45 minutes for him to stop moving. We are talking flip turns and hulk smashes still going on! What is this kid feeding on? It's funny but not funny. Really....I need to start reading labels a bit closer. Or just make him a vegetarian altogether. That's a thought.

In the spirit of the holiday season, I'm giving you a gift. Be sure to read below and see the links for attachments. It will help your business grow in 2015! It's just up to you to open the package, and implement! xoxoxoxoxo

IN THE MARKETS

Yes, rates are still low, and instead of giving the overseas markets all the attention, let's talk about HOUSTON! And what a rockin' market we have!  Ted Jones, Stewart Title's most loved economist, has released in a recent article this month that Houston-Woodlands is #5 on the Top Housing Market List for 2015! READ MORE HERE!!

 

HOW YOU CAN ENSURE YOUR SHARE OF TRANSACTIONS NEXT YEAR!

If you haven't set your goals yet this year...HERE IS A FORM THAT WILL HELP YOU START. Then, make a 'simple' plan to keep in touch with your database. I suggest you start with being sure you have a good LIST!  This simple excel form of your Top 50 Favorite People is a great place to start. Just think, if you had to start all over again, who would the influential people be that you would want to keep in touch with? There! That's your list! 

This is our last update for the year. We will pick back up on January 2nd!

Happy New Year!

~Jen

Be sure you have a Plan B Lender!!!

Happy Holidays!

My kids talked me into 'surprising' Daddy with outside Christmas lights aligning our driveway. How I got talked into manual labor, I'll never figure out to this day. At the time, the excitement of being with my boys, running around in the front yard, laughing and coaching them on teamwork was probably how it all started. So fast forward....and I started the chain of lights backwards, meaning, we started at the end, so when we finished at the plug end , and went to plug in....it was the wrong end of the chord! 

Okay, so we DID surprise Daddy, with extra work he had to do to unravel mommy's mess. I'll never live this one down.

Have you ever wanted to unravel something you may have started backwards? This week, we were brought into a deal 911, hoping to unravel and close successfully, just to find out that the buyer did NOT qualify for the 1.5 million dollar house he had been in contract for 45 days. Ouch. How he was able to be strung along that amount of time, and clearly did not qualify, seems negligent to me. And this other lender was...you guessed it, one too big to fail.  

Solution? GET YOUR CLIENTS TO RESEARCH PLAN B at the beginning! Click here  for a sample script how you can do that!!!!! We are here to support you!

IN THE MARKETS:

Rates ended lower last week as CHINA announced, unexpectedly, a ban on certain types of risky lending. Although it will make the financial markets safer for them, it will slow their economy. This in turn will reduce future inflation around the world, which is positive for US bonds, hence rates. READ MORE HERE!

Enjoy your week!

~Jen

Gratitude Is The Best Attitude!

Hello, Friends!

So it has begun: the season of gratitude, graciousness and generosity! How are you doing in all three categories? Even the smallest gestures can affect the lives of those around you! I challenge you to think of one ACT in each category you can start today, to change our planet!

Do you need help thinking of examples? Here are mine:

Gratitude: Every morning, I am going to write my sons and husband a love note before I leave the house

Graciousness: Letting people at the grocery store with 3 items go ahead of me with 100!

Generosity: Hosting 2 seminars in the next 10 days that will HELP YOUR BUSINESS!

So regarding the generosity part! Here is the information about the seminars. We hope you can attend one or both! And bring a colleague!

THURS 12/11,  9:00 - 10:30  (breakfast provided)

• What: How to make 2015 your best year ever! Tactics to implement now, to ensure your phone keeps ringing. And how to do it in less hours than you are now!
• Where:  Our new office! 2500 Citywest Blvd Ste 750, Houston, TX 77042 (Westheimer and Bltwy 8) easy to get to!
• How: Annette.ernstein@legacymutual.com 

TUES 12/16 ,  10:00 - 11:30 (lunch provided after)

• What: Negotiating and Closing Skills, learn scripts and tactics to negotiate a winning contract from a $100 mm producer (Legacy's number one loan officer! Josh Sigman).
• Where:  5151 San Felipe Granite Room, Houston, TX 77056 (San Felipe/Sage)
• How: Annette.ernstein@legacymutual.com 

IN THE MARKETS:

Stronger than expected economic news last week caused mortgage rates to worsen. Job growth was massively adjusted from an anticipated 203,000 new jobs number to 321,000! Along with flat unemployment, and an increase in wages of 2.1% from this time last year. All this points to inflationary pressures, which are not 'friends' of bonds. Read more here!!!!

Have a fantastic week, and we hope to see you at our events! 

~Jen

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, my goals are set for 2015, checklist and due dates in the works, and you too can have yours! If you weren't able to join us for the Goal Setting Event this week, no worries! I am having another on Thurs, Dec 11! Call my office at 713-579-3600 for more details! 

What will you learn? We cover the 7 boxes of life, whats working and whats not, and then you will leave with TWO tactical strategies in each area to accomplish next year! In addition, we will cover how to explode your business goals with some simple strategies you can start NOW! How to make a solid list, who to call, what to say, and how to show more gratitude. This will equal more biz! I promise!

Speaking of gratitude....My team and I are HONORED and GRATEFUL at your trusted referrals this year, and we look forward to exceeding your expectations in 2015 with on time closings, accuracy, and tons of communication!

May you have a joyous Thanksgiving season with lots of love, laughter, and a grateful heart.

PS... to see why rates were DOWN last week, CLICK HERE!

WiFi Safeguards You Never Think About!

Jennifer Hernandez Senior Loan Officer The Hernandez Team NMLS# 5144972500 CityWest Blvd., Suite 1075 Houston, TX 77042 Office: 713-579-3600 Mobile: 713-446-7791 my website Know these 3 free Wi-Fi safeguards – PLUS 14 ways to keep your mobile device secure With Wi-Fi enabled smartphones, tablets and laptops everywhere, free Wi-Fi hotspots seem to be everywhere too. Free Wi-Fi saves you from drawing on your mobile data plan limit, but there are security risks. Hackers on the same free hotspot can make all traffic flow through their computers. They can access websites you visit, your unencrypted passwords and more. They can gather information to use for identity theft and fraud, with severe consequences. 1. Don't use free Wi-Fi unless you absolutely have to. Use your mobile network's data service and pay for higher digital limits if need be. Spending a few more dollars per month for your data plan is cheap insurance for the money you could lose from fraud or identity theft. 2. Use a secure VPN service. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, encrypts information going from your computer to the Internet, so hackers can't access it. You can surf the Web securely and your personal info is safe. Just double-check that your VPN service is reputable. 3. Don't use free Wi-Fi for anything important. If you want to use free Wi-Fi for some harmless surfing while sipping a latte, fine. Just don't do any online banking, don't use a credit card and don't go to any site that asks for a password. Yes, that includes social media! 14 PRECAUTIONS FOR MOBILE DEVICES Now that we know how to use free public Wi-Fi, let's lock out the bad guys from your mobile devices, which contain all sorts of private, sensitive information, including photos. This data can be hacked into remotely or accessed directly if someone steals an unprotected device. 1. Customize your mobile device. If someone grabs your device, make sure they can't get your information. Use a custom lock screen and ambiguous application icons and names, not "Finances" and "Party Pics." Delete default apps you don't use. 2. Disable your GPS. Keep your location hidden until you need it for a navigation app. 3. Don't download unofficial versions of popular apps. These sites are not secure. 4. Be careful with Google Maps. If you use it, disable or don't enter your home address. 5. Don't stay online indefinitely. If you're not using the Internet, get offline. 6. Read app permissions carefully when downloading and consider whether the app really needs permission to do what it is asking. When in doubt, don’t download. 7. Don't save passwords in your browser. This is convenient but not secure. Use a password manager. 8. Put a passcode on your mobile device. Customize the lock screen if you have an Android. Use a longer passcode, not a PIN, on an iPhone. 9. Vet your apps. Check that they don't have personal info you don't want to share. Read text next to the checkboxes you click when you install apps. Audit your apps monthly. 10. Never save a password for financial apps. This includes apps for banks and anywhere you make a purchase. 11. Use cloud encryption for personal information. Android allows this for all device data. 12. Update operating system and app software. These often include security upgrades . 13. Use anti-theft software. These help you locate a lost or stolen device and wipe it remotely. 14. Back up your entire device’s data. When it comes time to upgrade, downsize or buy your first home, we hope you'll contact us. We can help with the financing and answer questions about refinancing your current home or funding home improvements. Please call or email us any time.... Have a great day! P.S.: Mortgage rates are still at historically attractive levels. When buying or refinancing, it's smart to start the process early. Please call or email us to explore the appealing options available now. This was sent to you because of your relationship with Jennifer Hernandez. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice or a commitment to lend. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in this message is the property of Legacy Mutual Mortgage and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. Institution NMLS #278675