I hope by now you have taken some time to reflect on your production in 2007 and have had the opportunity to strategize for 2008. While the Mortgage Bankers of America is predicting that national production will be down about 10 percent, this doesn't mean your production has to follow the same trend. There are lots of tools and resources available to help you get the new year off to a great start.

Seminar Topics:
-Where is the business now and where is it going in 2008
-What is holding many lenders back
-Making a commitment to CHANGE
-Targeting the right sources of business in today's market
-Selecting sales and marketing activities that work
-Building a contact plan for approaching new business
-Learning the dos and don'ts for what works and what doesn't
-Mastering your questioning skills to uncover more opportunities
-Executing 10 daily disciplines for success
-Tracking your progress and success day by day

About the Speaker:
One of the most popular speakers and sales trainers in the country, Doug Smith is the founder of Douglas Smith & Associates, a training and performance consulting firm specializing in the mortgage and financial services industry. As a 24-year industry veteran, he has built a successful career in loan origination, sales training, management development, marketing, personal coaching and corporate sales. Doug has worked in four major banks and mortgage companies over the past 24 years and has consulted with dozens more.

Delivering more than 120 events a year, Doug is a featured speaker at various events on a local, state and national level including the MBA and the NAMB national conventions. As a well-respected writer, Doug's columns have been seen published in Mortgage Originator, The Mortgage Record and Mortgage Broker magazines as well as publishing his own monthly newsletter Power Selling.

Registration:
IMA Members $165.00
Nonmembers $240.00

This new half-day seminar from the Iowa Mortgage Association will provide you with the updates you need to make VA loans.

This seminar is designed to:

• Familiarize all personnel involved with VA guidelines
• Provide a comprehensive overview of more complex issues for VA home loans
• Present training from a process oriented approach
• Ensure that veterans are receiving a quality of VA loan

Topics covered include:
Loan basics
Obtaining a Certificate of Eligibility
Getting started (initial paperwork requirements)
How to order a VA appraisal
The VA funding fee
Credit underwriting
Loan closing and submitting loans to VA
Special circumstances
VA updates
Loan processing steps
Frequently asked questions

About the Speakers:
Seminar instructors will be staff from the Loan Production Section of the field office of the Veterans Affairs Office in St. Paul, Minnesota.

State Continuing Education - Applied For
ICMP Hours 4 Hours

Registration:
IMA Members $50
Nonmembers $75

The members of the 2007 Winner's Circle and President's Club will be honored at the IMA Spring Conference on April 3, 2008.

Criteria for the Iowa Mortgage Association's Winner's Circle & President's Club

1. Originators must originate loans in the State of Iowa, out of state production will be considered, but the home base or branch of the originator must be Iowa. Minimum loan origination eligibility is $12 million or 100 units of residential loan volume in 2007 for Winner's Circle and $15 million or 120 units of residential loan volume in 2007 for President's Club.
2. The originator must submit an entry form confirming their personal loan volume, signed by the originator and branch manager, president or other responsible party. The originator will be required to provide proper verification in the form of a print out of the volume or other acceptable report, verified by the company CFO, President, or Accountant.
3. The reported production must be the originators personal business that was a result of his or her referral network and marketing efforts. Originators are not allowed to combine their production figures with those of another originator.
4. All entries must be submitted by March 7, 2008.
5. Must be an IMA member in good standing.

April 3, 2008 • Sheraton Iowa City Hotel

The Iowa Mortgage Association is dedicated to helping mortgage professionals. IMA has discovered that the key to success is working together. By providing opportunities for education, networking and industry awareness we raise the level of everyone in the industry. With the current public perception of the mortgage industry and stresses in our industry it is vital that we stand as one, working together for the future of the industry. We must work to increase public confidence, as we make sure we have the tools we need to effectively serve our customers.

By working together we will have a successful future. IMA is proud to present the 2008 Spring Conference. IMA has designed a full-day of educational opportunities.

With sessions on coaching your team, thriving on change, industry updates and an inspirational message, the Spring Conference will provide you with what you need to thrive as a mortgage professional! Take this opportunity to network with your peers from around the state, sharing ideas and solutions. As always the Spring Conference will also feature an exhibit hall with the latest products and services for the mortgage industry. Your peers, industry vendors, educational speakers and informative sessions

will help you be successful in the mortgage industry. We look forward to seeing you at the conference and know you will discover ideas that will foster professionalism and success in your business!

Iowa mortgage professionals who have earned their ICMP include:

Christy Allison, Countrywide Home Loans, Davenport
Linda Bessey, Community Savings Bank, Manchester
Teresa Carley-Brown, Riverbend Home Mortgage, Bettendorf
John Cook, Valley Bank, Davenport
Todd Darland, First Horizon Home Loans, West Des Moines
John Doellinger, First Federal Bank, Sioux City
Dana Goodmiller, Riverbend Home Mortgage, Moline
Kathy Klahn, Clinton National Bank, Clinton
Nyla Krulik, Valley Bank, Bettendorf
Brian Lampe, Countrywide Home Loans, Clive
Lane Lafler, Hills Bank & Trust, Iowa City
Lesa Lewis, First Federal Savings Bank of Iowa, Fort Dodge
Amber Lampe, Valley Bank, Clive
Becki Rogers-Neese, Wells Fargo Bank, Davenport
Deb Sullivan, Valley Bank, Davenport
Amber Stumpf, Investco Mortgage Company, Johnston
Tammy Walton, Iowa Savings Bank, Des Moines

The purpose of the ICMP is:
To distinguish individuals with illustrated accomplishments in the mortgage profession.
To build the standards of the mortgage industry to gain strength in our practices.
To acknowledge past accomplishments and contributions to other organizations.
To identify an individual's knowledge, understanding, and competency in the real estate finance community.
To empower qualified persons to continue their training in the professional field.
To foster a foundation for future leaders in the mortgage industry.

HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson has recently issued a statement applauding the Senate's overwhelming approval of the Expanding American Homeownership Act. This bill will greatly modernize the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and bring many of its practices in line with those of the mortgage lending industry. In addition, these changes will provide thousands more hard working American families a safe mortgage purchase or refinance option. After committee review the bill is expected to be sent to President Bush for signature.

"Keeping a roof over the heads of families is the best gift Congress could give the American public," says Mr. Jackson.

FHA reform will affect many areas including:
--FHA mortgage limits
--Down payment requirements
--Loan terms
--Mortgage insurance premiums
--Condominiums
--Reverse mortgages

In the past two years many reforms have already been completed and include
--Created the FHA Resource (Call) Center
--Simplified the FHA appraisal
--Streamlined the FHA appraiser approval process
--Eliminated non-essential property conditions
--Eliminated restrictions on closing costs
--Created a streamlined rehabilitation mortgage
--Changed new construction rules
--Lender now able to submit directly for FHA insurance
--Improved the Reverse Mortgage (HECM) Program

HUD's FHA is on target to insure more than a quarter of a million FHASecure home loans in Fiscal Year 2008, further evidence of FHA's commitment to homeownership and helping people safeguard their investment in the American Dream.

Since the recent creation of FHASecure, FHA insured refinancing has increased 125 percent over the past year, and is expected to increase even more in 2008 as more homeowners examine their mortgage options.

More and more sub-prime borrowers are recognizing that they have a choice and are turning to FHA for assistance.

"Rural Development is very pleased at the success we have had over the past year in helping Iowans become homeowners," Reisinger said. "The partnerships we have with lenders all over Iowa are critical to our ability to reach this level of success. We are looking forward to continuing these relationships and making 2008 even more productive."

Through partnerships with lenders across Iowa, USDA Rural Development helped 820 Iowa families purchase homes in 2007. They did this by guaranteeing $62.6 million in loans made by private lenders to low and moderate income home buyers across the state.

"Guaranteed lending is one of the most valuable services offered by USDA Rural Development," Reisinger said. "How it works is rather simple, and there are many benefits to all participants including borrowers, lenders, and even local communities."

With guaranteed lending, a loan is made to a borrower following the same basic steps as a conventional loan. Rural Development then agrees to reduce the loss the lender may have if the borrower falls short on their commitment.

The amendments, which represent final action on a proposal issued for comment in April, simplify the Board's rules by: (1) withdrawing certain portions of the 2001 interim final rules that restate or cross-reference provisions of the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-Sign Act) and accordingly are unnecessary; (2) withdrawing provisions of the 2001 interim final rules that may impose undue burdens on electronic banking and commerce and may be unnecessary for consumer protection; and (3) adopting certain provisions that provide guidance on the use of electronic disclosures. The mandatory compliance date is October 1, 2008.

According to a report of the President's Identity Theft Task Force, identity theft (a fraud attempted or committed using identifying information of another person without authority), results in billions of dollars in losses each year to individuals and businesses.

The final rules require each financial institution and creditor that holds any consumer account, or other account for which there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of identity theft, to develop and implement an Identity Theft Prevention Program (Program) for combating identity theft in connection with new and existing accounts. The Program must include reasonable policies and procedures for detecting, preventing, and mitigating identity theft and enable a financial institution or creditor to:
-- Identify relevant patterns, practices, and specific forms of activity that are "red flags" signaling possible identity theft and incorporate those red flags into the Program;
-- Detect red flags that have been incorporated into the Program;
-- Respond appropriately to any red flags that are detected to prevent and mitigate identity theft; and
-- Ensure the Program is updated periodically to reflect changes in risks from identity theft.

The final rules generally prohibit a financial institution from using certain information received from an affiliate to make a solicitation to a consumer unless the consumer is given notice and a reasonable opportunity to opt out of such solicitations, and the consumer does not opt out. The final rules apply to information obtained from the consumer's transactions or account relationships with an affiliate, any application the consumer submitted to an affiliate, and third-party sources, such as credit reports, if the information is to be used to send marketing solicitations. Nothing in the final rules supersedes or amends a consumer's existing right to opt out of the sharing of non-transaction or experience information under section 603(d) of the FCRA.