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Hawai'i Association of Mortgage Brokers (HAMB)
P.O. Box 1074
Honolulu, HI 96808
info@hamb.org
President's Welcome - Greg Ravelo
Aloha HAMB!
The Hawaii Association of Mortgage Brokers will be about 17 years old come next year. We have seen many economic changes, ranging from the real estate crash of the mid 90's to the days of economic bliss of the new millennium in the early 2000's. All along, we have seen the tide of feast to famine in the market trends. However none of us has seen the scope or magnitude of the negative impact of the economic markets that we face today. We face some challenges never before seen. We must unite and come together, because every minute and every breath does count if we do things and say things together. Apart, we are meek; Together we are strong. Here are some of the main projects of focus for the coming year:
We need your continued support of legislation of the proposed federal/state law of pre-licensing, a national registry of loan originators, federal background checks, and continuing education. Also we need your help to fight mandates that will hinder our profession, such as the changes in the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the New York State Attorney General-proposed appraisal legislation and clarifying the newly proposed government sponsored enterprises.
HAMB has spearheaded ahead and aligned with the National Association of Mortgage Brokers to promote the Lending Integrity Seal of Approval (LISA) which entails a national background check, as well as accredited hours of courses such as ethics, credit, and mortgage compliance, to name a few. HAMB will continue to promote monthly educational seminars and highlight a new focus of special mortgage 101 courses, which entails a multitude of hands on courses (details to be announced).
HAMB and MBA will continue the joint success of the annual conference in 2009 HAMB needs your support of your renewal and your help to increase the membership by encouraging your colleagues to join.
I encourage you to join or/and renew your membership with HAMB and NAMB for 2009. We need to grow our membership to increase the intensity of our voice with legislative, national, and local agendas that address our industry.
HAMB membership offers you many advantages, such as the opportunity to network with colleagues in the industry, to be a member of NAMB, to gain awareness of and participate in the issues and changes within our industry and to have the opportunity, to enroll in education courses and put oneself a step above a mortgage person who is not a member of HAMB. This will be more pronounced as LISA is implemented by HAMB members who qualify to use it.
With the existing industry in chaos there will be many opportunities. With adversity there will be opportunities available for the brokers and solicitors who are prepared to provide and meet their customer's needs, and have success.
On behalf of HAMB, I would like to thank Donald Lau, our 2008 president, for his vision and continued strong leadership and involvement, and to his 2008 Board, for their time and commitment.
I am looking forward to working with HAMB's 2009 Officers, Board of Directors, Committee Chairs, Volunteers, Sponsors, and Executive Director, Cathy Santa Ana to have another productive and successful year for HAMB.
Greg Ravelo, 2009 President Hawaii Association of Mortgage Brokers
