My name is Marilyn Odum and I am a Mortgage Lender Originator at AB&T National Bank here in Albany, Georgia. I’ve been in the mortgage business for about 40 years, so needless to say I’ve experienced some changes, especially over the last three to four years. I think my job gets a little more challenging day by day but it continues to be a very rewarding one.

Needless to say, with all that negative news in the media these days, potential homebuyers are very intimidated, if not horrified, with the aspect of trying to seek mortgage financing. But on the other side, things aren’t quite as bleak as they seem. Rates continue to be at an all time low and for purchasers there’s a vast inventory of homes out there at a reduced price.

I think the most rewarding part of my job is dealing with the first-time homebuyer. When I get that call and detect the apprehension in their voice I try to set their mind at ease and tell them that financing is still available, and if they’ve established a good credit history that’s the main hurdle that they’ve had to jump. Hopefully, everything else will fall into place.

The first question I usually ask them is have they talked to a realtor. That’s a very important factor, especially if you are a first-time homebuyer because I can help steer you in the right direction, help you find a house in the area that you’re looking at; and also we’re very instrumental in dealing with sellers in negotiating the sales price, closing costs and repairs to the property. I then tell them that I’d like for them to come in and meet on a one-on-one basis. I think it kind of puts their mind at ease to sit across from the desk and know that there is someone here local that they can deal with and just not at the other end of the phone line or an email.

I ask them to bring in their income information and asset documentation so we can determine just what they can qualify for. And once they get there we kind of review all that information, order a credit report, and unfortunately, at that point some potential home buyers have to stop. At that point I feel like I’m more of a credit counselor than a mortgage lender originator. But I do try and give them a positive note when they leave that if they work on these issues that they can come back at a later time and we can proceed on from there. Also, income and asset documentation, we don’t want them to go out, sign a contract, and then a couple of weeks down the road run into a snag there. So we don’t want disappointed homebuyers, especially realtors and sellers that don’t have a contract and have to put that house back on the market.

So once it’s determined that they do in fact qualify, that they are qualified buyers, that’s when the fun starts. They can go out and start shopping and I think I get just as excited as they do for them to go out and find their dream home. There’s nothing more rewarding than to go to a loan closing and have them sign all the documents, they know they’ve jumped through all the hoops, and it’s all been worth it. They’ve been handed the keys to their first home and I’m just as excited as they are. I think the most rewarding part of my job is working with the first-time homebuyer and trying to do the best job I can do to be the best in my field and to give the gold star service that we strive for here at AB&T National Bank good as gold.