Before you chalk this up to an old adage, let me tell you that it is this very concept that keeps us motivated to work so hard for our clients. You see, I could be accused of being one of those sappy folks that actually believes - at my core - that a family's home is the most sacred place on earth. And this coming from someone who has had the great privilege of visiting the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, Westminster Abbey, and the Sistine Chapel. But of all the magnificent places that I've had the honor of seeing, none can compare to a family's home.

And yes, it has been pretty hard work lately. Mind you, we are up to the challenge! Hard work doesn't faze us one little bit around here. But there is no getting around the reality that to get a loan approved these days in the face of increasing investor requirements, changing underwriting guidelines, and the incredible environment of State and Federal regulations, only the hearty in our industry remain today. In fact, I heard of two other mortgage companies that closed shop a couple weeks ago because they were unable to keep things going in this environment.

Yet our company and our branch remain strong and remain vibrant regardless. And I think I can attribute that to our amazing teams both here in our branch and at our corporate office. It is because we all stay focused on helping people get the most cost-effective financing so that they can buy a home of their very own - their very own sacred place. It is there that they laugh, live, love and learn. It is in the home that one's character is formed.

Some have been given one talent, others another talent. Here, we've been given the gift to help people navigate what can be a minefield some days as they work their way through the financing of the purchase of their new home. Here we use that gift to help them reach their dream of homeownership, turning it in to reality.