Show up at an ActiveRain meetup.

Give an amazing financing continuing ed course at your local Association of Realtors.

Write a well-written and information blog.

Do a loan for the buyer of one of my listing, and do a great job of keeping me in the loop. Then show up at settlement and make a gread impression.

Send them pre-approved buyers.  

When I summon a lender, that's when the show starts. Some loan officers aren't ready, don't know how to rise to the agent customer service relevancy. I need pre-qualing done quickly. I need for them to follow up on all clients without being told and I need answers as soon as I can get them. The ideal loan officer responds to texts & emails right away too. Less talk and more DO as...actions speak louder. Know your product & procedures.

Be relational in your approach.
Refer buyers, so many don't.
Stay in touch, so many don't.
Deliver on your promises, so many don't.

This is a tough question for me.  I have a Lender who is absolutely awesome. I know a lot of Lenders and no one holds a candle to his knowledge. Seriously, he is close to a genius! He knows how to put a loan package together and if he says he can close a deal he can close a deal.  Why would I listen to anyone else try to sway me away?

He has one flaw.  He does nothing to market himself and is not involved in social media at all.  He isn't proactive in celebrating our mutual client's home purchase.  He does nothing, and I don't like it.  Clients love him. We all say he has integrity, is honest and you can believe anything he tells you.

I would say do an intense study of your competition. What do they do? Are they socially active? How does your company offerings stack up with programs other lenders offer? Do they give their clients gifts? Do they write reference letters to the agents who do a good job? Do they educate agents with posts about products? Do they keep the agents on top of the loan process? Do they attend Agent open houses or broker opens? Do they have logo products they wear or give to agents?

I just took a look at your posts and you are doing great things.  I know there are some meetup coming up, go to as many as you can.  If there are none in your area, host one and invite agents you want to work with.  Before they start working with you they need to know you, like you and trust you.

As Ron and Alexandra Seigel stated, also, host a few real estate weekly meetings, offer to work open house events with select agents and provide funding sources to prospects.(you might also meet refi possibilities there).

It will take hard work to open doors.

Tom,

I would find a way to get out and meet people such as Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, PTA (I am assuming those are your kids in the photo), meet the neighbors, etc.  Whe you do get a nibble, dazzle them with outstanding service.  A

I was going to say "Free beer" but Patricia Kennedy has a great listing.  Out here our association puts on "Thirsty Thursday" events that are mixers for the local agents.  We ask for sponsors and usually have a lender that is a sponsor.  Your company gets it's logo on the flyer and gets to make an elevator speech at the event.  I suggest you look for something like that with the local realtor board.  Out here the Chamber of Commerce and the Young Professionals Network (YPN) for both the realtor association and the chamber also host events.

I think the focus needs to be on face-to-face networking and interaction, as well as getting information out there online. Communication and follow-up is critical, on every little thing. Liberal use of thank you notes. Referrals of buyers

Watch Joe Petrowsky , very effective at social media, and even better at the art of the referral.  His goal is to give out hundreds of referrals each year, and he ends up getting back even more.

Hi Tom,
As Ron and Alexandra Seigel said, get out and meet people.  Join groups that share your interests/hobbies.  Scour the meet-up groups in your area to see what might be of interest.    It all comes down to getting out and meeting people and letting them what you do... in an unsalesy way, of course.  

Also, might I suggest you get as familiar as possible with the real estate market in your area.  Join and participate in the local board events and meetings.  It is very difficult to break into  REALTOR(R) loyalties to other lenders, as you probably already know.  However, if you attend Agent Opens, public opens, and have conversations you will learn what is going on in the market.  This makes you a great conversationalist with everyone you come in contact with.  Everyone, it seems, is interested in what is happening in real estate.  That's how you build relationships... being a local expert source of information.  

I wish you success in getting established in your new location.

    Board of Realtors weekly meetings or lunch meetings.  They are looking for someone to provide food, they will give you a few minutes to give a presentation.  You can pass out B-cards, promotional items, meet and greet.   You may need to join as an "affiliate".

Pizza is a big turn on for me!  

I would never have coffee with a lender, ask the Broker or Manager if you can do a 10 minute question and answer (you have to keep it short) meeting for the Agents.

Remind me how tidbits of your knowledge might get me new business.

New low down loan? Something with a higher back end ratio?

BTW I've been doing this a long time & just found out there is a VA condo approved list. I thought it was always the same as FHA but that is not true. Whodathunkit!

Why do referrals always go in your direction? How about sending out a buyer or two. If you don't have any, you're not doing social media right.

I'll admit it, I'm guilty.... I haven't sat down with a lender for a cup of coffee ever. I've worked with the same group of tried and true lenders for more years than I can count and they rely on my referrals and I on their referrals. You might need to try some networking around town.

Hi Tom -- good luck in your new location.   Get out into the real estate community and meet new people.   

Get out and network. It's tough because once I find a lender I am happy with ... I am loyal to that lender. I've been invited to meet with other lenders for coffee, etc. and I decline. You say ... "We all have great rates and low fees and wonderful service" 

But that is untrue for me ... wonderful service is lacking in many.  I wish you all the best and much happiness and success in your new location.

Tom Burris Face-to-face networking always works.

Face to face meetings with managers. Offer to host a sales meeting. Promote your strengths!

A lender gets my attention to discuss how we are going to build each others business plus exchange leads with one another. That is a great lender to me.

Leads! :)

Free marketing materials.

Workshops for agents and clients.

My preferred lender gives me market watch posts for my business FB page.

Offer to sit at open houses.

Sponsor a lunch and learn at a broker's office.

Follow through on any and all promises you make.

Stay in touch without always trying to sell yourself!

Providing my clients with good service

Keeping me in the loop

Attending closings

Be cognizant of what a closing date is

I don't want coffee I want a professional.

Contact agents, offer to do open houses with them, offer to send them a list of the lender packages you have.

Go to offices and offer to do guest speaking and Q & A at meetings

Patricia has given good advice.

Amanda and Jared Christiansen nailed this one...

Face to face contacts.

Tom Burris - networking lunch with few lenders (one at a time, of course...lol) and introduce yourself! They really like it!

Giving good customer service.

Hey Bill, I have a client for you!

Provide great service, communication, be competitive, sponsor events at my Board and dont be a pest.

Join the local board and get involve.

Do what you say you will and when you say you will do it.  Know your product and always be upfront and tell the truth.  In other words don't just tell. Buyer what they want to hear and that applies to me as well.  

Be professional as I like to align my business partners with those who reject the way I conduct my business.  I've found lately that the process is ever changing.  Best of luck and I think you'll be fine as you are asking questions and putting yourself out there.  

Simple! Answer calls and text immediately and be avalialble 24/7.  You will have more business than you ever expected.

Get the attention of buyers. if buyers are impressed, agents will hear about you!

Buy him a drink of his or her choice.

Send a prequalified buyer, don't overpromise & under-deliver, and effectively communicate (timely & complete sentences!).  ;)

Service and communication.

By referring me a qualified and pre-approved buyer and then showing themself to be quick to return my calls and close on time.  That would surely get my attention.

i would simply ask  to meet, they will say they are busy. i would  show up at open house just to shake hands, (if another loan person isnt there perhaps)  or if they like to text or email, stay in contact and not with drip marketing.. i hate that chit...i would rather a personal 2 line follow up and maybe speak of new product... i might ask for the TUFF deal others cant seem to do

tough to break into relationships that are carved in stone.... make yourself known and follow what Pat Kennedy recommended...

Lending and interest rates are low on the priority list. Most people these days are not concerned as much about lender since the rates are at rock bottom for sometime now.

Returning phone calls and keeping me informed on a loan status.