"As we move into a lower interest rate environment, having your database in Homebot is gonna be gold."
Regional Vice President at CrossCountry Mortgage
Richard Kimball, a Regional Vice President at Cross Country Mortgage, is an influential leader overseeing 14 offices with a personal team in Elk Grove, Illinois. His dynamic role includes managing a processing center, an ensemble of loan officers, and engaging directly with production teams. With a deep commitment to his clients and a keen eye on the market's pulse, Richard has been instrumental in guiding homeowners through their financial journeys.
The challenge Richard and his team are facing today is one being felt across the entire lending landscape… high interest rates and record-low inventory, resulting in a dip in demand for home loans in all forms.
Richard observed, "As you've seen interest rates go up, you've seen a lot of lenders exit the marketplace, and I think one of the reasons they exit the marketplace is they've kind of forgotten their database. And I know lenders who, the majority of their business comes from their database.”
This insight reflects a broader issue— where the personal connection and sustained engagement between loan officers and their clients have diminished, threatening the core of a historically relationship-driven industry.
While interest rate decline is a waiting game, Homebot has served as a lifeline, helping Richard and his team keep an active dialog with existing prospects and customers. By leveraging Homebot's capabilities, Richard has been able to offer consistent, valuable insights to homeowners around their most significant asset— their home equity.
"For most people, the amount of equity they have in their home is their biggest asset, and for me, this is a way to provide them, really a statement every month showing how that asset is growing."
Homebot's automated yet personalized communication strategy ensures that clients receive monthly updates on the status of their equity, and how they can leverage it in making informed financial decisions— ultimately fostering a strong sense of trust and reliability.
"You could call them when you see them interact with Homebot and now you've got something very specific to ask them and discuss with them.”
Homebot also plays a crucial role in Richard’s strategy to strengthen the partnerships between his team and real estate agents. Homebot helps streamline communications between all three parties, ensuring questions are answered and options provided, enabling each of them to spend their time more effectively throughout the homebuying process. On top of that, Homebot keeps RIchard and his agent partners top of mind, on a monthly basis.
"Real estate agents talk about how many clients who are in a home would go back to their realtor. A lot of 'em would, but there's a chunk of them that don't even know the realtors name. Why wouldn't you use this to stay in front of them?"
Richard emphasizes proactive collaboration, personally engaging with his 25+ agent partners to ensure they’re benefitting the most from Homebot’s capabilities, fostering a supportive network for each and every client. With Homebot, Richard is setting a new standard for industry collaboration, benefiting clients, agents and lenders alike.
The impact of integrating Homebot into Richard’s strategy is not only evident through strengthened client relationships, but also in the unparalleled engagement rates as Richard sees 38% of borrowers actively engage in Homebot, nearly 7X the industry average.
"One thing I like about Homebot is the open rate. It’s off the chart. It's fantastic. When we get a monthly report that says what our open rates are, I'm always astounded.”
This level of engagement not only keeps the homeowners informed but also positions Richard and his team as trusted advisors, ready to assist at every step of the homeownership journey. As we head into a future with lower interest rates, Richard sees how the strong client connections built through Homebot will give his team a competitive edge, retaining and driving more business for years to come.
Since investing in Homebot, Richard Kimball and his team have not only navigated the challenges of a fluctuating market but have also deepened their connections with clients, reaffirming their commitment to empowering homeowners with insightful and actionable home finance advice.
Schedule a 1:1 demo with our team today to see the platform in action and learn how Homebot can help you foster deeper relationships with your client database.
Join thousands of Loan Officers and Agents that love using Homebot.
Regional Vice President at CrossCountry Mortgage
Join thousands of Loan Officers and Agents that love using Homebot.
Join thousands of Loan Officers and Agents that love using Homebot.
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