Pros
My specific office has one of, if not THE, best atmospheres that I have had the pleasure of working in. Coworkers and management equally pitch in to help one another out, and everyone has a one track mind to produce. Can't ask for anything more. Management is very supportive of their employees, being available with an open door, and giving ample opportunity to assist with sales, help close loans, or even just to talk to. They're real people. Howard Bank is also a great place to go to gain knowledge of the mortgage industry as a whole, and with the experienced leadership, I would recommend that anyone who is looking to get into the mortgage business do so here.
Cons
Just as quickly, I would recommend to those same people to get in with Howard Bank, then get out. It's a place to learn, not to stay. The recent acquisition of First Mariner changed the scope of what we can offer in my division and cut a lot of our available business. This also came with a change in comp plan to compensate for the smaller pool of business, which was an appropriate move. The problem is that with this change, in order for us to still sell loans on the same scale we were before, we are putting people into positions that in many cases don't financially benefit them, making the sale more of a sale, less of an actual benefit to the Borrower. And no matter what management says, there ARE other companies that offer what we can't, or can beat our pricing, or have an appetite to originate more risky loans than us. Thats the truth, and dont be fooled otherwise. My biggest issue with Howard is the fact that I've been in my superior's positions before, and in upper management in several companies before this. So I know a lot of what goes on behind the scenes, and I know when I'm being told a lot of fluff to try to appease the rank and file, when the reality is not the same message being delivered- that's been happening a lot lately. There are a lot of changes occurring on a regular basis that go unnoticed by most who don't pay attention or just don't know what to look for. Smoke and mirrors isn't a good game, especially when it comes to leads, comp, and someone's overall livelihood.