you're better off...

The 2012 election has come and gone.

The dust has settled

President Obama has defeated Mitt Romney.

What's next?

As we move forward into President Obama's second term, I can't help but look back at the election and the past four years. Back in 2008, I voted for CHANGE and President Obama. In 2012, I voted for him again. I think he is the best man for the job. Not only did I think so, but so did most of this country.

During the campaign, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan began to ask the American people..."It's been four years. Are you better off now than you were four years ago?"

Wow. That's a loaded question. Most people are gonna vote based on their party or their circumstances or both. While it was a clever question, it wasn't a smart one to ask people.

When I look at where I was 4 yrs ago, all I can do is smile. Back in 2007, I left my job (voluntarily) at a major bank as a mortgage underwriter. I had been underwriting for years but the game was changing. The days of having rules and following protocol were gone. It was all about doing what you had to do to get MORE money. The mortgage industry was the Wild, Wild, West. Subprime loans were as common as liquor stores in the hood. I grew tired of my authority as a senior underwriter being undermined by managers and VPs who were after a fast buck. As 2008 rolled around, I found myself leaving the mortgage industry and making an attempt to use my marketing degree by taking a sales job. I left the comfort of a nice office job to something that I wasn't sure that I wanted to do. But I did it. I hated it too.

President Obama entered the White House in January 2008. A month into his administration, he set forth several programs that would encourage people to refinance their homes. These programs increased the demand for underwriters. Without hesitation, I got back into the game...a month after Obama was in office. Looking back on it now, I can only thank President Obama thanks for doing what he did. The mortgage business is 10 times better than what was. Things are getting better. Will it ever be what it was? I'm not sure. Foreclosures and low values aren't going anywhere. Interest rates are low. But that doesn't matter if credit isn't "opened" to most people. Credit has to flow in order for it to work. Today, I am an underwriter for a global firm and I primarily approve/deny loans for people who have perfect credit scores and 1M in liquid assets. But what about the little man who has a credit blemish or 2 on his credit report? Doesn't he deserve to refinance his house or purchase one? Of course. President Obama should be praised for cleaning up the mess that was left behind by Bush. However, he needs to find a better strategic team to help stop some of the bleeding right now. Call me...I have a strategy. LoL

So...that goes back to the question that Romney/Ryan asked..."4 years later...are you better off?"

Of course I am.

And so are you. Regardless if you voted for him or not.