Morning! This is MF Lending - the fool-proof way to serve up mortgage and real estate market knowledge without any of the guesswork. So you’ll look like the smartest agent in the room (and you are!)

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

1. There are no crystal balls… 🔮  

2. The best time to ask for reviews - and how to get more of them ⭐️

By the way, this article on Builders Start Focusing on Entry-Level Homes is the most clicked link in this newsletter, you should check it out if you are interested.

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Nuwave Rates Today 📉

There are no crystal balls… 🔮 

Yesterday (9/14) was a very strange day in the bond market.

The CPI print showed headline inflation was up +.5% to 3.7% in August - led by energy (cost of gas) and shelter (cost of rent & mortgage payments).

Typically, this would lead traders to believe that the bond market would respond negatively - a reaction that echoes the data that is saying “Inflation is too hot, we have more work to do”.

In fact - the opposite happened. Yesterday, the bond was up 25bps…

Somehow, even with data suggesting that inflation is running hot, the market seemed to embrace and digest this information effortlessly.

Matt Graham, a writer for HousingBrief, explained it like this:

If you came here for a magic 8-ball or a crystal ball - I’ll never tell you I have one. I’m just as confused in this market as you are.

Next Wednesday (9/20) we have the Fed meeting. It is a near certainty that they hold rates where they are for September. But all eyes will fall on JPow as he discusses the Fed’s economic projections for the remainder of the year. 

The big story of next week will be - is the Fed done raising this year? Only time will tell. Stick around for our special Fed edition next week. 😎

The best time to ask for reviews - and how to get more of them ⭐️

This is the best article I read this week - it comes from BAM - and the idea is simple: When is the best time to ask for Google Reviews?

I recently implemented this strategy and got 20 reviews in a week.

This drastically changes potential clients’ perception of your business, and knowledge of local markets, It’s also great social content as you are building your own brand.

Here’s the best time to ask for a Google Review:

The second piece you are probably asking is - “How can I ask clients I have already helped?”

Tom offers this idea - set a review goal and share the goal with the client. “We’re trying to get 150 reviews. We’re currently at 137. I’d love it if you could help us get there. Here’s the link below.

Here’s what I did to get 20 reviews from clients I had already helped in less than a week:

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I focused on the following:

• Offer something in return (even if small) - I recognize it is an inconvenience to knock out so I emphasize the appreciation with a gift

• Make it easy for them - there’s nothing worse than someone asking you for a favor and then having to figure out how to deliver on the favor. I gave them a link directly to the Google review. All they need to do is click the link and rate the deal - easy as that.

Build your social proof through reviews. Do it through Google (not your company website) so you always have ownership of the work you put out.

If any agents I have worked with in the past need one - don’t hesitate to reach out 🙂 

The Cul-de-Sac

Thanks for reading - that is all we have for today 😎

Please forward this to your friends and colleagues if you found it valuable.

— Michael F DiLucchio