the ELEMENT age Lending in Mortg
2 0 1 9 Q U A R T E R LY E D I T I O N
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: EXCELLENCE AWARD
A DIVISION OF PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE INC
Get the
CREATIVE
PASSION AGAIN
SOLUTIONS
BOLDER in the ROAD
College students
SAY GOODBYE
HEALTH in the NEWS Cold or the Flu?
Spotlight
John Hunter Brantley Loan Officer
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Loan Originator in the Spotlight John Hunter Brantley is focused on service. With mortgage in the family (his father is in the mortgage industry too), he continues the tradition of helping bring families home. Having attended Georgia Southern University and the University of North Georgia, he’s lived in the Athens area for the past 10 years. Surrounded by a great home financing team, John is ready to walk you through the process, answer every question and be with you through closing.
John Hunter Brantley
Loan Officer | NMLS# 1061817 Direct: 706-621-0190 HunterBrantley@elementfunding.com www.elementfunding.com/jbrantley 3651 Mars Hill Road, Suite 1500 Watkinsville, GA 30677
Skilled in FHA, USDA and FHA (203)k financing, he works with many first-time homebuyers and those buying homes that need improvements. Everyone eventually takes that initial step to buy their first home, and John is ready to help!
The boulder in the road A king had a boulder placed on a roadway, then hid and watched to see if anyone would move the boulder out of the way. Some of the kingdom’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many of them loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear. Then a peasant then came along pushing a cart of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant set his cart aside and tried to push the stone out of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. Then he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.
The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king, explaining that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
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Moral: Every obstacle we come across in life gives us an opportunity to improve our circumstances.
TALK TOWN OF THE
@ELEMENT FUNDING
Talk of the Town is Element’s latest monthly circular that highlight comments shared by fellow colleagues about other members of the organization who continuously make a positive contribution to the workplace through areas such as productivity or quality gains.
This Month’s EXCELLENCE AWARD goes to
Ashley Campbell Awarded for Exceptional Internal and External Service Above and Beyond Element Expectations
Look who else has been the Talk of the Town: Cynthia Gant: She goes above and beyond and is always helping others when needed Dana Burton: She is always ready to go the extra mile! Makes sure all my customers are happy. Melissa Boyle: Melissa is a newer associate, but she really has jumped in with both feet and has been a powerhouse in getting loans to the closing table! She is always eager to jump in and help where ever she can, however she can.
Arrita Reece Brown: She has been exceptional at answering all my question and a very timely manner. Caryl Schulman: Always my go to Ashley Rustom: Ashley is one of the most patient and understanding people that I know and I really enjoy working on her files. She truly has her customers best interest at heart hence why we call her “Loan Jesus”. She doesn’t complain one bit if there are challenges on her files. She is truly a Team Player overall.
You all are true difference makers....every day.....thank you all!!! 3 | www.elementfunding.com
Scamper your way to
creative solutions Some problems require fresh, innovative thinking. One way to search for creative solutions is to remember the acronym SCAMPER: SUBSTITUTE Replace an element that’s part of the problem. Use a different material, ingredient, or person and see what happens.
ADAPT Look outside the problem for something you can use to address it. Velcro was invented by someone who looked closely at how burrs stuck to clothing and adapted the principle.
MINIMIZE/MAXIMIZE
COMBINE
Make something smaller or larger. Instead of targeting the mass market with a new product, for example, maybe you can find a small niche to sell it to.
Put elements together. If you can’t decide whether to use salt or pepper in a recipe, try both.
Conversely, maybe a specialized tool has wider potential.
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PUT THINGS TO A DIFFERENT PURPOSE. Look for a different application. Instead of an entrée, maybe what you’ve cooked could be an appetizer or dessert.
ELIMINATE Look for elements you don’t need. Often, we include steps in a process out of habit, for example, whether they still serve the original purpose or not.
REARRANGE Put the elements in a different order or reverse them completely. You spot what’s missing more easily in a new arrangement.
One Pan French Onion Smothered Pork Chops Perfect for a weeknight meal, this French onion smothered pork chops recipe is all made in one pan, and in about 30 - 40 minutes!
Directions Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Melt butter and olive oil in a large cast iron or other oven safe skillet, over MED-HIGH heat. Add sliced onions and sauté 3-5 minutes, until soft. Add 4 Tbsp beef stock and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 12-15 minutes, until onions are extremely tender and golden brown.
Ingredients 2 yellow onions peeled, cut in half, and sliced into half-moon shaped slices 3 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 cup plus 4 Tbsp beef stock 4 boneless pork chops about 1-1 ½ inches thick
As onions are sautéing, season both sides of pork chops with salt, black pepper, thyme and garlic powder. Transfer onions to a plate, do not wipe out skillet. Reduce heat to MED, add a drizzle of olive oil to the skillet if needed, and cook pork chops, about 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Transfer pork chops to plate. Yield: 4 Servings
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Health in the News Germs like these hiding places You might think your bathroom is the germiest place in your home. You’d be wrong, according to the MSN website. Watch out for these locations that have lots more germs than your toilet: • Cutting boards. To keep them free of germs, don’t just rinse them in the sink. Wash your cutting board in water and dish soap, then soak in water mixed with bleach— two teaspoons for plastic, two tablespoons for wood. • Dish cloths. These have everything that’s necessary for bacteria to thrive: warmth, moisture, and organic material from food. Wash them often on a hot cycle and tumble-dry them in a dryer. • Smartphones. You take them everywhere, including the bathroom, and you usually don’t wash your hands every time you pick yours up. Clean your phone with a cloth soaked in a solution of 60% water and 40% rubbing alcohol. Wring the cloth out well so that the moisture doesn’t damage your phone. • Keyboards. Computer keyboards can be covered with 20,500 more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Clean your keyboard with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol while it’s unplugged. Use compressed air to get rid of dirt around the keys. • Steering wheels. You probably don’t wear gloves when you drive, which means you’re coating your wheel with germs and bacteria. Clean your wheel and other parts of your car regularly.
How much coffee can you safely drink? A lot Coffee lovers can be understandably confused by the mixed messages they’re getting about the health risks/ benefits of their favorite beverage. Some studies have suggested that drinking too much coffee can cause stiffening of the arteries, increasing the chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke. On the other hand… A new study from the British Heart Association, reported on the CNN website, suggests that drinking three cups of coffee or more a day is no worse for arteries than drinking a single cup. Researchers studied more than 8,000 people in the United Kingdom, some of whom drank one coffee or less a day, others who drank one to three cups, and a third group who reported consuming up to 25 cups of coffee a day. All participants were given MRI heart scans and infrared pulse wave tests, and scientists corrected the data for such factors as age, weight, diet, tobacco and alcohol use, and other factors. The findings appear to show that drinking three cups or more a day doesn’t significantly increase artery stiffness compared with consuming just one cup. No one is recommending binging on 20 cups or more per day, but you can rest easier knowing your arteries apparently aren’t in danger.
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Cold or the flu? How to tell You’re coughing, sniffling, feeling achy. Is it a cold—or the flu? It can be hard to tell, but the NPR website offers this advice for telling the difference: • The flu strikes fast. If you suddenly feel flattened, chances are it’s the flu. A cold will usually take several days to build up. • Take your temperature. Colds generally cause a mild fever of 99–100 degrees Fahrenheit. The flu’s fever is typically higher—101 degrees or more—and accompanied by chills and body aches. • Listen to your cough. You’ll be congested with a cold, and postnasal drip can make you cough. Flu’s coughing is more severe, and can lead to trouble breathing. n most cases, people can ride out the cold or the flu with the help of antiviral medications. Contact your doctor to determine whether more aggressive treatment is called for.
Get the passion again Have you lost the fire and passion that fueled your ambitions when you were younger? Here’s how to regain your enthusiasm and start moving forward again:
• Find your guideposts. List five or six principles that guide you in life, and decide whether they are values you truly live by or ideas you merely talk about.
• Compare and contrast. Start with this simple sentence and fill in the blanks: “In my life, I was___________ and now I _________.” You’ll find the answers to be very enlightening, whatever they are.
• Fantasize. Try writing a page or two on what you would like to do with the rest of your life. Or list things you would like to do before you die. Don’t worry about practicalities or priorities. Just create that dream list.
• Reflect on the past. Draw up a timeline from the very beginning of your childhood and figure out when you were happiest and what got you the most down. It leads to a better understanding of yourself.
• Make it real. Write down your thoughts, feelings, and hopes and share them with family, or a trusted friend. That way, there’s somebody to witness and hear you out, and you’ll feel accountable to make some changes.
Saying goodbye to college students September is when many young people leave for college for the first time. It’s exciting, but it can be traumatic for parents. Here’s some advice, from the Yahoo website, for handling the separation without tears: • Keep busy beforehand. There’ll be lots to do to prepare— buying new clothes, making sure electronics are up to date, and so forth. Immerse yourself in activity. • Think of the positives. Remember, this is a chance to watch your child learn and grow. Embrace the opportunity instead of dwelling on your sadness.
• Let them make decisions. Giving your college student a little extra leeway in making decisions about
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things can build your confidence in his or her judgment—and in the future.
A DIVISION OF PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE INC
A HIGH POWERED MORTGAGE COMPANY
with a hometown feel
www.ElementFunding.com Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., DBA Element Funding, NMLS #3094. PRMI is an Equal Housing Lender. Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change and are subject to borrower(s) qualification. This is not a commitment to lend. Georgia Department of Banking and Finance 6521. Florida Office of Financial Regulation MLD646.