Within the mortgage industry, the lender side and the lead generation side, turmoil is all around. We have LO’s, processors, upper management flip flopping around from company to company trying to find a stable home. This also seems to be happening in lead-gen side of the industry as well. Sales reps are moving from, sometimes older more “established” lead providers to newer boutique style lead providers. I believe many of the larger lead-gen companies suffered more damage from the sub-prime debacle and the alt-a meltdown then the smaller, newer shops. I think many of the transitioning sales reps are looking for new opportunities and a chance to convert their current client base over to the younger lead company. They obviously would not be able to do this if they moved on to an older more established company because many of their clients are already with the established company. It just wouldn’t make sense.

I am also catching wind that many feel the larger companies are loosing focus or drive to innovate and are relying on other channels to pull them through. I have been told that LowerMyBills is loosing more and more control to Experian and it will soon be transitioned into Experian Interactive.  Rumors also have it that older employees are either leaving or let go for new hires. There are a lot of new faces in the LMB offices these days.

Rumor has it that change is brewing at Low.com as well. One partner is rumored to be disgruntled and his looking to separate himself from operational decisions and could possibly be looking for new opportunities. I believe that Low will continue to succeed even through these tough times. Low continues to bring on new personnel, many from the top tier lead-gen companies and more importantly they now how to generate good leads.

If are all the rumors are true how will it effect us if at all? For the tier 1 providers will these changes equal poor quality leads? Can more interaction with Experian save LMB or will it hurt them? Can the Low.com turmoil hurt quality and the overall company direction?

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