While I certainly applaud the ingenuity of using eBay, I have to admit that I got a little chuckle out of a business being listed currently on eBay. You can see the actual post here.

Established Mortgage Lead Business & Website for Sale

The seller does a somewhat fair job of trying to set realistic expectations by explaining:

This is a real business for a real business person. If you are looking to get rich quick or be a lazy entrepreneur [is there really such a thing? Lazy entrepreneur?] then this business is NOT for you. This business requires a few hours a day to manage and promote. In the past we have had 4 employees running this site and it was earning $25,000-$30,000 per month [“the past" clearly being 2003 when interest rates were 2.75% for a 30 year fixed] in profit. Now the website and business is being administrated by 1 person and is still earning money weekly [I would imagine because the employee was hurt on the job and had AFLAC].

But what he does not disclose is that we are in what might be one of the most challenging mortgage markets in this country’s history and that much larger and generously funded lead providers are folding by the week.

I am not familiar with the company. In my years in the industry, I have never heard of them. But from their description on the site it sounds like an obvious example of a lead aggregator. That is, someone who aggregates their leads (buys) from other sources and re-sells them. Don’t get me wrong, when priced correctly and utilized properly, these leads can have their place in your marketing portfolio, but I think it is universally well-accepted that a real-time, organic lead is the best-practice, especially in this market.

However, should any of you want to really strike while the iron is hot and jump into the lead gen industry at about precisely the most inopportune time, I thought I would bring this to everyone’s attention. Or, at the very least I thought it might be worth a little chuckle.

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