Creating A Captivating Mortgage Mailer Targeting Refinancers
Mortgage companies have an opportunity to capitalize on the current market stasis by pushing out a captivating mortgage mailer that focuses on refinancing. If you are in the mortgage industry, you probably have stayed up to date on the latest trends. But if this is not the case, here is what is being reported as of today, August 9th, and what changes industry professionals are projecting over the course of this next week.
Quick Overview of Mortgage Market Rates
According to an analysis conducting by Bankrate.com, Mortgage rates are holding steady. Here is what is currently being reported:
- The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.27 percent from 3.28 percent.
- The 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage rose to 3.49 percent from 3.48 percent.
- The 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage fell to 4.03 percent from 4.05 percent.
Also noted in the report is a drop in American buying sentiment. In fact, it has reached an all time low. Although homeownership rose with people under the age of 35 by 1.2% from last year, this segment of the population is still facing “inventory shortages and rising home prices.”
Moreover, according to a news release by Fannie Mae, buying sentiment is not the only thing down—so is the desire to sell.
In Bankrate’s weekly Rate Trend Index, where mortgage experts predict which way the rates are going to slide over the next week, 50% predicted they will fall, 30% predicted they will remain the same, and another 20% said they will increase.
Direct Mail Copy To Capture New Mortgage Customers
Although it seems the market looks grim for buying and selling, the rates are remaining low and steady with the possibility of going down ever further. This can be an opportunity for people to refinance their homes, which is where a well-timed direct mail campaign comes into play. Here are some things you should consider to create a successful mailer.
First, decide if you are going to go with a brochure, a postcard, or some other medium. This will allow you to plan how much copy and images you will need. On the one hand, brochures are great because people will typically flip through them, and you can have more room for images, such as a chart listing current rates and trends. However, postcards have the benefit of sticking around longer for people will most likely keep it for later, while with a brochure, they may discard it.
No matter what you choose, the copy should be concise and do a few things:
- Address how your company stands apart from your competitors
- Have a clear path to your website to start the application process
- Promote a sense of urgency with an expiration date
- Be written in a way where the recipient can skim it and still get your message
- Make sure it is personalized—e.g. Using pURLS or taking advantage of data provided by a mortgage mailing list
- Include all necessary contact information
Always keep in mind that the direct mail piece is the key to the door. If it is the wrong key, the door won’t open. That is why you need to make sure the information and images you are providing are highly relevant and to the point. The goal is to get potential customers in the pipeline, no matter if it is via phone with one of your mortgage professionals or filling out an application form on your website. Since direct mail is highly trackable, you can monitor your results and find ways to improve the campaign.
If the current rates weren’t enough to entice you, then consider what Michelle Peel shared in her article “Why Online Mortgage Marketers are Investing in Direct Mail.” According to Peel, research that was recently completed by Competiscan found that Quicken Loans dominated Q1 2017 by being the leading mortgage/refinancing direct mailer. Now is the time to get off the bench and get in the game.