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Tuesday, September 4, 2007 - Calyx 6.0 Has Shipped!

For those of you with expired subscriptions, Calyx 6.0 has shipped.  The update 6.0a, will be available for download shortly.  Following are some of the updates that will be included. The expected release date is on or before Sept. 28.


Make sure you have the current version of the software so that you are in compliance!!!

The software can be ordered by visiting the website at  calyxsoftware.com

Feature

Description

Florida Mortgage Broker Contract

·      Minor screen and Form changes.

Modified GFE

 

·      GFE needs to indicate payee names for each fee.

·      GFE screen will be modified and New Florida GFE Printouts will be added.

TIL Payment Adjustment

·      When payment is adjusted by both initial rate and payment cap, the payment cap is ignored. This should be fixed.

Marketing Template

·      The default marketing letter “Calyx Marketing – Custom Letter – Current Market Information Letter” contains a link to quickenloans.com which creates big concerns for users. The link should be removed.

Report Status Filter

·      In the new report, the status “Est Clost” option was missing.

·      In the new report, the status filter is not working the same as 5.4.

Fannie Mae MSA Table

·      Fannie has changed MSA Table format in 6.0, but Point didn’t recognize the change. We need to distribute new MSA table.
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Saturday, February 3, 2007 - Generation Y versus the Baby Boomers

Can't we all just get along?

As this new generation enters the workforce, they present quite a challenge when trying to interface with the Baby Boomers who are their co-workers and bosses.  Baby Boomers are defined by demographers as being born between 1946 to 1964, while Gen X is from 1965 to 1980 and Generation Y comes in from 1981 to 1999.

Let's take a look at the generational differences in communication between Gen Y and the Boomers.  It's important to understand these differences to better interface with peers and customers in day to day mortgage originations.

What are some of the biggest differences?

COMMUNICATION:
 Gen Y is very focused on written communication and they were pretty much raised on the internet. (IM, email, text messaging, etc.)  These folks never really had to leave their room to have a social life and frequently use slang in emails, such as Y instead of "why," 4 instead of "for."  Conversely, Boomers think that written communication, including emails, should be more formal.  The Gen Y’ers haven't been in the workplace long enough to understand that emails in the work place should not be slang.

Additionally, Generation Y, as a whole, does not speak as well.  Writing and speaking are very different.  Writing skills are more formalized because you have time to think through what you are saying.  Their verbal skills, however, are very rusty because they have yet to learn those verbal and non-verbal cues, that only come from on the job experience.

TECHNOLOGY:
Gen Y is really good with technology, which can be brought into the workplace.  Gen Y quickly figures out a program just by trying it and boomers have to read the manuals. Not as much money has to be spent training on technology as in years past.  They can also teach boomers how to use the technology.  Boomers can really take advantage of this opportunity.

ATTIRE:
Gen Y is at a disadvantage here due to the advent of the "casual" workplace.  They are getting really mixed signals.  The truth of the matter is that every generation has relaxed the standards from those of the generations before them.  Unfortunately, torn jeans that cost $100, even though they were really expensive, does not make them appropriate for the workplace because it does not set the impression that you are worthy of earning the respect and trust of coworkers and customers.  Other bad examples are bare midriff, tank tops, baggy jeans, no belt, extreme piercings, tattoos, etc.  These all are fine for play time, but not okay in the workplace.  Additionally, the rules of attire are completely dependent on your audience.  You have to really ask yourself, who is your audience?  Heck, even from city to city, the dress codes change.  This is really a growth area for the younger generation.

EARNING RESPECT:
Generation Y is a self-assured generation, as they were raised that way by Boomers.  They were taught to have lots of confidence and pride in themselves.  The difference here is that Baby Boomers had to work hard earn that respect. 

WORK-LIFE BALANCE:
Is Generation Y going to be any more successful at the work/life balance?   Doubt it.  Business hasn’t gotten less busy and is making more demands.  Fortunately or unfortunately, the technology has allowed multi-tasking, such as checking emails, text messaging, etc. in the evenings really easy.  Since they are watching TV, they don’t really think that they are working, but I think in the long run they’ll realize that they are working more than the Baby Boomers did.

In the next 10 years, what is the workforce going to be like? 
Technology is going to take us light years away beyond places we can imagine.  Boomers will be largely retired and the Gen Y'ers will be well into their worklife.  The communication via technology will be well installed.

Hopefully, the Gen Y'ers will learn that face-to-face communication, or even phone calls, will have much more impact and are much more productive than emailing and IMing back and forth.


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Friday, January 26, 2007 - Coffee Shop Computer Security

QUESTION:  I meet a lot of borrowers at coffee shops.  I access very personal information about my borrowers using my laptop.  How safe are internet cafes?  Can the cafe operator or ISP record my keystrokes or see what's on my screen?

ANSWER:  Watch out!  Some internet cafes offer "leased" time on public internet-connected computers.  The entire system is under control of the cafe owner.  Security is uncertain at best.  Hackers might rig the computers to record everything.  I wouldn't do any personal business on any public computer.

Using your own laptop is much safer.  Banks establish a secure connection to your computer when you log in, using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).  These setups are automatic.  They use 128-bit encryption, which is currently unbreakable.

HOWEVER....You should ensure that you're not giving away personal files.  Windows makes it easy to share folders on a home network.  On public internet access, those shared folders become security holes.  Anyone using the same access point, such as a hotspot, may access what’s in your shared folders.

Whether you're in a wireless hotspot or a hotel room, disable file sharing. 

  • Click Start>>Control Panel.  Double-click Network Connections.  
  • Right-click your connection and select Properties.
  • Select the General tab.
  • Clear the checkbox labeled "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.”  Then click OK. 
  • To ensure that the new setting takes hold, restart your laptop.

Finally, use basic security including a firewall, antivirus software and a few anti-spyware programs.  They are your best protection against the likes of keyloggers, which track your keystrokes.

For more information on internet security issues and much more, check out Kim Komando's website.  She has lots of helpful information.

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - Today's Tech Tips

FOLDER MARKER


How many folders do you have on your computer? Scores of them? Hundreds? Thousands? Are all of them are alike: yellow folder, yellow folder, yellow folder, yellow folder... It's so easy to be confused with such a routine!

Folder Marker is your small assistant, an ardent fighter for your convenience and comfort in any kind of computer work. Use Folder Marker to mark your folders. One mouse-click and it becomes clear at once, which documents have a high priority, and which of them have normal or low priority. Which operations are finished completely, which are half-done and which haven't started yet.

Do you fear that someone might unintentionally delete information necessary to you? Mark a folder, and other users will notice at once that that folder contains important information for you.

Changing folder icons, Folder Marker will help you to cope with the standard yellowness. Folder Marker adds an item "Mark Folder" in the folder popup menu. Changing a folder icon is now a piece of cake.

Folder Marker is for anyone who wants to make his work with a computer more convenient. Folder Marker is for you.

Visit http://www.foldermarker.com/ to download this free little program!   I've started using it already and I can really tell the difference.



EASY WAY TO SELECT TEXT IN WORD

If you are tired of fighting with your mouse when editing a word document, try a new trick! If you want to select a block to text to
change, delete, copy, etc., simply place your cursor at the beginning of the text, hold down the SHIFT key and place your cursor to the end point. It's much easier than holding down the right mouse button and dragging your mouse around the page. Try it!

ADD TO CONTACTS IN OUTLOOK

When you receive an email in OUTLOOK, you can easily add the sender to your OUTLOOK contact list.

1.  Right click the FROM line in the email and select "ADD TO CONTACTS"

           or

If you think you might already have them in your contact list, select "LOOKUP IN OUTLOOK CONTACTS."

2.  When you add the person, you can fill out the rest of the contact info and remember to hit SAVE before closing.


HIDE A WORKSHEET IN EXCEL

If you are working on an EXCEL document and you want to share it, but not ALL of it, you can hide a worksheet. Hiding a worksheet does not delete it; it simply “hides” it. To HIDE a worksheet, click the worksheet that you want to hide. On the FORMAT menu, point to SHEET and then HIDE. To UNHIDE, just click the FORMAT menu, point to SHEET and click UNHIDE. A box will appear listing the worksheets. Click on the worksheet that you want to unhide and click OK.
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Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - Calyx 5.3 and Texas Mortgage Broker Disclosure Form

The newest release of Calyx software, version 5.3 has the most recent update to the Texas Mortgage Broker Disclosure with the language regarding the borrower's right to recscind and get their money back from on page 2.

Make sure you're current.  There were lots of other updates to the software including some bug repairs.

Here is the Calyx announcement about 5.3
Calyx Point® 5.3 is the latest release of Point. Click here to get the Point 5.3 release notes and learn more about Point 5.3 features and enhancements:

• Task Reminder-pop up reminders can be scheduled for tasks
• Enhanced Conversation Log
• GFE Auto Recalculation-Point now has the ability to auto recalculate certain fees on the GFE when Loan Amount, Appraised Value, or Sales Price changes
• Increased Liabilities and Real Estate Owned to 200 possible entries
• Flood Certification Service
• Credit Score Ranges are populated on Credit Score Disclosure when using Services in Point
• Updated Forms

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Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - Blackberry Contacts Need Updating?

ADD CONTACTS TO YOUR BLACKBERRY

If you have a bunch of contacts to enter into your blackberry, it might be easier to add them in your Blackberry Internet Service Account.  The contacts will be automatically sent to your Blackberry. 

Simply log in, on the left hand side of the menu select Address Book.  On the address book page, select NEW.  Enter the information and then click SAVE AND CLOSE.
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Monday, June 26, 2006 - SECURE YOUR LAPTOP

With more and more professionals using laptop computers, it is more important than ever to safeguard against theft.  There are many devices available to protect your laptop from robbery.  One of the easiest ways to guard your laptop and valuable files on your home or work PC is to use a KEY.  SecuriKey is one such product that uses a USB key and hardware encryption to protect your information.  If someone does steal your laptop, they will not be able to access your files without the USB key and password.  The same holds true for your office or home PC.

Files cannot be accessed without the USB key!

http://www.securikey.com/securikeypro.htm
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Monday, June 26, 2006 - BACK UP YOUR DATA!

We all know how important backing up your data is.  You work hard and your data should be protected!  There are many back up services online, making it even easier for you to protect valuable files! 

Check out Mozy.  It's a FREE back up service for up to 2GB.

http://mozy.com/
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Sunday, June 25, 2006 - Calyx 5.2 Tips - Sync loan details in Unmarried Cobo file

When you have a borrower file and a coborrower file because the two borrowers on the loan are unmarried, it gets tricky to keep the loan details lined up while the loan is in process.  It's easy to start them out the same because you can create the cobo file from the Borrower file, but as the loan progresses, tiny details change.

It's quite tedious to get the two files to mirror each other.  (Otherwise one file could have higher closing costs than another or the wrong loan amount, etc.)

How can you make this easier?

1.  Get your borrower file just right.  Make sure all the details of the loan are accurate, including:
  • property address
  • transaction details from Borrower Info screen
    • sales price
    • value
    • loan amount
    • 2nd lien info (rate, term, and loan amt)
  • Good Faith Estimate
  • Truth-In-Lending
2.  Go to the dropdown for Borr/Cobo and select the correct cobo file.

3.  From the File menu, select "Import From" and then select "Associated Borrower File"

This will import all of the loan transaction data listed above.  It will not affect any of the personal information such as employers, liabilities, etc.

LIGHTNING FAST!!!

This is also the workaround for second liens. 

Ever notice that when you create a 2nd Lien file by selecting "Subordinate Financing" from the file menu, the unmarried cobo file doesn't pick up the second lien info?  It is just a replica of the first lien cobo file.

This is a bug in Point and they are aware of it, but the workaround is to get your Second Lien borrower info just right like we did earlier in the post and then from the Cobo file, do the Associated Borrower file step again.
VOILA!!!

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Saturday, June 24, 2006 - Calyx 5.2 Tips - Inserting an Entry

Want to insert a new employer, a new bank account, liability, or real estate owned before another one in the list of existing entries.

Here's the scenario question:

I have an old file in the closed folders.  The borrower wants to apply for a new loan.  Since the old loan, they've changed jobs.  Is it possible to insert without rekeying all employment info.?  I want to enter the new current info. and have the other 4 shift down in proper order. 

Here's the Answer:

You can use the "Insert" button to move the current entries down by one position.
1. Go to Loan Application > Page 2
2. Locate the Former Employer section
3. Click in the More Entries box.
4. Click Next until you are on the first entry
5. Click Insert
6. Now type the current information in the new entry.  All other entries should shift down by one.
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