Robert A. Sassi, CMB
President
Lafayette Mortgage Services Inc.
Lafayette Hill, Pa.

About Robert:
I have obtained my real estate license in 1988 just two months after graduating high school. I took my first mortgage application at age 20. Since then, I have focused on combining real estate sales and finance and now own and operate my own real estate brokerage and mortgage brokerage.

CMB Motivation and Challenges:
When I was 18, the president of the company I was working with had the designation. When I asked my father what it meant to be a CMB, he described it as the Ph.D. of Mortgage Banking. While it was difficult accumulating the credits and balancing two companies, in the end it was very rewarding.

Career Impact:
Being a CMB immediately brings respect from your colleagues and clients. In addition to my clients knowing they are dealing with someone who is a member of an elite group of mortgage professionals, potential investors also recognize me as someone whom they can trust in a business relationship.

What is the most significant issue facing the real estate finance industry today?
The subprime crisis we now face should teach us some valuable lessons in how we proceed going forward. Clearly, the loan programs made available to consumers must be more responsible and conservative as too many consumers and quite frankly too many loan originators are not savvy as to the potential consequences of higher risk loans.

What are the hottest trends you see that will impact the industry in the future?
I believe that we will see an increase in longer amortization terms. While I do not view this as a positive, it may be a way where people can afford these loans that at the time of origination, they clearly could not.

How has your experience as a CMB prepared you to handle the issues and trends you listed above?
While my organization is small, I try to focus on traditional 15 and 30 year fixed rate products. Keeping up to date with the issue papers published by the MBA, I feel I have more of a keen insight as to the effects these non traditional products have on our industry.

What advice do you have for those interested in obtaining the CMB Designation?
Becoming a CMB is without a doubt my greatest professional accomplishment. While the process is rather intense, the end result is something you will be proud of through out your career. Being only 36 when I obtained my CMB, I would encourage those who are just starting out in the business to consider setting the goal now. It was quite an accomplishment to get so early in my career.

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