Benefits and Activities Membership Categories Membership Dues How to Join Membership Application Code of Ethics MBA/MW provides a full range of benefits to mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers and affiliated industry professionals: 1. Educational Programs Keep You Current The Association provides a forum for members from the Washington metropolitan area to profit from educational programs and events designed to keep the mortgage industry professional on top of the latest trends in the industry. In addition to topical educational seminars held throughout the year, the Association sponsors a full-day Fall Conference and an Income Property Seminar with nationally recognized speakers. Several of these events include exhibits which offer information about the latest products and technology for the mortgage banking industry. 2. Networking Opportunities Help You Stay Connected with Top Professionals Learning from one another is one of the best forms of education, one at which MBA/MW excels. An annual directory of members helps everyone stay in touch. Opportunities for discussion and networking are an important part of every educational seminar and event. Special social events, including a golf tournament and an end-of-the year holiday party & awards celebration, add spice to even the business-like face-to-face exchanges. 3. Unique Educational and Interactive Opportunities for Income Property Professionals MBA/MW offers commercial real estate finance and investment professionals in the Washington metropolitan area the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and enrich their relationships with their peers though involvement in its income property programs. Events include an annual Income Property Seminar featuring prominent industry speakers focusing on the latest trends involving finance and investment in commercial real estate, plus periodic networking and educational forums catering to the interests of income property professionals. 4. Legislative and Regulatory Representation Maintains a Favorable Business Environment Advocacy is an important aspect of MBA/MW. We make sure that members are aware of pending legislative and regulatory changes, and that the industry's views are heard before decisions are made. The Association closely monitors all legislative matters under consideration in the District of Columbia, Annapolis and Richmond and works closely with sister state MBA's. Our extensive lobbying efforts in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are designed to maintain a favorable business climate for MBA/MW members. MBA/MW's collective legislative and lobbying efforts are far more cost effective than individual action. MBA/MW also maintains liaison with regulatory agencies such as FHA, VA and HUD, and provides updates and forecasts by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Click here for a summary of current legislative activities (members only). 5. Support of Sound and Ethical Business Practices One element that separates an MBA/MW member from the rest of the crowd is adherence to the association's Code of Ethics, which every member agrees to abide by when joining. The Ethics & Grievances Committee considers potential violations of MBA/MW's Code of Ethics. 6. Involvement in Community Outreach Efforts MBA/MW members have the opportunity to join in the Association's community outreach efforts. The Association has worked in partnership with the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) since 1996 to provide homeowner education seminars for several hundred first time homebuyers, candidates of affordable lending programs and individuals who may currently own a home but need a refresher on the homebuyer process. Similar programs are also being planned for the District of Columbia and Maryland. In 1997, the Association joined forces with several area associations and community groups to form the Housing Coalition of Maryland and the Housing Opportunities Coalition of Virginia. The mission of each coalition is to enhance and expand the efforts to ensure that affordable housing opportunities exist for families in the Washington metropolitan area. Coalition members are committed to continuing their proactive role in support of the National Homeownership Strategy and the National Partners in Homeownership. 7. Exclusive Access to Business and Professional Information Inclusion in and access to MBA/MW's Membership Directory is limited to members only. Each member is entitled to list several key representatives from their firm in the directory. Members receive regular bulletins on breaking news as well as the Association's quarterly newsletter, The MBA/MW Connection, which is full information on association and member activities, and industry-wide activities. Additionally, MBA/MW members receive unlimited access to the Association's Member Area on this web site. 8. Discounts to All Association Programs and Events Membership allows you to participate in MBA/MW events at significantly lower costs. Members receive exclusive discounts for all MBA/MW educational programs and events, including discounted rates for advertising in the Association's quarterly newsletter, The MBA/MW Connection. 9. Sponsorship, Exhibitor and Advertising Opportunities to Help You Stand Out in the Crowd MBA/MW offers firms exclusive opportunities to separate their business from the crowd by sponsoring events, purchasing advertising in the quarterly newsletter, the membership directory and our web site and exhibiting at at various annual events. Two membership categories are available to mortgage industry professionals: Regular members include firms which are regularly or directly engaged in the business of originating, financing, closing, wholesaling, brokering or servicing mortgage loans or other types of real estate finance for others. Associate members include firms and individuals regularly providing services or products for business organizations or financial institutions eligible to be Regular members. Membership is by company. All employees of a member company are entitled to member benefits. The membership year runs from January through December of each year. Annual membership dues are determine by company size, as noted below: Companies with 1 - 3 employees: $275.00 Companies with 4 - 9 employees: $400.00 Companies with 10 or more employees: $550.00 Nonprofits, government agencies, trade associations: $275.00 All applicants for membership must agree to abide by MBA/MW's Code of Ethics. Applicants for membership must be sponsored by two MBA/MW members as noted below: For Regular Membership - applicants must be sponsored by two MBA/MW Regular members For Associate Membership - applicants must be sponsored by two MBA/MW members -- one of the sponsors must be a Regular MBA/MW member; the second sponsor may be either a Regular or an Associate member. Applicants for Regular membership must also submit a copy of their firm's Mortgage Lender/Broker license with their application. Click here for a membership application. Applications are considered by the Association's Board of Governors at their regularly scheduled meetings. - HOME - Mortgage Bankers Association of Metropolitan Washington P.O. Box 1522 Olney, MD 20830-1522 (301) 924-0633   Fax (301) 924-4124 e-mail: info@mbamw.org Website: www.mbamw.org