Before I explain that question, let me ask you this one: "How long have you been in the business?" Ever have someone ask you that? Here's my answer, and it will really make you think!
I was in the business before we had the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). ECOA went into law in 1976, and protects against discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age.
So, you ask???
Well, when I was first in this business, if I were taking a loan application from a married couple that were of child bearing age and they wanted her income to be taken into consideration, I would have to document their birth control procedures!!
Yep! That's right! A letter signed by the two of them certifying they did not intend to have children, why, and then explaining their form of birth control would sometimes suffice, but not always! Imagine having to ask THAT question at the face to face loan application (which a face to face was the only kind of loan application we could accept)! Remember, back then maternity leave was not protected by law. Thus, if the wife were to get pregnant, there would be no guarantee that she would get her job back. So job stability could not be established, disallowing the income from being taken into consideration.
And to think today we're all uptight about a new Good Faith Estimate and HUD!
"We've come a long way, baby!" (Do you know what advertisement that line was used in?)
This post is included in the brand new "Financing Friday" group, which we invite you to join.
Views and opinions expressed on this site are not necessarily those of WR Starkey Mortgage.
Ruth Vogt, Branch Manager
Colorado LMB #LMB100023827
Wow, I never would have guessed. How die your respond to applicants claiming the rhythm method? If they were on the pill, did you ever ask for proof? lol
Thanks for Sharing! Sometimes it's hard to look back and realize that's the way things really used to be.
Better Properties Brokerage
Mark, you laugh, but in my post I indicated that the explanation would sometimes be accepted... rhythm would not be accepted. And if she were on the pill I would have to ask for a copy of the prescription!
Better Properties... Yes it is!!!
Ruth - what a post! With your permission, I'm going to share this!
OMG.
Times certainly have changed, then haven't they?
Thanks for the post.
Brian, quite interesting, huh? Sure you can share this!
Ralph, and some things really do need to change in our business!
I have been around a long time also and what we have today is much easier than the good old days.
Wow Ruth! Try pulling that one off today! Oh, and it's Virginia Slims??
Ruth, this is the most astonishing info. I'd like to reblog it but you can't reblog a member's only. Change it to public. I see nothing offensive about it but something eye-opening for all of us.
Wow, I don't remember ever being ask that, but then I don't remember a lot of things from the seventies anymore :-) It was Virginia Slims, now why do I remember that!?
Naturally your title drew me in. But the information you presented is actually rather shocking.
I can't believe that someone would be asked that question in order to qualify for a loan.
Wow - I had no idea those types of questions were ever used in the loan process! I do know that Virginia Slims is the one who advertised "we've come a long way, baby" - right?!
Boy the times they are a changin aren't they? Now we are going around singing Pants on the Ground!
That is crazy! I had never heard of that! I think my jaw would be on the ground if someone asked me that at a loan application.
Hi Ruth ~ Like others, I had no idea. What absolutely floors me is how this was not so long ago at all. We have such limited historical memory and it's easy to think that the outrages of the past happened ages ago. Not so. Wow!!
Liz
Ruth,
That question is incredulous! I'm surprized the wall street banks aren't requiring that birth control question to protect the bonuses of the big shots. We don't want a loan to go bad do we?
That'll put things into perspective!!
Shelly Whitworth
www.MorSystems.com
Wow thanks for the info for a young buck like me!
Ha! I'll rank that question along with "Are you still doing real estate?"
We were definitely asked that question when we first applied for a loan back in the early 1970s. However, I don't think I had to provide a copy of my prescription! :-)
Yes, things have definitely changed, and mostly for the better.
For a walk down memory lane, check out the TV show Mad Men on AMC. OMG have things changed since then.
ROFL...I started in 1978, and I must be having a brain lapse, because I don't remember that one. Well, actually, I wasn't taking the loan app, the loan officer was, so it very well could have still been in place. This is funny/
When I was in banking, I could always be inspiredby Helen, who was past retirement age. She had seen all kinds of changes in banking, from when tellers were men only (and had to wear wool suits and couldn't take off their jackets before the days of air conditioning.
Whenever there were big changes and I was about to throw up my hands, I would say to myself, 'If Helen can do it, I can do it.'
Sarah in Nashville
It shows we have come a long way.
No way. That is amazing. Boy things have changed. I have to re-blog this. Too funny.
I know it was very rare back hte, but what if t he feamle of the group was the major bread winner?
And think about it, did your processors have to "Certify the Method"?
Brings a whole new image of an underwriter....
Thanks for sharing
Keep A Good Thought
Chris Cummigns
Pretty amazing what you used to have to do. What a different world we have become.
That was funny. I don't think it would fly today to ask that question.
A few years ago Ann Landers wrote: the only way to guarantee that the pill works is to hold it between your knees.
Hey, I didn't say it; it was Ann Landers!
Evening Ruth, If you had asked whether or not this was once part of our business we all would have failed that test question. yes, we have come a long way !!
Ruth - So this stuff was asked in 1975, a paltry few years ago? Very scary.
Ruth - I could not imagine asking or answering that question.
Ruth~ Oh my gosh that is crazy! I don't remember being asked that and I graduated from high school in 1975 and bought a house not long after that..... But, then again I had four kids in four years, so.....
What a catchy title! That's amazing. Teachers and nurses weren't able to get a job if they were married, for the same reason (eons ago). Did any males ever answer "I've had a vasectomy?"
Hey Ruth! You had me at Hello!! Great post and congratulations on the feature!! I guess I know where the minds of AR members are hanging out....in the gutter!! All the best in 2010!!
Wow. That is a crazy story!
Unfortunately, it also means something else ... you are soooooooooo much older than me! =)
Well, when I was a flight attendant in 1969 we had to be single, obviously no children, and we had to be weighed before each flight! And that's not the worst of it! You have no idea the kind of questions they got away with asking on interviews! Things have changed but some things haven't changed as much as we think.
This is amazing. I was not aware of anything like this. I don't think that question could ever fly today!
This is amazing. To think this was just a mere 30 years ago. Thankfully, times have changed.
Ruth, I had never heard that! Thanks for helping recognize our progress.
Ruth - Wow! That is amazing to hear. It reminds me of a guy that I used to work with, who told us stories about carrying pockets filled with rolls of quarters, so that he could stop at pay phones and call his clients while he was out and about.
Everyone knows birth control is a woman's responsibility (JK). But, what if the loan applicant was a Negro back in 1970? Yes! we have come a long way.
That's pretty interesting. I can't say I ever would have thought of this taking place.
I remember those days, Bill used to be very embarrassed about asking that question when he started in the business. And yes we have come a long way baby. But that dates us too.
This just blows my mind to think this was happening in my lifetime. We've come a long way baby, indeed!
What a long way we have come. Job or no job in 2006 "she" could have bought a McMansion with no money down!
Congratulations on the featured post!
I love the title of this post! I had no idea this was a question years ago.
What an amazing perspective that I hadn't really thought of. Although we have come a long way since I was in college in the eighties, the extent to which we have come over the course of several decades hasn't really penetrated - until now.
This may have been mentioned above, but just in case - Virginia Slims.
Wow! I'll have to ask my mom if she remembers this. She's been in the business since the mid 70's.
Now this header is sure to get lots of attention... Oh my...
It takes reading something like this to remember how far we have come -- had completely forgotten about that -- but yes it was true.
Oh my! How times have changed! Wow!
Oh, say word....I would have never thought that happened, but it does make sense...and glad that things have changed...sorry, but that is just waaaaaaay too personal....
yes times have changed..and it is amazing how short of time has passed with such big changes... women used to not be allowed to wear pants in court... or church.. women didnt have their own credit... and on and on... but this one takes the cake! Great Post!
Hi Ruth, I/we got my/our first mortgage in 1973. I guess we answered acceptably...well, maybe it was just my income that was counted. My wife was still in college.
How did you ever get a mortgage? You are a knockout now. I can hardly imagine what a dish you were then!
i have been in business since I actually had to ask a couple to get married for the income to count on the loan application. They got married. We are still friends. And to this day, we still comment about it many children and many years later. As a matter of fact, he is one of my calls when I need a home cleaned up and decluttered prior to listing it.
Amazing story and thanks for sharing it with us.. how things change with time
I was born in 1976. So I wouldn't have known how far we've come in the mortgage industry. But as you have pointed out, we HAVE definitely come up way ahead. So, chill out about the new GFE people!
When we bought our first house back in 1966, the pill was not invented yet. I remember the questions, but my wife was a stay at home mom, so the questions did not apply.
Great post. Dave Liniger brought this up in his presentation in Houston. I got pregnant in 1977 and had to hide it for the first 3 months (try to hide morning sickness!). Working in HR, I was in charge of compiling the new EEOC manual to include new laws about not being able to fire competent pregnant workers. As soon as the supervisor signed it I told him I was pregnant. He was not a happy camper. We HAVE come a long way baby!
Great Post - We have come a long way Baby!
Thank goodness! Joy
Hi Ruth, Yes the title also drew me in. I was curious:) I did not realize that they had to ask about birth control procedures. Very interesting. we have come a long way!
WOW.... I never saw this on the dashboard or maybe I did and at my age the headline did not suck me in. I remember the cigarette commercials. I have sold real estate since 1986 and have never heard that before... but I believe you. Hmm see it there on the dashboard now...
I saw a Re-Blog and thought "what the heck?" I Re-Blogged it too. that is wild.
Copy of the prescription!! We have come a long way.
That is so nutty. "Do you use birth control?" The question is so painfully politically incorrect. It would make a perfect line for Michael Scott, the office manager, on the hit tv comedy called "The Office". It is so bad it is almost funny.
Stephanie
I understand the question is still asked today in some European countries.
It was before my time, but what if the birth control was a vasectomy? Did the loan agent have to look for a scar or something to that effect?
Yes, as the old cigarette ad use to say, we have come a long way.
BTW, i cannot find this fact out anywhere, but do recall what year it was allowed to take a loan app over the phone? Just curious.
Ah yes, Virginia Slims - sponsor of the first professional women's tennis tour...
thanks for the memories of the :good old days".
Great title.
I had no idea, yes we have come a long way baby.
My mother was asked this question a few times. My father had a towing business, and mom was the bookkeeper and dispatcher. The day I was born at 9AM, mom was running the radio before dinner. So, when dad was asked a few months later, he answered that it really wouldn't matter. Believe it or not, he lost a city tow contract in the late 50's because one of his tow drivers was black. Dad stood his ground and outlasted the competition.
Yes, we have come a long way.
Congrats on the feature Ruth!!! :)
Ruth, I sure learned something new from you today. Never in a million years would I think this was a question in a loan application.
Holy cannolis! I had no idea! Great title, great post - HUGE giggle for my Saturday morning, thanks, Ruth!
Tim, Yeah, "good ole days"!
Jackie! Of course, I knew YOU would know the answer!
Barbara, before being featured, I saw your email and did change it to a public post.
Mary, the 70's do seem to be a bit of a blur for all of us.
Craig, sad to think we were a part of that history, now that I look back on it. Wow, huh?
Emily, Yep, you got it! It was Virginia Slims. I loved those commericials.
Sybil and Donna - Your blogs make me realize we could put a great song together, called "Jaw on the Ground" with verses that poke fun of all the stupid things that used to be... in the "good ole days" as Tim pointed out above!
Excuse me?????? :) It is amazing how far we've come. Frankly, it's not an unreasonable question when you are documenting income, but of course and invasion of privacy and purely sexist. Funny...and no, haven't been doing this THAT long.
Liz, You know the saying, "We all have 20/20 hind sight". How wrong it seems today, yet at the time we didn't know any better.
Deborah, Ridiculous.
Shelly, Yep!
Jeff, So what's going on in your world today that in 30 years will seem outrageous??
Peter, LOL!
Sonsie, Who knows what LOE (letter of explanation) the loan officer might have added?
Sandra, haven't even heard of the show. Who has time? I'm always blogging! ha
Wow, Ruth, I can only imagine! Thanks for the perspective and congratulations on the feature.
OH MY WORD! I can't imagine having to ask that! Bless your heart for sticking through to the good NEW days!
Ruth, I have heard this similar line of questioning in the over 55 Active Adult communities where you can be a resident at 35 years old of course, still child bearing years. If you have kids, you are kicked out. It seems like ancient history to have to ask that question.
Ruth: That's good. I just had to respond to your title! I agree with you. We get our panties (or underwear) in a knot about change. That's the bottom line. Thanks for the post!
That's incredible! Stuff like that makes those lists of "no-no words" seem a bit more logical!
She is correct because the banks wanted to know how long they could 'consider' the wife's income before she had kids. Wow, that's flying on the wayback machine! Now they wouldn't dare say something so stupid.
Jean, by 1978 the law had changed, so you probably just missed the fun! :)
Sarah, I love your story about Helen. What great inspiration ... and wonder how many actually missed the opportunity to embrace the inspiration she offered even if they also worked with her.
Ron, Yes it does.
Trisha, Glad you find it entertaining now. You can only imagine how entertaining it was from time to time for us at the time!
Well I can see why this was a Featured Post. I got my first mortgage loan as a single gal back in 1978 and that was the attitude of the female mortgage lender....We've come a long way...lady!! That was the beginning of the trend to allow single females to get a loan on their own (without a spouse). The lender lady was very helpful for my first loan process and even expressed what a great interest rate I was getting at 9.5%. Fortunately she did not ask if I were using Birth Control. That does seem a bit personal.
Boy, times have changed!
Chris, Glad to see you signed in and are commenting! Looked to see if you have posted on your blog yet... I'm subscribed, so I'm waiting... ***smiles*** But back to your comment here, in those days processors couldn't certify to anything. So if something more was needed, we'd have to get that from the doctor!! And underwriters? Well, they were government employees at the time. Need I say more?
Rob, makes you wonder what future generations will say about things we are doing now that seem "normal"???
Bob, a "few" years ago??? The last "Ann Landers" (and there were several) died in 2002. But I do remember that advice. It was a very popular joke at the time.
Bill, we could come up with a game from details of our business that could be a second addition of "Fact or Crap". (BTW, that really is a game... not a word I would use otherwise!)
Wendy, It really was. No kidding.
Michelle, but think of it this way: women weren't considered equal to a man then, and there were very few women loan officers, so it was even more difficult for me, as a female LO to ask the question. Wives would snicker and husbands would puff up.
I think it was Virginia Slims (I don't smoke) and this knowledge makes me very old!!!!
Vickie, four kids in four years would be in itself enough indication that we wouldn't be able to use your income! ha-ha! OH MY...what a busy woman you must have been.
Carla, yes, that would be a common response especially from men wanting to try and shock me. I kept a form letter for that so I would just pull out my desk drawer and ask them to sign the letter.
Stephen, I didn't really think my title would suggest to readers that their mind or my mind was in the gutter. Especially considering the frankness of conversations ... even songs... today.
Alright, Agent Aaron... don't forget the part about respecting your elders! ***smiles***
Kathy, You had to weigh in?? I can only imagine what the questions might have been!
Joan, only in a bar, today, would be my guess!
Tammie, you know I guess only history tells us what is good and what change isn't. In this case, it certainly was. But at the time the industry was convinced the change would lead to massive mortgage defaults.
Dr. Stacey-Ann, makes us wonder what the next 30 years will bring, huh?
Jill, Seems wild doesn't it?
Jason, except it was probably a roll of dimes! ***winks***
Gregory, point taken. My post was written on just one section of the new law. Race, color, national origin had an even bigger impact of positive change resulting from this law. We have come a long way in many ways, haven't we?
Well that headline caught my attention, wow we have come a long way...
When my parents bought their first home my mother need documentation from her doctor stating she could no longer have any children before they would consider her income. this was back in the 50's
Steve, probably a lot of things still going on today that if we knew about it, we wouldn't believe!
Brenda, now that I think about it, the question probably was more difficult for a male loan officer to ask than a female. Dates us? I should have said something about breaking the child labor law by working back then, huh???
Lisa, sure have!
Jon, you are so right! And that was wrong, too! :)
Sharon, glad you liked the title. It was no different than asking "Where are you employed?" for those of us in the business at that time. But somehow I doubt that title would have been noticed. ha-ha!
I am actually rather shocked that that would come up, even in the past. On the other hand there are a lot of couples shopping to get into the home before having the baby, as it is easier to qualify now.
Ruthmarie, Amazing, isn't it?
Christine, it was Virginia Slims. Great marketing, wasn't it?? Let me know what your mom says!
Roland, If you think the title gets response, imagine what happened in the actual loan application!!
Bob and Carolin, we tend to block out the bad memories, don't we??? ;)
Wendy, yes they have, indeed.
William, But see, in those days giving someone a loan was considered personal.
Well, with interest rates in the 11-18% range back then, I imagine that the "sticker shock" of buying a home was enough to numb the borrowers so that they would answer any question that might get them a better rate or loan product! But don't forget, at the local savings and loan, they also got a free toaster, blender or whatever for being a customer. We got rid of the S&Ls and they were our best community lenders. Go figure.
wow!
It's amazing how things have charged over the years.
Debra, your comments really do bring back memories. Girls had to wear dresses to school, too. I was raised in Nebraska where we would have freezing blizzards. There was typically only one car in the family so walking to school was the only way to get there. We would were warm pants under our skirts, and then had to take them off once we got there hoping not to be seen! weird, huh?
Jim, thanks ***blushing*** We approved mortgages, but not as many, and homes were modestly priced because it was typical to use just one income for qualifying.
Cheryl, it's still that way on VA loans. Benefits are only for veteran AND SPOUSE. Odd that hasn't been challenged, huh?
Fernando, "change" Seems that word is getting used a lot lately, huh?
Loreena, I knew this post would point out my age!
Kenneth, I didn't even think about when the pill was invented. Interesting that we take so many things for granted!
Jeanne, great story you have shared. That was just the way it was then, huh?
Your post made me feel sick, but Gregory's comment made me cry. I remember being told a woman couldn't buy a house 'by herself', and how proud I felt the first time I met a single woman who owned her own house.
I was a couple years too late to experience that question, but it does remind my of a time in the late 80's when an underwriter wanted to deny one of my loans - why? Because the borrowers might get a divorce...
Thanks for sharing and, for a moment, getting my mind off the new GFE - I really don't like it...
Thank goodness is right, Joy!
Ginger, and to think our job required us to ask these questions!
Thanks for the reblog, Maureen. Glad you caught my post FROM a reblog.
Stephanie, I haven't seen "The Office", but it sounds like their writers would have a hay-day with this!
Gary, Good question about WHEN we were allowed to take phone applications. I might research this and use it for next Friday's post for the group, "Financing Fridays". OH, and we didn't have to look for scars, but we'd have to get a doctor's statement.
Jeanne, I didn't know that Virginia Slims sponsored that! Interesting, and makes sense, huh?
Missy, we have... in many ways.
Debbie, your story give me chills. It was tough times for your dad and you must be proud that he was one of the reasons things changed.
Thanks for the congrats, my AR BFF!
Rita, Most real estate agents didn't know that we asked that question in those days, because it wasn't customary for an agent to ever attend an application.
Tyler, I heard an ex-employee of HUD say that the way they came up with that was when someone ran into the door on the way into a meeting and said "DUH", and the committee decided that would be a good name, so they just reversed the letters! That explanation helps put some of this into perspective, don't you think?
Carole, glad I gave you reason to giggle this morning.
Karen... that's exactly what most of the loan applicants would say! "Excuse Me???"
Tiffany, appreciate the compliments on the feature.
Rebecca, at the time we didn't think anything about it. It was just my job. Now, on the other hand, I would faint if someone asked one of children that question!
Gary, that rule has never made sense to me, either. Guess no one has challenged it...yet.
Paul, you are welcome. Appreciale the comment!
REVATS - I doubt that most loan officers today realize WHY we have those forms they have to get signed!
Lyn, so true - it was very stupid. But then, not giving women maternity leave was, too!
Kathy, if you were single, it was assumed back then you weren't a party to any activities that might result in a pregnancy. Thus, no cause to inquire. ***shrugs***
Sajy, yes, indeed.
Kathy, It was Virginia Slims. I don't smoke either, but I loved the ads because I used the information form the commercials to explain to my daughters why I worked so hard. To provide THEM an opportunity to be whatever they wanted to be when they grew up. That it wasn't that long ago that women couldn't vote, or even smoke in public places. And that jobs and pay should never be decided on gender. PS: they work in the mortgage business with me now. :)
Well, with interest rates in the 11-18% range back then, I imagine that the "sticker shock" of buying a home was enough to numb the borrowers so that they would answer any question that might get them a better rate or loan product!
Actually, when this was legal (I think it ceased to be okay when the credit laws were revised in the late 1970s), interest rates weren't quite that high. We got our first loan in 1973 or so, and it was in the low 7% range. It was later, in the early 1980s, that interest rates skyrocketed.
I remember being embarrassed and also somewhat annoyed that I was asked that question, but we were so eager to get that house that I would have answered almost anything!
Jill, this is a very small example of what we take for granted.
Susan, I'm surprised your mother thought enough about the question to have shared it with you. Good for her. You're lucky to have a mom that shares those conversations with you.
Gene, and the price of homes was much less then. I think couples today have a much harder time because peer pressure has them more focused on the size of the home vs size of the payment.
Weichert, I forgot about those toasters! And I do agree, S&L's were our best community lenders.
Jean-Paul, wow is right!
Joetta, I felt the same way about Gregory's comment. I worked here in Colorado during that time, so we thought the only thing we knew about discrimination was what we heard about in the news or at the movies. Little did we know, that we were actually discriminating every day in our jobs.
Kings, "Might get a divorce". Amazing. We could write a TV series about this business, huh?
I am in that same age group but I don't remember any one asking me that question. I am not sure I would have answered it if they did. Good thing the times have changed!
I bought my first house in 1977 when I was 19 years old. My husband and I had one year old Michelle, and I don't remember if they asked us this or not. We were so excited about getting out of our apartment, it wouldn't have bothered us. :o)
We sure have come a long way...and yes, I do remember that commercial.......Virginia Slims!
I am dating myself too!
When I was 10 or 11, my grandparents were selling their farm in the Rio Grande Valley. The agent or someone at the bank, I'm not really sure now what his function was, sent my grandfather out of the room and asked my grandmother if she was being coerced to sell. (this obviously made an impression on me!). This was in the early 50's (telling my age here!) I'm re-blogging. Thank you.
Ruth: Whew! Amazing. I guess back then we Catholics couldn't get loans ;>)
You know it would make since for a couple to buy what they can afford on one income, I have always encouraged that in my 22 years,,,do people listen,,, do I sell lot of foreclosed homes YES,,,it might sound horrid that in the old days they ask about birth control,,,, but would people not be better off to buy within a simple budget, then again I am against the first time home-buyers credit, paying 40 percent in income taxes makes me that way,,, other than my rant,, GREAT POST
Great to see your featured blog. What a really entertaining post! How long did it take you to get the corporate "ok" to post this article?? Ha Ha! Oh shoot... I just realized I didn't get my response "approved" by corporate... Please disregard...
:) Keep up the great blogging!!
What a shocking question. I can only imagine the looks you got when you asked that! I had no Idea where thi swas going when I clicked on your post. But I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!
Interesting title. Got me to open - but made me gasp when I read it! You are right - we have come a long way Baby!
I enjoyed reading all of those comments - and your post .... we have come a long way - we bought our first home in that questioning era - hard to believe those questions could be asked.
Well that is a nice piece of Mortgage History. I never knew that.
At first I thought this was going to be a clever title about messing up prospecting...but the content is wilder than that!! I try to explain to my kids how different life was when I was growing up, this is a good example!!! Right up there with wearing gloves everywhere, and dresses for gardening!
WOW, can you imagine asking that NOW!?
This sounds crazy & so politically incorrect by today's standard!
However it just shows how we went full circle from too much questionning to not enough scrutiny in recent years, leading to today's avalanche of short sales & forclosures... Hopefully we are heading to a resonnable middle ground!
Sonsie, You're right. We do what we think we have to in order to get what we need. Do we tend to be too trusting and not analyze the wrong or right of the question? Then vs today? Something to think about, huh?
Pat, to be honest, I never remember having anyone NOT answer the question. No one thought anything about it at the time.
Ann, that was common.
Lisa, kinda fun to think back to those days, huh? Probably because we survived!
Gareth, Imagine the position your grandfather was put in to be asked to leave the room. Wild, huh?
Dianne, I married into a Catholic family, so you understand why I'm ROTF!
Darrel, good old fashioned values. I remember buying my first home and how proud my grandfather was when he heard I was buying a home... until he found out I was putting a mortgage on it! Then we talked about needing the tax deduction... that conversation didn't fare well, either!
John, OOPS!
Jesse, I love those movies that are "based on a true story". Don't you?
Teresa, I did have buyers that did the same thing!
Dagny, the comments have been very interesting, haven't they? Like reading a history book, only better because it's about OUR industry!
Tony, you read my mind. :)
Dawn, and on the farm, if you dared to wear pants while working, and saw a car coming up the dirt road, you'd scramble to change before the car reached the porch!
Amy, Nope. Can't imagine.
Monique, so true. Very typical to go from one extreme to the other.
Fantastic post! That would be sooo difficult to ask people. How invasive. Thank goodness laws have changed.
Yes, indeed, Dawn. Can you even imagine??
Wow! That's crazy! I've never heard of such a thing and can only imagine the offense I would take if asked that question today. We have come a long way, haven't we?
What about the other form of 'birth control'? I'm talking about not keeping in touch with your past clients which have kids who grow up and need a Realtor to represent them? Or should we call it business control? As a former loan officer, I'm grateful I never had to ask that question.
Nicole, Yes, crazy. Yes, people were offended. But more importantly, yes, we have in fact come a long way. :)
Brian, Good comparison between birth and business control! Somethime to think about!
Holy Cow! Can't imagine discussing that topic with my lender. Yuck! Just think if it was a guy! I guessed Virginia Slims - my mom's cigarette of choice. We were just dicussing the "good old days" with our 12 year old. Now you gave me an idea for my own post.
Nancy
Yep, Nancy, it was Virginia Slims. I'll be watching for your post!!
I didn't know that Ruth! What an uncomfortable situation to be in! Well I guess loan officers can be glad they don't have to ask that question any longer!
Ok. that's my enlightment, what in the world were they thinking, lesson for the day. Thanks for sharing.
Ruth - We have come a long way, indeed! I, too remember the days when an unmarried woman could not qualify for a loan on her own. Seems even more absurd now then it did back then
Ruth - We have come a long way, indeed! I, too remember the days when an unmarried woman could not qualify for a loan on her own. Seems even more absurd now then it did back then
Wow! Was "poke and hope" an accepted method? Times have changed, mostly for the better.
Patricia, you are soooo right!
Bev, glad I was able to share with you the lesson for the day! :)
Absurd is a good word for it, Kathie!
Tigard, "Nope"!
Imagine my surprise when my Google Alert for my name shows up with the title of this blog - Shows as -
Real Estate Blog - Do you use birth control?
Kathy Sperl-Bell, ABR, CRS, SRES (RE/MAX Realty Group). 9:04pm • #36 ... Lisa Schmitt (Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell). 10:44pm • #45. Outside Blog ...
Guess that proves there's Google Juice in these posts!
BTW, I no longer need bc!
Kathy, I have had my comments show up with a Google Alert, too, and it amazes me each and every time. I had this post reblogged several times which is also popping up. Yet, everytime I see the title, it still catches my eye - even though I was the one that wrote it! ha-ha!
Ruth- Absolutely incredible article and nice to read that the tight guidelines that many complain about these days is not a phenomenon of only the past few years!
RJ, time does seem to put things into perspective, doesn't it? Thanks for stopping by!
Great point Ruth! Way to look on the bright side and this is a funny way of putting our current woes with the new GFE and HUD into perspective! For those of us born after 1976, you really have been doing this for awhile! :)