I have been working with a lender who does a great job for me. I have been giving him ALL my business. My question is am I being unreasonable in asking him to help pay for co/marketed postcards and other advertising/marketing?

This would not be unreasonable at all. Just know that there are very strict RESPA laws in regards to this matter. It can be done, just make sure you CYA. If you are sending him all your leads he should have already offered to do this for you.

I don't give any lender all of my business. I don't give any vendor all of my business. I want them to know they have to stay competitive. It makes it better for my clients.

Especially with lenders, it is shortsighted to only use one. I always have my clients work with two, or at least get multiple preapprovals. They shouldn't be married to one in the event that the deal falls through...Additionally, we have tremendous liability in suggesting providers. TX law actually prevents us from doing so - we are supposed to give our clients a list and let them choose. Check your state law just in case! Our law applies to any service - lenders, appraisers, inspectors, etc...

But, to answer your question, I agree - they should have already offered, given that they know of the marketing you are doing for them. RESPA can be tricky, but if their information is given equal playing time on your materials, they should be able to help.

I recommend a regular list of lenders based on the specific client need. There's a list I use for first time home buyers, a list for families or individuals moving up and a list for investors. None of them have offered to assist me with advertising and I'm not sure I even want that. There have been stories from other agents about the lenders getting the calls and leaving the agent out entirely.

I agree not to send all your business to one lender. Have one or two you prefer and recommend, but be sure to tell your clients that they are free to choose their own lender. I myself don't care who a client uses as a lender as long as that lender doesn't rip them off and gets the loan done in time. I even had a lender I used and referred to alot who's wife was a Realtor. I never ever counted on getting business from him.

Absolute conflict of interest. How can you be serving the best interests of your client by pushing your favorite mortgage pro? Does he always have the best program for every deal? Of course not. You'd better re-think...

We have an real estate publication in our area, the owner of which has a relationship with a mortgage broker. Last week a rep from this publication visited our office and offered free advertising for a certain length of time in exchange for getting all our lending referrals. Ummmmmm, nope. This smacks of RESPA violation to me. Besides that, I don't think any one lender is the best one for all customers. Like some of the above posts, I make more than one recommendation to a borrower depending on their individual situation. The customer is the one who makes the final decision.

Good mortgage folks should be happy to split costs with you even if you don't send them ALL of your business. I always give my people 3 options on everything, from mortgage broker to inspector, and my vendors know that.

Thank you all for your feedback! :-) The reason I have ended up using this particular lender is he has always gotten back to be ASAP with preapprovals, has always been there to answer his phone on weekends and evenings when my clients have questions which has been invaluable when writing a contract with a first time buyer, and I have never found anyone else who offers this level of service. Also, unless my buyers have a preapproval from a company I know or an area bank, I am nervous about the validity of the preapp with this small no name companies or online lenders. I was just wondering if the lender offering to pay half on co-market pieces was fair. If someone comes to be with a preapp that I feel good about, I leave it alone.

Partnering with a lender, title company, and inspector will help reduce your expenses. When you create your flyers, add the contact information and logo for each partner on the bottom. This gives the partners more exposure and builds a stronger relationship among all of you. Form your own little network.