After the third unsolicited call today, offering to refinance my house, I can only surmise that mortgage leads are one of the most sought after sales leads of all.

Glengary Glen Ross is one of the best movies ever made about the art of the sale. While it’s real estate, not mortgage leads they’re after, the Glengary leads are the ones that are highly prized.

When I get a telemarking call, I try to be as kind as possible, given the situation. I’m sympathetic to the fact that, yeah, they need to earn a living, too. I’m never rude, but I seek to end the calls as quickly as possible to save both my time and theirs. While they might look at my area code, exchange, and zip code and think they have a red hot mortgage lead on their hands, I quickly assure them that they do not.

I thank them for their call, explain that I have recently refinanced my mortgage for a low rate … one so low that they could not possibly match, given today’s market. Then I politely ask that they remove our phone number from their list (not that this always works), wish them a good day, and hang up.

While they might think I’m the Glengary mortgage lead that got away, I know better …