When preparing to purchase a home, many first time buyers don’t know where to start and consequently need a number of home buying tips. Identifying a capable mortgage lender is certainly among them.

Your best option for finding a great mortgage lender is to hit the pavement and do some comparison shopping. If your real estate agent and bank’s lending experts see that you understand exactly what’s available in your market and at what prices, they’re more likely to offer you the best terms.

Confidence is Critical

When trying to track down a great mortgage lender, it’s important to find someone you trust and who is willing to work with you to get the best loan possible. Finding a reliable person or broker is often more important than the lending institution. You definitely don’t want to deal with an institution that works in an underhanded way and then years down the road you find yourself in a foreclosure situation because of their callous preparation.

Most first-time home buyers use either a loan officer at a particular institution or a mortgage broker who can help them shop around with different lenders. Either way, you should talk to friends and family who have recently borrowed money and ask them about their experiences.

Try to get their feedback on the company’s customer service, negotiation process and actual closing costs. You can also look online at customer review sites to read real customer reviews from borrowers just like you. These insights will teach you a lot more about a company than their glossy sales brochure.

Loan Officer vs. Mortgage Broker

So, what’s the difference between a loan officer and a mortgage broker? A loan officer works for one, single lender. That means they can only offer you mortgages that are issued or provided by their bank.

They won’t shop around for you, but if your family has a long-standing history with a local bank, they can offer you that personal relationship. They can also look at you as a client with history, meaning you may get a lower interest rate.

Again, if you have business dealing or investments with a particular bank, these can give you preferred customer status, meaning you can access certain loans, discounted rates and other special services.

Payment for Their Services

On the other hand, mortgage brokers aren’t tied to a specific lender and can therefore shop around with you for the best loan. Typically a mortgage broker makes his or her money off a commission issued by the lender or a closing fee markup (about one point) that’s paid by the borrower.

When working with a broker, always make sure they’re working in your best interest and not simply for a higher commission.

Because they do this for a living, they understand the system and have a good grasp of the available market. They’re also a great resource for home buyers entering the market for the first time.