Any homebuyer, especially a first-time homebuyer, has one very important question on their mind: who are the best mortgage companies to deal with? Buying a home is one of those vital areas where getting ripped off could mean a significant impact on their future finances for decades to come, so it's important to get it right the first time.
To find a good mortgage company in your area, use some of these criteria to evaluate the companies available to you.
Get Recommendations from Your Realtor While your realtor's advice must be taken with a grain of salt (remember, there may be some sort of reciprocal kickbacks to your realtor for referring a specific mortgage company,) they are in general a very good resource for all things related to buying a house.
Remember that they've been through this process with countless homebuyers hundreds of times before.
If they are a reputable realtor who cares about their reputation, they aren't going to recommend someone shady or dishonest.
Choose a Local Mortgage Company Doing business with a company that has local representatives is always a good idea.
E-mortgage lenders have many satisfied customers, but some people get stuck with no access to customer service and end up doing a lot of unnecessary work.
Especially in states that use attorneys instead of escrow accounts, an unresponsive mortgage company could be devastating to homebuyers who are trying to meet a closing deadline.
Because e-mortgage companies have no physical branches they are often able to quote much lower rates to prospective mortgagees, but understand the risks of not having access to a physical branch if you need one.
Research the Mortgage Company Online The Internet is a great resource for finding out the reputation of any company.
If the mortgage company in question has a history of unsatisfied customers, chances are that you'll be able to find out about it on the Internet.
Search independent ratings sites or simply Google the company's name and see what comes up.
Also check the Better Business Bureau for past complaints and look at the company's website to get an overall feel for its credibility.
Get a Good Faith Estimate Call around to different area mortgage lenders to get an idea of their rates.
Most should even be able to give you a good faith estimate without pulling your credit report.
If possible, get preapproved for a loan before you even go out to buy a home.
Remember that rates change daily, so shop around for a mortgage.
The company you get your mortgage with does not have to be the same company that gave you preapproval.
Responsive Customer Service Above all, you want someone who is going to be there to answer your questions and help you out with the problems that inevitably arise when you buy something as valuable as a home.
Before applying for a loan with anyone, make sure you get a sense of how responsive they are going to be to future inquiries and how helpful they will be in resolving future problems.
How long does it take them to respond to your questions? How much research are they willing to do on your behalf? Do they seem organized and interested in your best interest? These are signs of a great mortgage company.
Buying a house, especially your first house, is a monumental decision.
The mortgage you get will affect your financial life for the next 30 years in most cases, so it's important to get it right.
Mortgage companies are not all the same, so it's important to evaluate them with the criteria outlined above and choose the best one for you.