A mortgage representative assists coordinate you with the right home loan credit and moneylender for your necessities. Their responsibility is to realize about your conditions — initial investment, credit, pay, etc — then, at that point, track down the best home advance for you. Certain individuals decide to work with a mortgage representative since it very well may be more straightforward than tracking down a credit without help from anyone else. Be that as it may, many like to search around and think about choices all alone. The capacity to demand rates and apply online makes looking for a home credit without a representative more straightforward than any time in recent memory.
Are you ready to find a mortgage broker?
With so many mortgage companies and online lenders clamoring for your business, it’s easy to see why using a broker is appealing. Yet, the decision really comes down to your home buying timeline and whether you think you can get a better rate or loan through a broker.
If you’ve worked with certain lenders before and feel confident with them, or you’ve already sourced solid recommendations from friends and family, going directly to lenders may be your best bet.
But if you want a broker’s expertise, they could be a great addition to your home buying team.
How to choose a mortgage broker
Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or refinancing your home loan, it’s important to find a mortgage broker you’ll be comfortable working with throughout the home loan process.
Asking the following questions as you evaluate different brokers can help you find one who fits your needs.
Do I need help qualifying for a specific loan type?
When looking for a mortgage broker, it’s important to think about your goals as a homeowner. That way you can choose a broker who has experience working with similar buyers and knows how best to help you.
- If you’re worried about bad credit being an obstacle to homeownership, you’ll likely feel more comfortable with someone who has a history of helping folks like you find a mortgage loan
- If you want to buy a rural fixer-upper, you’re probably going to look for someone who is well-versed in FHA- and USDA-backed mortgages
- If you’re in the market for a luxury home, you could benefit from having a broker who is familiar with jumbo mortgages
Do you have to pay mortgage brokers?
Mortgage brokers are paid by either the lender or the borrower, but they cannot be paid by both. Furthermore, a broker should disclose their fees upfront.
While broker fees vary, they’re generally between 1% to 2% of the loan amount. So for a $400,000 home loan, broker fees will likely be between $4,000 to $8,000.
Keep in mind that a broker fee is on top of the other closing costs you’ll pay as a borrower, including underwriting or origination fees, home inspection, and pulling your credit report, to name a few.
How to find a mortgage broker
You can find a mortgage broker by looking online, asking your real estate agent, or speaking with friends and family.
Websites and online reviews
You can search for a broker through sites like FindAMortgageBroker.com or search for local brokers in your area. Check reviews on Google, Yelp and other review platforms to source a range of people’s experiences.
When you evaluate potential brokers, be sure to look for comments about:
- Closing times
- Loan success
- Customer service
- Responsiveness
This will help give you an idea of how communicative and helpful different brokerage are.
Recommendations from friends and family
Ask your loved ones whether they’ve used a mortgage broker, and if they would recommend them.
People you’re close to will give you candid feedback about whether they liked a particular broker and the overall impression they had from working with them.
They may also give details about professionalism or personality that you won’t find in other reviews, but which might heavily influence your decision.
One question you definitely want to ask is whether they felt the broker put their needs first. If a friend or family member felt that their broker pushed a certain lender or loan option even when the home buyer felt reluctant, treat that as a red flag.
You’re the borrower, and you should feel confident that your broker is helping finding the best mortgage lender for your situation, rather than working in their own interest.
