CHOOSING A LENDER
Buying a home in a competitive market can be stressful, not to mention the loan process itself. Below are some tips to help you find the mortgage lender that's right for you.
Ultimately, your money is YOUR MONEY and we want you to feel comfortable and confident with the person you are entrusting your money to. We will be happy to work with whomever you choose and will do our very best to ensure a smooth and successful sales transaction.
GET RECOMMENDATIONS
When taking recommendations from anyone, make sure you feel you can trust the person making the recommendation and that they are not receiving any kickback or reward for their referrals. We, at Eco Luxe, do not accept referral rewards or kickbacks of any kind from anyone. Period. We simply make recommendations based on what we feel is best for our clients. As experienced real estate agents, we have a list of lenders we can recommend to help ensure a smooth home purchase process. Click here for a list of our recommended lenders.
EXPERIENCE IN YOUR MARKET
It's also important for your lender to have experience in the type of market you are buying in, especially if you are buying in a resort community such as Winter Park. Selecting a lender that is unfamiliar with the market and therefore does not use appraisers from that local market can often result in not being able to meet deadlines and increases the chance of the property not appraising.
COMPARE RATES, FEES AND TERMS
While every lender will look at your credit score, debt, and assets, each will assess you (and your mortgage eligibility) slightly differently. This is why you may find better rates with a different lender. So it pays to shop around for the best rate. But it’s more than just finding the best rate. You need to look at the fees as well. If you have to pay bigger upfront fees, it can easily wipe out the potential savings of a lower interest rate. Always read the fine print.
FAMILIAR WITH YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT
With a tight timeframe to get all requirements, appraisals, inspections and contracts completed before your closing date, having a real estate agent with an established connection with that lender can make things run faster and smoother with less risk of not making it to the closing table.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Your loan officer is your main contact throughout the mortgage process. He/She is key in helping you understand and access your options, deciding which loan option is right for you and getting you through the home loan process with as little frustration or anxiety as possible. Therefore, communication and timeliness are key.