Wednesday, January 14, 2009

10 Things to ask when Getting a Mortgage Loan

As a member of several groups across various social networks it is my responsibility as a real estate virtual assistant to know what is going on the the real estate industry. I came across this article today and though this would be something of value to my readers. Let me know what you think.

We know that buying a home is a big and important decision. Selecting a good Loan Officer is a key part of your financial success. You will find our way of finding a good Loan Officer may be different from other blogs or postings. I am seeing quite a few blogs or posts that are saying the same thing and I find the questions do not really pertain to finding a good Loan Officer. Also, I find it interesting to learn that a company is selling the data.

What we have below did not come from any source that we paid for but comes from the heart and after being in the industry for a long time. At LendingLadies.com, we find character and experience plays a large part in finding a good Loan Officer. Therefore our questions are based upon that. If someone is a smart and truly caring person, they will end up being a good Loan Officer. It does not mean that everyone will agree with us, but some of you will. Please see our suggested list of questions to ask below. As always, LendingLadies.com encourages you to ask us the questions below.

Please pass this along to anyone who will be obtaining a loan in the future.

  1. Do you guarantee your fees on a Good Faith Estimate? (This is important. You do not want to work with someone who will last minute add an additional charge. Please do get this in writing)
  2. Have you won any national or local awards? ( If someone is good, they will be recognized)
  3. Do you volunteer in the community? (We suggest you also ask in more detail. If a Loan Officer is a truly caring person, it will show in their efforts in the community. If they care about their community, they will care about finding you your best home loan. You do not want to work with one who only helps a few hours a year but does so on a monthly basis)
  4. Do you have any references or testimonials? (A good Loan Officer will have these available)
  5. How long have you been doing this? (You want to ask this since experience does pay)
  6. What makes you different from the other Loan Officers? ( It is good to learn their own perspective on how they perceive themselves)
  7. Do you prefer a fixed mortgage or an adjustable? Why do you choose so? (Write down what they say and really think about their answer)
  8. Can you shop several different banks local or non local, or do you close loans for one bank? (You do not want to work with someone who is limited on their products or rates. You want to work with someone who can shop different financial institutions and find the best loan for you)
  9. Do you have any specials? (You just never know what they may have going on that they would not tell you without you asking)
  10. Are you willing to speak to my accountant or financial advisor to insure I will receive the best home loan? (You want to look for someone who is willing to work with your team of experts)
Written by Jessica Peterson with Lending Ladies.

No comments: