Mortgages can eat you alive. That’s because even after identifying the home loan particulars you’re looking for, you still have to find the best deal. For example, you may know that you are looking to finance $500,000 for 30 years. But how do you find the best interest rates? Here are a few options:
Research Online
The Internet has become a fantastic place to find comparisons right at your fingertips. Whether you use home loan comparison sites or search for rates bank-by-bank, being able to do it all online will save you a ton of time. Online comparison sites are a quick way to narrow down who you would want to consult for more detailed quotes. You may also already have several lenders in mind, in which case you’ll just need to submit your info for a quick quote. Either way, you can do your home loan shopping from wherever you have computer access.
Ask for Suggestions
Personal referrals are a great way to start looking too. Ask your friends, family, or even friendly coworkers if they could suggest any specific lenders or contacts — you’ll probably also learn a few places to avoid. It helps to know from others what to expect and which lenders will give you the best deal with the least amount of hassle. Remember, even a 3% interest rate will do you no good if the company is in shambles or makes the entire process too difficult.
Call Around
If the computer is not your favorite place to start and you already tried asking around for suggestions, use a phone book to find lenders in your area. Then you can call around and follow their instructions to get as many quotes as possible before choosing the route you want to go. Calling each location for individual quotes is time consuming, but it’s still more convenient than driving all over town.
Remember to Compare Properly
No matter what method you prefer, remember to give every lender the exact same information. That way you can compare apples to apples. It’s not helpful to receive multiple quotes only to have some of the key info missing from each of them. So before you call anybody, make sure you have the loan terms written out in front of you beforehand. That way you don’t miss anything important.
By knowing a few tricks, you can be more confident that you’re choosing the right home loan for your needs. The key is finding the one that meets all of your requirements while giving you the best deal. Good luck!
Photo Credit: US Dept of Agriculture
Great article for saving money. I’m seeking new ideas to save more money. I think this article can help me.
Thanks for sharing.
Comparison shopping is important with every purchase that you make, but your mortgage is the most important. A fraction of a percent over a long term can equal out to a lot of money.
Great tips. I was surprised when we bought our first home a few years ago the difference in rates different lenders could offer.
Watch out for the last minute bait-and-switch from mortgage brokers. When buying a house, lenders often promise one thing and deliver another right at the last minute. Millions of people stuck in subprime loans were qualified for A or Alt A loans. But, their broker stuck them in subprime loans, in order to collect a higher yield-spread premium.
Make sure your loan is processed and funded well ahead of your closing, or have an alternate lender on tap. If you have good credit and can easily qualify, I recommend going directly to a bank, instead of a broker.
Who is “Saturday Sunday?”
I see somebody has been taking Spanish lessons. 😉
I really liked this post Len. I learned quite a few of these lessons while searching for our new home loan recently – pain in the booty, but worth it.
Excellent tips! I’d definitely go with researching online first so you would know what to expect and ask before actually exerting that much time and effort looking for the best option. Also, make sure to review client testimonials and see if it’s something worthy to you.
Learned a lot, reading this post just gave me an idea what to look for and what to avoid 🙂