Getting Aproved for a Loan, A Good First Step
If you are thinking about buying a home or ready to by one, getting
approved for a loan is a good first step.Talking to a mortgage company
and making application for loan approval can make the buying process
much easier.You know for sure you can get a loan and what approximate
funds you will need for down payment and closing cost.With this
information you can be more confident to make a decision on the right
house for you. You will also be in a much better negotiating position
with a seller because you can assure the seller that they will not have
to worry about your getting a loan.
Choosing a lender to work
with can be an important decision. There are many options when looking
to find a lender. The internet is loaded with options the you can check
rates and even apply on line. In most areas there are many good local
lenders that you can talk with to check rates and get advice. In my
career I have seen both work great but have seen the most delays and
problems with companies that are online. Many of the online mortgage
companies can get low rates but because they are getting quotes from
many companies in a lot of cases, they do not have control of the
process. Even though the approval process may be very quick, the
problems come when you find a home and the rest of the process that
starts after a home is found can be a very inefficient process. Local
lenders can have the same problems but if there are problems a local
lender usually has more to gain to get the problem solved. Most
interest rates are fairly competitive so making sure you can get good
service is just as improtant.
How can you find a good lender? As
with any service get recommendations from people who have recently gone
through the process. REALTORS can give good advice on lenders and
their service.Getting the loan closed without delays is very important
to REALTORS, so most will know who they have confidence in getting the
loan done at a good rate with good service. If you find a good rate
somewhere and want to go with another lender that you have confidence
ask them if they can meet the rate, a lot of times they can.
Another
point when comparing rates is that you need to not only look at the
rate of interest but look at the amount of money required for closing.
Many times a lower interest rate at one place maybe because of higher
closing cost to make up for the rate reduction. A lender should give
you a True In Lending statement which will estimate these cost. This is
the only way to compare rates that you are quoted
This may sound
complicated but it a very important part of the process. With the
advice of an experienced real estate agent and the right loan officer
it really is not that big of a deal. If done right, it can make the
buying process much less stressful.
Broker Owner of ERA Armstrong Team, REALTORS in Little Rock, Arkansas. After teaching and coaching in Texas, I enter real estate with my father-in-law Sam Reynolds in 1978. I work as a sales agent, sales manager, and broker for companies till starting The Armstrong Team, REALTORS in 1994 with business partner Jerry Ann Hill. We affiliated with ERA Franchise System 6 years ago. I have been active in the REALTORS Associaion and I am a past president of the Little Rock Board and local MLS. I have been active teacher and trainer of agents for over 20 years.