Choosing the right mortgage loan originator

Your loan officer, and how to choose one…

“What’s the best way to find a lender?” It’s one of the most frequently asked questions by buyers in today’s market! As you start searching for your next home, you should always surround yourself with people whom you trust and know without a doubt will take care of things as they arise and in an appropriate manner.

So, you have a Realtor whom you trust but no loan officer? Not to worry one bit! I, personally, always recommend to my clients a list of three to four loan officers that I have used in the past and have had great experiences with. I know that each and every loan officer on my list will take great care of my clients and their next home purchase. It’s best to not surf around on the internet and find an officer whom has no tie to you, your needs or your Realtor. To them, you’re just another loan to service and just another name on a file.

Obviously, the downfalls of choosing a loan officer at random can truly be devastating. Your needs as a buyer can be easily overlooked, your personal time lines to move can be disregarded and your financing rates can even be higher than what you should be getting. All of this could possibly happen due to you being ‘just another loan to process’ to this loan officer.

My recommendation from personal experience is choosing to go with a loan officer that someone strongly recommends whether it’s your Realtor, your parents or your best friend. It truly can be more beneficial than you could ever imagine! I, as a Realtor here in Nashville, personally have loan officers that will push for documents harder, will decrease waiting time and will also provide the best service and price to my clients. All this because I have established a great relationship with these loan officers. But I always recommend getting at least 2 to 3 quotes even if it’s from the loan officers I recommend to make sure they are staying on the competitive edge.

In short, do not be afraid to use a recommended loan officer…but DO be afraid to use one where you are just another file in a drawer! Happy buying!