How to Choose the Best Mortgage Lenders
3 min readThe best mortgage lenders have numerous benefits to offer potential buyers, including low-interest rates and low-closing costs. Most top lenders have flexible lending policies and make it easy to shop around for mortgage rates. In addition to these benefits, you’ll find the best loan terms when you work with one of the top mortgage lenders. Here’s how to choose the best mortgage lender for you. Read on to discover what these advantages entail.
Choose a lender based on their rate and terms. You can also choose to go with a brick and mortar lender. A credit union is a good option, as it has hundreds of locations throughout the country. And remember that mortgage lenders often transfer your loan to another company when you’re finished. Some mortgage lenders even offer low down payments and educational resources online. If you can’t decide what kind of mortgage loan you need, choose an online mortgage lender.
Compare the different mortgage lenders’ rates. The difference between one lender and another is significant. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a 0.5% difference in mortgage rates can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Compare lenders’ rates and fees and shop around to find the best deal. Don’t limit yourself to New York lenders. Look for lenders with transparent pricing, easy online convenience, accessibility, and a long history of helping borrowers.
Make sure to check your credit score and debt-to-income ratio before applying for a mortgage. Many lenders don’t want to deal with borrowers with more than 36% debt-to-income ratios, so be sure to compare mortgage rates with multiple lenders and gather your paperwork to make sure you have the best mortgage loan. You can also look for a bank that offers a discount on closing costs if you’re an existing customer.
Guaranteed Rate and SunTrust both have an online presence and several branches in all states. Guaranteed Rate offers a wide range of mortgage options, such as government-backed loans, conventional loans, and home equity loans. The loan process is easy and transparent with the Guaranteed Rate’s “Smarter Loans” program. If you don’t want to deal with a bank or mortgage broker, you can work with a private lending company that will help you find a mortgage lender that fits your needs and budget.
Better is another great choice. It offers an online application process and is backed by great customer service. However, its mortgage products are limited compared to top picks. Although the company does not offer many loan types, it is highly rated in customer satisfaction surveys. Besides that, it has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Better has received excellent customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and has over one hundred customer reviews.
Carrington is a good choice for borrowers with poor credit or low credit. Their flexible Advantage mortgage program is designed for borrowers with lower credit scores. Carrington also accepts alternative forms of credit. Whether you’re a first-time home buyer, or a veteran, Carrington is a solid choice. These factors, and others, will help you find the best mortgage lender for your situation. So, take your time to choose the right mortgage lender for you.