How to Pick a Mortgage Professional

How to Pick a Mortgage Professional in Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Greater Sacramento

As you know, buying a home can be exciting and hopeful but it can also be emotional. The Mortgage Professional or Loan Officer you select to start the process can be critical. It’s advisable to team up with a Loan Officer in the very beginning, that is local to the greater Sacramento area, whether it is Folsom, Roseville, El Dorado Hills, and so on.

Getting Pre-Approved on a Home Loan in Greater Sacramento

Now, you have the advantage of getting preapproved and knowing just what you can afford. Sometimes, you may have to spend a little time getting your finances in order before you can be pre-approved, and a good Loan Officer can direct you on where to go or what your options are upfront.

Start Shopping for a Home Loan Expert in Sacramento

So, let’s say you are all set, you got preapproved and you know how much you can afford to spend. Great! Now, you can start shopping. You find the home of your dreams and are so excited to make that offer! How does your preapproval help in your home buying experience? Well, honestly, most real estate agents won’t spend a lot of time showing you homes until you are preapproved.

From the Realtor’s perspective, it can waste everyone’s time if you can’t qualify for a loan, or if they are showing you homes you find out later, you can’t afford. It’s also a huge benefit when you finally find that dream home and you go to make an offer.

Your Loan Officer will usually supply you with a preapproval letter for the amount of the offer you intend to make. This shows the seller you should qualify for the loan as long as nothing has changed financially for you. In today’s market, where sellers may be looking at multiple offers, having a strong preapproval can go a long way. A good Loan Officer may also call the listing agent and give them input as to how strong of a borrower you are. Now, you should have a very competitive advantage over other offers.

Now let’s talk about what to look for in a Loan Officer.

First, you want someone you feel like you can trust. Buying a home is a life-changing experience. Next, look for how they communicate…

  • Do you click with them?
  • Do they understand your needs?
  • Are they customer focused?
  • Are they knowledgeable about the Housing Market in your area?
  • Do they work alone or have a team?
  • Do they look for the loan scenario that fits your goals?
  • Do they have access to all of the loan products available?
  • Are they up to date on the guidelines?

Another question to ask yourself is, “If I need Down Payment Assistance, is this Loan Officer able to assist me through that process?”

Selecting a Loan Officer

Selecting a great Loan Officer isn’t like picking your BFF, its more about trust and competency, with a high sense of urgency to get the job done, right, and on time. Every Loan Officer isn’t right for every person. Here at Iron Point Mortgage, in Folsom CA, we have Loan Officers that work with a highly skilled team to get the job done, throughout the Sacramento area. One of them should be the right one for you! Remember, I’m here to help, so give us a call.  Get started right and have a great home buying experience.