Blank Stares followed by 'Uh-huh.'

Oftentimes when I witness communication between a Lender and Buyers, there's a lot of one-way talking. It's difficult to be thrown into the world of payments, escrow and points without a little bumps and detours if it happens to be your first home purchase - the terminology is different and it's more than likely one of the largest purchases you'll make in your lifetime.

Whether it's the PreQual, the GFE (Good Faith Estimate) or the Settlement Statement, it always seems like crickets enter the room when a Lender document is being explained. Yesterday, at a closing, the Settlement Statement was being explained to my clients by the Title Rep (which always fascinates me... something about the effortless reading upside down across the table) and there were many a blank stare. Not to say that my clients didn't understand, because they did, it was simply the rate at which the numbers were flying that was shocking, I'm sure.

Look, we understand that you want the bottom line. Throughout the whole process, you're thinking, "How much do I need?" and "What's my payment?" That's a larger part of why Manning & Company starts with the monthly payment and works backwards to assist you with your prequalification for a home purchase.

But along with informing you of what your lending options are, it's also our job to work in conjunction with the Lender to explain what all is involved with the payment, the fees, the charges. Now I'm not in the lending business, but I am in the representation and advocacy business - by no means will a quality Real Estate professional or Lender strongarm you into a purchase by having you blindly sign agreements or statements of understanding. That's why it's so important for the blank stares and 'uh-huhs' as this is your opportunity to ask any questions that you might have - no questions are dumb, and all concerns are welcome. So if you need further explanation, ask for a repeat or for a slower walk-through and you'll be guided through for a full understanding.

Happy home buying...