Home Buying Tips: Your Loan Officer Matters

Making a selection for a lender is just as important as selecting your real estate agent. You NEED someone you can trust, someone reliable and someone that understands deadlines and values them.

Often time’s agents have loan officers they consistently work with and recommend to their clients but, sometimes that advice isn’t heeded and a “stranger” takes on the financing portion of the puzzle. There is a reason agents recommend loan officers to clients. Why would agents recommend someone who hasn’t “wowed” them in the past? We wouldn’t – that would be a horrible reflection on us. We have a history with them and a rapport…we trust them and know they get the job done and are going to treat our clients right. Better yet, if something is going off track we know they’re there to guide you and that we’re top priority.

The last time I checked someone I’ve never worked with before at (insert big name lender here) doesn’t care who I am and chances are they don’t care who you are either. We’re a case number and I’m not going to have that loan officers home, office, and cell phone number to be able to talk to them. Missing a closing deadline can be costly, particularly on bank owned properties and on regular sales it can have a chain reaction if the seller’s are simultaneously purchasing a new home. I can guarantee you they aren’t going to be happy if closing is delayed because your lender doesn’t have his ducks in a row.

Outside of your agents recommendations do your homework. Google the loan officers they suggested, look them up on Facebook and talk to them, maybe even meet them in person before selecting who you want to work with. Yes, buying a house and obtaining financing are stressful but, having the right professionals working for you can reduce that stress immensely.