Working with Mortgage Lenders in Texas
What to expect from Texas mortgage lenders
Your expectations when working with mortgage lenders in Texas depend on the type of lender. A lender that works directly for a lending institution will provide all of the options that particular lender allows and that you qualify for. Other lenders actually work as brokers that shop your loan to a variety of lending institutions.Brokers that provide mortgages in Texas can provide access to more lenders but may not share your best interests. Brokers usually receive a commission from the lender and will tend to push mortgages that offer the greatest profit for them.
There are three points you should discuss with a mortgage lending company in Texas when considering which one to use:
1. Interest rate on the loan. Rates change quickly in the volatile housing market and your credit rating will also affect the rate you can expect from a mortgage in TX.
2. Points on the loan. Prepaid mortgage interest points will lower your interest rate but other types of points may not benefit you at all.
3. Closing costs. Lenders charge fees for various services and you will want to know what they are as soon as possible.
Get loan offers through Texas mortgage brokers
Talk with several of the broker's recent clients before getting a loan through that broker. Find out if the broker was able to meet all of their expectations.
Try: Baker Mortgage is in Sugar Land and offers brokerage services in addition to other real estate services. Houston Capital Mortgage provides banking services as well as mortgage brokerage services.
Obtain a referral for a mortgage in Texas from a real estate agent
Real estate agents usually send a substantial amount of business to their preferred lenders. A smart mortgage lender will take good care of these referrals.
Try: Tiemeyer Team Realtors in Plano provides a variety of home buyer resources and will disclose its preferred vendors to callers. The Miner Team is located in Round Rock and provides a list of preferred mortgage brokers in the Austin area.
Solicit quotes directly from mortgage companies in Texas
You may want to contact a lender directly if you are already comfortable with one. Local lenders should be familiar with specific factors that affect the housing market in your area.
Try: MKT Mortgage in Katy offers online applications along a variety of mortgage tools and information. MetLife Home Loans is located in Southlake has a step-by-step guide on the home loan process in addition to advice on choosing home loans.
- Texas mortgage companies may sell your loan to another company. Don't be surprised if you receive a notice from both the old and new lending company advising you of the change and providing instructions for making your payments to the new lending company. The right to service your loan also includes managing your escrows for insurance and property taxes.
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