7 Qualities to Look for in a Local Mortgage Lender

For most people, buying a home is one of the most exciting events in their lives. But a house or condo can be very expensive, so most Conroe, Houston, and Montgomery County residents will need to get a Texas home loan. With the help of an experienced mortgage lender in Texas, you can get a suitable loan, no matter if you have a large down payment or not.

But how can you find a great mortgage lender, and what qualities should you look for? In most cases, it’s best to search for local experts, since they know your area very well. Select someone who has a track record of success, offers several options, provides additional services, has a transparent fee system, and offers a friendly and streamlined service.

7 Qualities to Look for in a Local Mortgage Lender in Texas

1. Knowledge of the Conroe, Houston, and Montgomery County Area

Local mortgage lenders know the property market in your area better than anyone else. For this reason, they will be able to assist you during your home purchase, for example by speaking to you about the value of properties you’re looking at and by giving you more information about the local economy. This can prove invaluable and help you to avoid expensive mistakes. 

Additionally, a lender who knows the area well has connections to others in the industry. They work closely with real estate agents, appraisers, home inspectors, and similar professionals. If you need a recommendation, you can simply speak to your mortgage lender, and they can give you the details of the best local property experts. That way, you don’t risk working with a subpar agent.

2. A Track Record of Success

Before you get in touch with a mortgage lender, you should have a look at their website to see whether they have been successful in the past and whether others have been happy with the service. Start with the “About Us” section to learn more about the loan officers working at the company and what experience they have. Gary Warstler at Home Loans with Gary has been working in the industry for over 30 years, so he is uniquely positioned to help you.

Once you’ve decided to contact a lender, you should ask them relevant questions on the phone or during your initial consultation. Find out what their track record of success is, what fee structure they have, and what outcome you can expect given your situation. If you’re applying for a large loan, you could also ask the loan officers for the contact details of previous customers, so you can chat to others about their experience with the company.

3. Several Texas Home Loan Options 

Not every loan is suitable for every person, so you have to make sure that there are several options. Some people prefer a fixed-rate mortgage because the interest rate doesn’t change for several years. This can give homeowners peace of mind because their monthly payments won’t go up unexpectedly. However, the fixed rate is usually higher than the variable rate, so some people prefer to go for the cheaper but less secure variable-rate mortgage. 

At Home Loans with Gary, we offer both types, and customers can also select from a range of other products such as jumbo loans, which are loans that exceed the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) limits, or Federal Housing Administration loans, which allow first-time homebuyers to purchase a property with a minimal down payment.

4. Extra Services to Make the Process Easier 

A great mortgage lender should offer you various extra services that make the process of buying a house smoother and simpler. For instance, residents of Conroe, Montgomery County, and Houston can benefit from a down payment assistance program, which helps homeowners who can’t save up a sufficient down payment by providing them with a 0% interest loan. 

Similarly, there is a FHA-insured reverse mortgage program for older residents who are finding that their home is no longer suitable for their purposes. With an experienced mortgage lender in Texas such as Gary Warstler, you can access all these programs with ease, and you don’t have to worry about finding out what rules will apply to you. Your loan officer will walk you through the process and explain everything.

5. A Transparent Fee System

You can reduce your costs by using a lender and other professionals who have a transparent fee system. When you first contact your lender about a Texas home loan, ask them what kinds of charges there are. They should be able to explain their fee structure in clear, simple terms, so you understand what you’re paying for and why. 

You might also want to ask about additional services that could be relevant to you later on, such as refinancing your mortgage or taking part in the reverse mortgage program. An ethical home loan company will be happy to provide you with information about their charges, and they will make their fees transparent at every stage of the process.

6. A Friendly Service 

Often, buying a home takes several months, so you will be working closely with your home loan officer for a long time. To make sure you have a good experience, you should attend an initial consultation before hiring them, so you can determine whether they are friendly and pleasant to work with. If you’re not yet familiar with the home buying process, it’s particularly important to check that they answer all your questions in a simple manner.

You should also determine whether the chosen company is good at communicating. When you get in touch, do they return your call within a few business days? Do they answer their emails, and are their communications always professional? If so, it’s likely that you will have a good experience working with them because they will assist you quickly whenever you have a question or a problem.
 

7. A Simple Loan Process 

For many people, purchasing their home and moving house is an extremely stressful process, but it doesn’t have to be like that. With a good mortgage lender, you can benefit from a smooth, simple process. Here at Home Loans with Gary, you will start by having a conversation with your officer, during which you can communicate your needs and wants and speak about your long-term financial goals. 

Then, you can fill in the application, which gives us more information about you and your current situation. At this stage, you will find out what types of loans you qualify for and how much money you can borrow. After you’ve found a home, we will order an appraisal, so we can confirm the value of the property. Finally, your home loan will be double checked and approved, and you can move into your brand-new house or condo.

Getting a Texas home loan can be challenging if you don’t have a good mortgage lender. For this reason, you should select someone with integrity, experience, and multiple options. Get in touch with Home Loans with Gary now to find out why we are a leading mortgage lender in Texas. We can offer loans to people in Houston, Conroe, and Montgomery County.