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Advice Topic:
Home Loans

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Home Loans

78 questions found

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How do I choose between a local mortgage broker and a large national bank for my first home loan?

I am a first-time homebuyer looking to purchase a property in a highly competitive market here in Texas. I've heard that sellers prefer working with local lenders because they can close faster, but my current national bank has a first-time buyer program that looks very appealing. I want to make sure my pre-approval letter is taken seriously by listing agents. What are the pros and cons of using a broker versus a big bank in a fast-paced market?

Asked by Olga | 05-12-2026 | 154 Views | Home Loans | Updated 5 months ago

15 Answers

How to list home?

We bought a apartment building. An turned it into a family-owned house. But we invested about 35,000. Nedd a new roof and a new furnace in basement.

6 Answers

Will getting multiple mortgage pre-approvals hurt my credit score while house hunting?

My spouse and I are starting to look at homes and want to get pre-approved to show sellers we are serious. We want to shop around with a few different mortgage brokers to compare loan estimates. I'm worried that having multiple hard inquiries on our credit reports within a short timeframe will drag our scores down. Is there a specific window of time we should do all our applications to minimize the impact?

7 Answers

Can I switch mortgage lenders after I've already signed a purchase agreement?

My offer on a house in Ohio was just accepted, and I used a pre-approval letter from a local bank. However, a mortgage broker I spoke with earlier just called back offering a significantly lower interest rate and fewer origination fees. We are scheduled to close in about 35 days. Am I locked in with the original bank since their name was on the pre-approval letter submitted to the seller, or is it safe to switch without risking my earnest money?

9 Answers

How long do I need to be at a new job before a mortgage lender will approve me for a home loan?

I recently graduated and started my first full-time salaried position about three months ago. Before this, I was working part-time while finishing my degree. I am hoping to buy a small condo in the Seattle area within the next year, but I have heard that lenders usually want to see two years of consistent employment history. Does my time in college count toward that requirement, or do I need to wait until I have been at this specific company for a longer period?

14 Answers

Can I switch mortgage lenders after I've already been pre-approved?

I got pre-approved with my local credit union a few weeks ago, but now another lender is offering a much better interest rate. We haven't found a house yet, so I'm not locked into a specific property. Will starting a new application with this second lender hurt my credit score, or is it normal to shop around at this stage?

22 Answers

What is the difference between a mortgage broker and going directly to a bank?

My husband and I are first-time homebuyers looking around Austin. We keep hearing conflicting advice from family members about where to get our loan. Some say we should just use the bank where we have our checking accounts, while others highly recommend finding an independent broker to shop rates for us. Does one option usually have lower closing costs or faster processing times?

12 Answers

I’m trying to get help on finding the best loan for a specific house ?

There’s a house not yet on the market I want to try and get a loan for it before it’s listed it belongs to a family friend which is why I’ve been offered the opportunity to buy it I am a first time buyer and wanted to look at the possibility

24 Answers

Where can I get mortgage with bad credit ?

I have 3 weeks to redo a mortgage into my name and my husbands or my ex wants to sell my house which my brother redid before he died

10 Answers

Can I keep my existing mortgage and use it on a new home?

Ready to upgrade to a bigger home but I bought my current one in 2021 and have an amazing rate. So i'm 5 years into a 30 year mortgage. Can I just transfer this mortgage to my next home? I don't want to lose the rate but I also need a bigger house. We bought this one in the panic of the pandemic.

13 Answers

Related Blogs

Average Real Estate Commission by State (2026 Survey Data)

Advice Topic:
Home Loans

Ask An Agent

Home Loans

How do I choose between a local mortgage broker and a large national bank for my first home loan?

How to list home?

Will getting multiple mortgage pre-approvals hurt my credit score while house hunting?

Can I switch mortgage lenders after I've already signed a purchase agreement?

How long do I need to be at a new job before a mortgage lender will approve me for a home loan?

Can I switch mortgage lenders after I've already been pre-approved?

What is the difference between a mortgage broker and going directly to a bank?

I’m trying to get help on finding the best loan for a specific house ?

Where can I get mortgage with bad credit ?

Can I keep my existing mortgage and use it on a new home?

Related Blogs

Average Real Estate Commission by State (2026 Survey Data)

Growing Your Rental Portfolio? Build These Systems First

How to Buy a Multigenerational Home That Actually Works for Your Family

Contributing Real Estate Professionals

Zoltan Peresztegi

Keith Jean Pierre

Juan Picos

Michael Atkinson

Loodmy Jacques

Kevin Neely

Amanda Courtney

Jonathan Claudio

Alla Novytska

Barrett Henry

Austin Moore

Becky Groe

Advice Topic: Home Loans

Ask An Agent

Home Loans

Related Blogs

Average Real Estate Commission by State (2026 Survey Data)

Growing Your Rental Portfolio? Build These Systems First

How to Buy a Multigenerational Home That Actually Works for Your Family

Contributing Real Estate Professionals

Zoltan Peresztegi

Keith Jean Pierre

Juan Picos

Michael Atkinson

Loodmy Jacques

Kevin Neely

Amanda Courtney

Jonathan Claudio

Alla Novytska

Barrett Henry

Austin Moore

Becky Groe

Advice Topic:
Home Loans