Buying a Home in Salt Lake City, UT

Benefits of Using an Exclusive Buyer's Agent Explained by a Real Home Buyer

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:43:43 -0600

When you use an Exclusive Buyers Agent, they are not biased in their opinion of which properties they want you to view or buy. Our Exclusive Buyer's Agent was very willing to show us any property that we wanted to see.

He went the extra mile and beyond to meet our needs and wants in a home. He worked in every way to save us money. He helped us see down payment and closing cost options we would not have known about without his help. He took care of all the paperwork and even ran documents to our places of employment during negotiations.

He was always pleasant and enjoyable to work with, even during what could have been stressful negotiations. He definitely told us of things that we were able to negotiate on... things we wouldn't have been aware of. When the Seller became difficult (this was a short sale), I was very glad we had an agent who had our best interests in mind.

We heard about Exclusive Buyer's Agents through friends who had worked with an Exclusive Buyer's Agent and had a great experience!

Petruzzi Family - New Homeowners - Salt Lake County

Exclusive Buyer's Agents do not list homes for sale and never represent Sellers. They have no "inventory" to try and sell you. They can represent you in purchasing any home. They are specialists at representing Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. Exclusive Buyer's Agents work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy a home...

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home within 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A!

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Finally...

HUD to Buyers: "It is your responsibility to search for an agent who will represent your interests in the real estate transaction."

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:44:24 -0600

Newly revised for 2010, HUD's latest publication related to buying a home is titled, "Shopping for Your Home Loan: HUD's Settlement Cost Booklet." It is a must-read for anyone who will be buying a home in 2010 (or beyond).

In spite of the title, the booklet doesn't just contain information on how to shop for a home loan using new forms and an explanation of the settlement costs involved in a real estate transaction. The guide also contains valuable information on a variety of other topics related to purchasing a home. (It's a whopping 4 Megabyte download!)

Massive reforms in the real estate and mortgage industries took place in 2009. Many of these major changes take effect on January 1, 2010. There are a lot of changes that affect home buyers, and this guide will make it apparent that the way to buy a home has changed.

On page 6, it explains the role of a real estate agent or broker, making clear that "although... agents and brokers provide helpful advice, they may legally be representing the interests of the seller and not yours." (Emphasis Added)

It goes on to say, "It is your responsibility to search for an agent who will represent your interests in the real estate transaction. If you want someone to represent only your interests, consider hiring an 'exclusive buyer’s agent', who will be working for you." (Emphasis is included in the guide itself, not added)

The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) has issued a press release related to this news. To read it, click here.

To download the new guide, simply click on the image of the booklet above, or click here.

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Finally...

Conflicts of Interest When Working with a Traditional Real Estate Brokerage

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:59:56 -0600

Here is a nice clip from CNN that covers the many conflicts of interest that can exist if you don't make sure the agent you hire will work only for you.

Mortgage Shopping Will Soon be a Lot Less Complicated

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:11:49 -0600

Mortgage shopping will soon be a lot less complicated.

RESPA Reform takes effect on January 1, 2010. While still not perfect, the changes do simplify the ability to compare loan offerings between lenders. The goal was to simplify and improve disclosure requirements for mortgage settlement costs under RESPA. My analysis: Mission Accomplished

Here are some key highlights for borrowers:

The new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and the New Settlement Statement (HUD1 or HUD1A) now correspond to one another. In the past, there was no direct correllation between line items, making it difficult for a consumer to know whether or not undisclosed junk fees were being charged at closing.
Instead of breaking loan costs down into multiple line items, now, all costs being charged by the lender will be compiled into one total fee.
Additional information about the loan (Is there a pre-payment penalty? Can this loan Adjust? etc.) is required to be disclosed on the Good Faith Estimate, creating more transparency about the loan.
Lenders will be required to deliver on the Good Faith Estimate as quoted (NOTE: some items have allowable tolerances for change).

Here are some more changes and an overview of the new forms.

You will be better able to understand an compare loan proposals from different lenders if you have an agent who understands the process. Your best bet is to hire an Exclusive Buyers Agent who will work only on your side of the transaction. Overall the reforms will make it easier for the average borrower to comparison shop for a mortgage loan.

As advocates for the Home BUYER, one of the services we offer our clients is to help them evaluate lenders and loan options using our TOTAL Cost of the Loan^SM system.

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers. They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

Finally...

The New Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Form, Page 2 Section A

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:24:07 -0600

Page 2 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) will look significantly different from Good Faith Estimates of the past.

Section A has 2 parts.

Item 1 is the origination charge, or what the lender is charging you for the loan. This number includes ALL lender fees, combined into one figure. These fees include all the items one used to see listed on Good Fath Estimates as separate line items under such names as:

Application Fee
Origination Fee
Processing Fee
Underwriting Fee
Document Preparation Fee
Administration Fee
Wire Transfer Fee
etc.

It may also will include any Yield Spread Premium (YSP), or money that a broker may collect as profit on the back end of your loan transaction. (If there is a Yield Spread Premium and it is not disclosed in Item 1, it will be disclosed in Item 2.)

These will ALL now be shown as one single fee, "Our Origination Charge", or basically, all monies paid to the lender and/or broker in order to obtain the loan.

Item 2 discloses your credit or charge for the specific interest rate quoted. What this table shows is that you, as a borrower, may have had an option to select either a higher or a lower interest rate from the lender's rate sheet.

If you were eligible for a lower rate than you have been quoted, or if there was a credit for the rate selected, that credit will be disclosed here in the second box.

If it will cost money in order to obtain the rate quoted (formerly known as "points") that charge will be shown here in the third box.

If the lender may also choose to select the first box disclosing only that the credit or charge for the interest rate they are quoting you has already been included in (either added to or subtracted from) the origination charge quoted above in item 1. If this box is checked, you may not know the exact amount of the credit or charge, but it shouldn't matter too much as it will all be included in the Total Adjusted Origination Charges in Section A, the total up-front costs to obtain that loan. If this box is checked, however, you may want to ask the lender if you would have qualified for a better rate.

Section A is pretty straightforward. Now on to Section B.

The New Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Form, Page 2 Section B

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:34:26 -0600

Section B of Page 2 of the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) has 9 parts. Let's go through them.

Item 3 will be a list of required services that the lender will select. These are services necessary in order to complete your transaction. These charges are subject to a 10% tolerance at settlement, meaning that they may be up to 10% higher (but ONLY 10% higher) at settlement.

It is my understanding that the TOTAL of all items listed in these categories is subject to a 10% difference at closing. In other words, an individual item may in fact cost more than 10% more at settlement, but if another item or items from that section cost less than they were quoted, and the total costs for all items in that section still fit within the 10% tolerance, it can be allowed.

The good news is that lenders who want to be the most competitive may begin to shop around themselves for lower cost providers for these services, in order to keep the total costs they quote down as low as possible, making them look like a better option in a comparison.

Item 4, Title Service and Lender's Title Insurance is a total of ALL title charges except Government Recording charges (which are listed in Item 7). This item is also subject to a 10% cap at settlement, but only if the lender selects the title company or if you select a title company identified by the lender. If you choose your own title company, (not a company identified by the lender) there is no cap on the amount you may be charged at settlement. (Of course, you are most likely to select a company that will cost you less at settlment, but should you choose a more expensive company, the lender cannot be held to the estimate they quote you for using a lender identified company.)

Item 5 is the cost of Owner's Title Insurance. In some states (including Utah) this is most often paid for by the Seller. Even in such an instance, this fee will be listed on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE). Just remember that if this is true in your transaction, you may be able to deduct this amount from your total loan costs for the purposes of determining the cash you need to close the loan.

This item can also increase up to 10%, but once again, only if you (or the Seller) use a lender identified company. Otherwise there is no cap.

Item 6 are the required services that you can shop for. These are services that may be necessary for your transaction. These may include such things as:

Pest Inspection
Home Warranty
Survey
etc.

These are just examples and are only subject to a 10% tolerance if you use lender identified companies.

Item 7 are the total of Government Recording Charges. These may also increase up to 10% at Settlement.

Item 8 are Transfer Taxes. Fortunately, in Utah, we don't have these. There are some states that do. If your transaction requires payment of a Transfer Tax, there is ZERO Tolerance on this item. It must be the figure you will be charged at settlement.

Item 9 explains the initial costs of setting up your escrow account. (These are your deposits into the account to cover property tax and insurance disbursements.) These are not subject to a cap, as the account will simply need to have enough money in it to pay such disbursements when the time comes. Still, most lenders should be able to get this figure pretty close to what it will be by estimating which month of the year you are likely to close in and the lender's own requirements for escrow account reserves.

Item 10 is the daily interest charge for your loan. Although the TOTAL amount listed here is not subject to any tolerance cap (because it will depend on which day of the month you close whether there are 0 or 30 days of interest charged) the daily amount of interest you will be charged cannot change (as it is a factor of your interest rate).

Item 11 is the cost of Homeowner's Insurance. A borrower usually pays a full year of premium up-front. This item is not subject to a 10% cap, as the borrower is able to select their own insurance and coverage level. (Coverage level must be adequate to protect the collateral for the loan, and usually is subject to approval by the lender.)

Page 3 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form contains Instructions, an optional Trade-Off table, and a Shopping Chart, as well as a disclosure that your loan may be sold after settlement. We'll cover page 3 next week.

The New Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Form, Page 1 (Part 2)

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:07:11 -0600

The bottom half of page 1 of the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form begins with a Summary of your Loan Section. This is where a lot of disclosures regarding the loan will be made.

What is the initial loan amount?
What is the initial interest rate?
What will your initial monthly payment be? (Principal and Interest, and any mortgage insurance if applicable. Taxes and homeowner's insurance are not included here, but may be required to be paid as part of your monthly payment.)
Can your interest rate rise? If so, how much?
Can your loan balance rise? If so, how much?
Can your monthly payment rise? (Principal and Interest, and any mortgage insurance. Taxes and homeowner's insurance excluded.) If so, how high could it go?
Does your loan have a pre-payment penalty? If so, how high could that be?
Does the loan have a balloon payment? If so, how much and when is it due?

Some lenders require an escrow account. This section will disclose if an escrow account is required or not and reiterate your base monthly payment amount. Remember that if an escrow account is not required, you will be responsible to keep current all taxes, insurance and other property related charges. Even when one is not required, some borrowers choose to have one set up anyway.

In the event that an escrow account is not required, some lenders may offer an incentive to establish an escrow account anyway. Others may actually assess a penalty or fee in the event you choose not to establish an escrow account, even if not required by the terms of the loan. This penalty will appear as part of the total origination charge and/or will be reflected in the interest rate you are quoted and is said to help cover the costs of monitoring that the taxes and insurance on the property are being kept current by the borrower.

Finally, at the bottom you will see a summary of all Estimated Settlement Charges. These are broken down into 2 sections: Adjusted Origination Charges (All LOAN Costs) and Charges for All Other Settlement Services (All other Costs to close). Both are broken down on the next page of the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) which we'll examine next.

Page 2 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is where you will see obvious changes from Good Faith Estimates of the past.

The New Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Form, Page 1 (Part 1)

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:00:55 -0600

Let's examine the top half of Page 1 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form.

One of the first changes you will notice about the Good Faith Estimate form is that it now asks for the Loan Originator's email address.

It also asks for a Property Address. Remember, without a property address (the one the borrower intends to get the loan for), the Good Faith Estimate is non-binding, meaning the lender (or loan originator) is not able to be held to fees and rates quoted. However, prior to closing, a Good Faith Estimate will all the required information on it must be completed. This must occur at least 3 banking days prior to settlement.

The next section of Page 1 of the Good Faith Estimate form explains the purpose of the GFE and explains that a borrower can shop for the best loan. It also mentions that the GFE contains a "shopping chart" on page 3 of the form, which we will cover when we get there.

Next is a section explaining 4 important dates relating to the Good Faith Estimate and the loan.

The interest rate quoted on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) has an expiration date. Pay attention to this date. If you have not locked your interest rate it will likely usually only be for the day the Good Faith Estimate is issued. It's possible that some lenders may even put an hour of day when the rate quoted expires.

In this event, note that in addition to the interest rate being able to change, some of the other fees may change until you lock your interest rate. Once you lock your interest rate, if anything has changed, the lender will provide you with yet another Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining the rate, fees, payment and other specific loan terms. Make sure that item 1 on the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) now shows the date on which your rate lock will expire.
There is also an expiration date for the estimate of all other settlement charges quoted by the lender. Once again, make sure once you have locked your interest rate that this date will not arrive before your settlement date does.
Item 3 explains the length of your interest rate lock. The reason this is important, even if you have not yet locked your interest rate is because the shorter the rate lock period, the lower interest rate is available to the lender (and to you). Keep this in mind as you compare offerings from lenders and as you evaluate your needs. It may not be the best idea to choose a lender based on their slightly lower interest rate quoted, if you will need a rate lock for 60 days and they have only quoted a 30 day lock period.
You will need to lock your interest rate before the closing date. This is so the lender can finalize your loan package and prepare the documents necessary for your closing. Each lender will specify the minimum number of days they will need to carry out the rest of the process once you have locked your loan.

Continue on for an explanation of the rest of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form.

Shopping for a Loan - Understanding the New Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Form

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:46:37 -0600

Due to RESPA Reform, as of January 1, 2010, lenders are required to use a new, uniform, Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form. This new form creates additional disclosure and transparency about the loan product being offered as well as the costs to the borrower. The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form is 3 pages in length. All lenders will use the same form. This was not true prior to January 1, 2010.

Once a borrower has provided all the information necessary for a lender or broker to complete a Good Faith Estimate (GFE), the loan originator has 3 business days to deliver a Good Faith Estimate to the borrower. It can be delivered via email if the borrower consents.

Consumers will be able to use the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form to more easily compare loan proposals from various lenders.

The new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form is now more binding on the lender. When I say "more binding," I mean that it IS binding with a few exceptions:

Some fees quoted are 100% binding on the lender if certain conditions are met.
Some fees quoted are subject to "tolerance levels" (can change up to 10% if certain conditions are met)
Some fees are not subject to any cap in the amount they can differ from what is quoted on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form.

We will go over, in detail, which fees fall into which category as we go through the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form. The fees which are not subject to any tolerance cap are usually those where the borrower chooses to use a service not required to close the transaction, or uses a company, for a required service, other than a company identified by the lender (from which they derived their estimated cost). If the borrower selects one of the companies identified by the lender, or if the lender selects the company for a required service, the lender is bound to the figures quoted with up to a 10% tolerance.

There are 6 pieces of information that have to be on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) in order for it to be binding on the lender or mortgage broker. They are:

Borrower's Name
Social Security Number
Gross Monthly Income
Property Address
Estimated Property Value
Loan Amount

If any of these pieces of information change during the transaction, the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is no longer binding and the Lender or Broker will then issue a new Good Faith Estimate within 3 Business days. Anytime a new Good Faith Estimate is prepared, the borrower cannot close on that transaction for another 3 business days after receipt of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form.

The sections, and therefore the numbers quoted, on the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form now correspond to identically numbered sections on the Settlement Statement (HUD1 or HUD1A) that the borrower sees at closing.

Let's examine these forms, beginning with the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form, page 1:

I'm Waving!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:02:56 -0500

Thanks to my good friend Rolando Gill, I'm waving!

I'm looking to collaborate with NAEBA members and other EBAs and some of my favorite Blogging friends, as well as personal friends and past clients.

If you want to wave with me, send me a private message with your gmail address in it. If I add you to my wave, you'll get my address as well. This way we don't have to publicly post our email addresses.

Thanks!

Looking forward to waving with you!

If you want to see some cool ways to "wave", check out this video. (Less than 10 minutes... not the 80 minute one!)

Benjamin Clark is Broker/Owner of Homebuyer Representation, Inc. "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side"^TM

Public Posts are written for the brokerage's target market.

Member's Only Posts are written for members of the ActiveRain Community and tend to focus on topics related to Blogging, Marketing, Technology and Photography.

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Roy Home Buyers Find Success by Hiring Exclusive Buyer's Agent

Thu, 29 May 2008 14:54:34 -0500

Wow, where do I start relaying my experience of buying our first house? First, I guess you can say that my husband and I are very cautious people. We do a lot of research before buying any large-ticket item, whether it be a lawnmower, a washer, a car, etc. So when it comes to a HOUSE, I started researching a year before we even began to look.

I spent hours researching on the Internet, and I even began watching HGTV shows that involved buying houses to get an overview on the home-buying process. It was from watching some of these shows that my eyes were opened about the reality of real estate agents. I saw how important they were.

For the sellers, it's usually the fastest, easiest, and often the most lucrative way to sell a house, despite the fee. For buyers, it's kind of mixed. See, I saw how some buyers were supported every step of the way by their agents and they ended up with a good house at a good price. But then I saw some where the buyers' agents seemed to be selling the houses to their clients like a car-salesman, pointing out all the good things about each house and dismissing any bad things. I felt that those agents weren't helping the buyers very much.

The problem? Those buyers had agents who worked in the company that listed the house. So they WERE trying to sell houses to their clients rather than helping their clients find the best house for them at the best price. I even saw one episode where one agent was actually employed directly by the seller AND the buyer in a transaction. The agent's loyalty was divided, and there is no way that the buyer could have gotten a fair shake.

After seeing that episode, I focused a little less on researching the overall home-buying process and more on how to get a good agent who will work in the buyer's interest and help them through that process. That is when I learned about Exclusive Buyer's Agents. After learning about them, I knew it was the only way to go. If you hire a true Exclusive Buyer's Agent, the agent works in a company that never lists properties, nor does that agent ever work for sellers. The buyer gets 100% loyalty. The Exclusive Buyer's Agent will show you any house on the market without ulterior motives. And if you get a good agent, he will willingly help and guide you through the entire home-buying process. And I must say that Benjamin Clark is not only a good agent, but an excellent one.

In all honesty, Benjamin Clark came through for us in every aspect of the home-buying process. From helping us find the right house (including driving us to twenty houses across three towns in one day) to being by our side on the day we closed, not once did he let us down. As I said before, my husband and I are very cautious people, and because of that we had several questions in every stage of buying our first house. Benjamin always answered our questions not only in a timely manner, but also in great detail. He gave us a Buyer's Due Diligence Checklist which was extremely helpful throughout the home-buying process. When I had a question about how to go about something on the checklist, he'd do everything he could to help me with it.

For example, one of the things a buyer has to do is find a title company. Benjamin not only explained what a title company does, but he gave me questions to ask each title company to aid us in making an informed decision. He also gave us estimates on what a good title company would charge for certain things, and provided us with three names and numbers of title companies that had worked well for clients in the past. Though he provided us with some names, he still encouraged us to research others. Ultimately, after researching multiple companies, we found out that the first one on Benjamin's list was the best option for us. This happened with finding an inspector, a mortgage company, and a home warranty company too. We received an incredible deal from the mortgage company he recommended, and even the agent from the title company that handled our closing was astonished at what a great loan we had. Benjamin simply made it easy for us to accomplish the things we needed to do, and with the best results. He continued to help us even after closing, getting us a good deal on a carpet and home cleaning.

Not only was Benjamin great at helping us accomplish the things we needed to do as buyers, but he did amazing work at accomplishing his tasks as an agent. He helped us find houses that fit our criteria and made it possible for us to see the houses we wanted to on short notice. He personally drove us to every house on our list. We asked him to point out any flaws he might notice in the houses we looked at, and he did that readily and knowledgeably. When he saw a neighbor outside, he'd go talk to them and ask about the neighborhood. He even pointed things out about neighborhoods that ended up being important in our final decisions on several houses. He also showed us features that would increase resale value of many houses and we found that to be very helpful. When we had narrowed our choices down to three houses, he ran a detailed market analysis on all three in a short amount of time. This was very helpful in deciding on what to offer on the house we chose... And last, but certainly not least, he did an astounding job in the offer and negotiation process.

I cannot imagine how we would have gotten through the offer and negotiation process without Benjamin. He made things as smooth and stress-free as possible. He fought long and hard to get us the best deal possible, re-negotiating the contract many times for us. The sellers were not the easiest people to work with, but Benjamin was still able to bring them down in price, include closing costs and fix almost everything the inspection had shown to be a problem. He was excellent at reading the motivation of the sellers and the sellers' agent, and used that knowledge to help us in negotiations. He even labored hard for us on little things, working out many details in our favor (for example, he persuaded the sellers to give us the new refrigerator they were planning to keep). In short, we couldn't have gotten a better deal with any other agent. Benjamin Clark is amazing.

Besides being a helpful and logistically sharp agent, I have to say Benjamin is also a delight to be around. He has a great sense of humor, a warm heart, and a sharp mind. He is fun, easy-going, and a family man. He is an all-around great guy, and I am so happy we had the chance to work with him. I'd recommend him to any buyer, both new and experienced.

Boyd & Tracy McKinnon - Roy, Utah

If you are moving to the Salt Lake City area,make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction!

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $250,000-$750,000 home in the next 30-60 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyer Brokerages do not list homes and never represent Sellers. Their agents represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

Finally...

How to "Shop" Loans and Lenders Part 1 of 7 (How to Shop Mortgage Loan Series)

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:48:25 -0500

Many Buyers pay 1-3% too much for their loan in up-front costs, even after "shopping" for lenders. Some choose a lender solely based on which one has the lowest up-front costs, but they end up paying for it by getting an interest rate that is higher than they qualify for. Others unnecessarily pay too much in fees in order to get the lowest interest rate.

Shopping for a loan does not have to be difficult or complicated. The key is to take control of the process, get organized, and make sure you do it right.

Here are some basics on ONE way to shop for a loan. Click each link for more information on each topic:

As advocates for the Home BUYER, one of the ways we protect our clients above and beyond what most traditional agents do is by offering to help them evaluate lenders and loan options using our TOTAL Cost of the Loan^SM system.

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Finally...

How to "Shop" Loans and Lenders Part 2 of 7 (Same Day - Same Time)

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:46:34 -0500

Shopping for a loan does not have to be difficult or complicated. The key is to take control of the process, get organized, and make sure you do it right.

Here are some basics on ONE way to shop for a loan. Click each link for more information on each topic:

Shop the lenders on the same day and at the same time

This first rule is not only the fairest way to shop for a loan (for the lenders), but it also keeps you from cheating yourself by using incorrect data to make a decision.

Many Buyers make the mistake of getting a quote from one lender on Friday, another on Monday and another on Tuesday. The reason this gives you inaccurate data is because the market affects the rates. You can't shop for quotes on different days and fairly compare the lenders. You can't even always shop your lenders at different times on the same day.

Pre-Schedule the day and time you want to get their quotes on and then you can make a fair comparison.
Make sure all the lenders have the same facts
Figure out the TOTAL Cost of the Loan^SM
Don't skip the "shopping" even if you have a "friend" in the business or a "company special"
Ask for References!
A few extras

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Finally...

How to "Shop" Loans and Lenders Part 3 of 7 (Same Facts)

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:45:00 -0500

Shopping for a loan does not have to be difficult or complicated. The key is to take control of the process, get organized, and make sure you do it right.

Here are some basics on ONE way to shop for a loan. Click each link for more information on each topic:

Shop the lenders on the same day and at the same time
Make sure all the lenders have the same facts in order to make an apples-to-apples comparison
- These facts include:
- Same Purchase Price
- Same Down Payment (And therefore the same Loan Amount)
- Same Loan Type (FHA, VA, Conventional, Other)
- Same Loan Term (30 Year, 15 Year, other)
- Same "Points" (We usually recommend having them all quote you with "No Points")
- Length of the "Lock" (30-45 days is standard. Sometimes you can get a better rate with an even shorter closing date and lock)
- Same Credit Score and Debt Ratio Assumptions
- etc. etc.
What do you really want out of "shopping" your loan? The lowest rate? The lowest fees? Most Buyers fixate on one of these and when a lender figures out which one, they get that part of the loan as low as possible by moving things elsewhere in the equation.

Lenders should know that you are shopping for both the lowest rate AND the lowest fees. Neither is most important to you. The total cost of the loan (fees AND rate) will be considered.

What the Buyer really wants to do is save the most money while they hold the loan. Up front AND over the long haul.
Figure out the TOTAL Cost of the Loan^SM
Don't skip the "shopping" even if you have a "friend" in the business or a "company special"
Ask for References!
A few extras

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Finally...

How to "Shop" Loans and Lenders Part 4 of 7 (TOTAL Cost)

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:43:40 -0500

Shopping for a loan does not have to be difficult or complicated. The key is to take control of the process, get organized, and make sure you do it right.

Here are some basics on ONE way to shop for a loan. Click each link for more information on each topic:

Shop the lenders on the same day and at the same time
Make sure all the lenders have the same facts
Figure out the TOTAL Cost of the Loan^SM

After many years of evaluating how lenders compete for business, we have found a good way to calculate the TOTAL cost of a loan. We do this by considering how many dollars leave your pocket at the closing table (mostly made up of fees) and how many dollars leave your pocket each month you hold the loan (mostly a factor of the rate). This is the fairest way I have found to shop lenders, and even to compare different loan types from the same lender.

Homebuyer Representation, Inc. has created a program that extrapolates these figures out for the term of the loan (15 or 30 years). It can show you the total dollars that have left your pocket at any point along the way. You can see on a graph that the best lender in the short term (lowest fees) is not always the best lender in the long run (often the one with the lowest rate.) They often cross paths along the way.

What our system does is it allows you to see where this transition takes place (if it does). Graphing out the TOTAL cost of each loan option gives you the ability to make the best educated decision regarding which loan to choose.

If you know you will only hold the loan for 2-3 years, it may actually cost you less if you choose a lender whose rate is a bit higher, but whose fees are substantially lower than another lender's offering. If you believe you will hold the loan for potentially a longer length of time, a lender who costs a bit more up front, but offers a lower interest rate, may cost you the least amount of money by the time you will be likely to either sell the home or refinance the loan.

The problem with just judging a loan by the APR is that it doesn't allow you to understand which loan is really going to cost you the least amount of money based on your specific scenario. (How long you plan to hold the loan) Still, if you have no other way to compare, comparing the APR is better than just comparing the rate alone or the fees alone, as the APR does factor in the up front costs of the loan.
Don't skip the "shopping" even if you have a "friend" in the business or a "company special"
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