A loan officer is a mortgage professional who assists with originating a mortgage loan for a borrower. A loan officer will help a borrower to identify their needs, select a loan program, complete the application process, offer advice and answer any questions a borrower may have.
Some other questions to ask any Loan Officer you are considering working with:
1. How long have you been originating loans?
2. What certifications or training do you have?
3. Is your company a member of any broker associations? BBB?
4. What are your normal working hours and when I can reach you?
5. Are you available weekends if I need you?
6. What other professionals do you network with, and can you recommend any I might need in the process, i.e. a Closing Attorney if needed, Real Estate Agent, etc?
7. What loan products do you specialize in?
8. Any letters of recommendation from other folks you?ve helped recently?
Loan Officers who work for brokers can negotiate better rate and terms on your behalf and typically have access to many lenders and offer you several aggressively priced programs.
Ask friends and family for the name of a good loan officer the have used in the past. If you are shopping for a new home ask your realtor as well.
Loan officers may work for either a bank or a broker. Both have similar jobs, but their products are very different. Loan officers who work for banks only have access to the loan programs that the bank offers, while loan officers who work for brokers have access to all of the loan programs from many different lenders. In fact, many brokers work with hundreds of lenders nationwide.
Many loan officers specialize in specific types of transactions. Make sure you either select a loan officer who specializes in helping clients with transactions such as yours; or a loan officer who at least does not specialize in transaction types not related to your loan type.
One thing that the Loan Officer does not do is decide what documentation that you will need or what conditions your loan approval are based upon. On rare occasions, the Loan Officer may negotiate with the underwriter if there are conditions that seem unfair or you are unable to meet. Generally speaking though, the underwriter will decide what conditions apply and the Loan Officer and you as the borrower must comply in order to complete the loan process.
Loan Officers are a valuable resource, and have your best interests in mind.
A loan officer works with borrowers to help them choose the right loan program. The loan officer then helps the buyer complete loan application and required disclosures to apply for their particular loan program. The loan officer also acts as the liason for the lender and buyer during the process to help get the loan closed in a timely manner.
A good loan officer not only is knowledgeable, but is professional. They return phone calls promptly, and do the research necessary to ensure the borrower gets all their questions answered correctly. An un-researched answer could cause serious delays later on, or worse cause the loan application to be denied altogether. A good loan officer knows how to preempt future problems and prepare for it.
When looking for a loan officer to handle your mortgage transaction you should look for a loan officer that is someone you feel comfortable with and can trust, is professional, is knowledgable, and is reliable. A mortgage is one of the biggest investments in most people's lives and you should feel comfortable and secure with the person you decide to work with.
A loan officer normally works directly for a broker, whom is licensed. In some States the LO is also required to be licensed. You should check with your LO to ensure he is licensed if required.
A mortgage broker has many more programs than loan officer at a bank. Brokers are able to offer more products that will help you get the loan you want to achieve your financial goals. Brokers are especially good when it comes to buying investment properties because of they offer more programs that can help the property cash flow.
With the recent advance technology development in the mortgage industry, loan officers can now get a loan approval from banks in a matter of minutes, making the role loan officers play ever more important to homebuyers. A knowledgeable loan officer is the first person in the loan process who can tell whether a loan application is likely to be approved or declined, even before the application is submitted to a bank underwriter. The loan officer can then advise on how to improve the likelihood of getting the application approved, before it is declined by lenders.
When interviewing a loan officer who will assist you in a major financial transaction choose one who is knowledgeable, professional, organized, efficient and who gives you a sense of trust and comfort.
