Mortgage Resources for Every Step: Forms, Programs & Planning Tools

When obtaining a mortgage through one of our bank, credit union, or non-bank partners on traditional lending paths, we are compensated by the lender directly. This typically amounts to 0.75 - 1.25% of the mortgage amount, depending on the rate, term, and incentives. This is fully disclosed at the time of funding and does not incur any additional cost to you.

If we proceed with an alternative lender or private lending solution, fees will apply. These can range between 1-2%, depending on the product and structure. Some lenders may also charge additional fees, which will be disclosed upfront and pre-closing.

For commercial or construction financing, a premium rate of 1.25-2% applies due to the time and involvement required. This will be discussed upfront based on the scope of your project.

We recommend doing your research and selecting a mortgage professional before gathering your documents and completing our application. We work exclusively with our clients and ask that you continue your relationship with another broker if you are already working with one, unless you're not satisfied with their service. In that case, we would be happy to assist, but we will need confirmation that the initial relationship has been ended.

We work with a network of lending partners who prefer not to see multiple applications from different brokers, and we want to ensure we can dedicate the time and care necessary to provide you with the best service possible.

When we pull your credit, it’s required to submit your application and secure your rates. Hard inquiries can have an impact on your credit score, but the effect is generally temporary.

If you’re shopping for a new auto or mortgage loan, or even a utility provider, multiple inquiries within a specified time frame (typically 14-45 days) are generally counted as one inquiry. This is known as the “rate shopping” exception, which allows you to compare lenders without significantly impacting your credit score. However, this exception doesn’t apply to other types of loans like credit cards, where each inquiry may affect your score.

It's also important to note that these hard inquiries are different from soft inquiries (such as when you check your own credit or a lender does a pre-approval review). Soft inquiries do not impact your credit score.

Your credit bureau is valid for 30 days and holds your rates for up to 120 days, so if you’re not ready to proceed right away, we can delay pulling your credit until we meet and discuss your options further.

Appraisals are a requirement of the specific lender, triggered by factors like a lack of comparable homes sold recently, the location, loan-to-value ratio, property type, or a unique value situation.

While the appraisal is for your benefit (to secure financing for the home), it is prepared specifically for the lender’s purposes. For non-mortgage-backed insured loans and private sales, lenders require that you cover the cost of the appraisal. A copy of the appraisal cannot be released to you without the lender’s approval.

We don’t like surprises, and we’re sure you don’t either! Collecting everything upfront ensures that we can be confident in your financing solutions. This allows us to provide a clear price range for you to begin your property search, knowing that as long as the property is approved by the lender, we have confidence in your ability to finance it.