Buyers often use Realtors for the home, but do not ask them about a loan. Now Realtors are not loan experts for the most part. But a good Realtor will know about products available. Case in point was a blog I posted about a buyer losing 22,000 on a deal due to bad decisions.
I often recommend Mortgage brokers as they shop loans. However if you are using Georgia DCA you cannot use a Mortgage broker unless in rare cases that company is going to hold the paper. So a mortgage broker may offer you a number of options but not have that one in his bag. That is 14K you could be giving away!
Lets say you have a property, or a banker you like, and are living in a Metropolitan area. You decide to go "Green Acres". You find a local Realtor and you get a loan from your local bank where you live. Your Banker tells you you qualify for FHA. So you put 3.5 percent down and away you go. What you have missed is USDA 100 percent financing for a rural loan. Your in town banker didn't even think about that loan as she never writes them. BUT your Realtor if they are worth anything should mention it.
To make matters even worse the way FHA does insurance and fees you could , and I have seen it , have a higher monthly payment with the loan you got putting 3.5 percent down! So the point here is as a Realtor I am not an Mortgage expert and quite frankly do not want to be. However as part of my service I do become knowledgeable about types of loans available and loans that may be unique to my market. So when you are moving into an area ask your Realtor about your loan. It is an added layer of expertise that can save you potentially a lot of money.
