EDUCATION CENTER
Locating the right lender is essential. We believe that Omega Financial Services, Inc. is that lender for you now and in the future. We can provide you with a mortgage package that meets the lowest rate and point programs available. At Omega Financial Services, Inc., we are a team of professionals that work with a full menu of national and local lenders. It is this collective effort that enables us to provide you with the most competitive financing available on the market. Just taking a mortgage application and processing it is not good enough for our team. We pride ourselves on our abilities to research and locate the absolute best program that fits your borrowing needs. Once you decide on your dream home, we will walk you through the entire process. After you close, we will continue to be at your service - giving you updates on market trends and programs.
Before You Buy, See a Lender First!
With so many new mortgage products available, tools to promote financial literacy, consumer education and a simpler mortgage process need to be available to everyone. We at Omega Financial Services are committed to that goal. Omega Financial Services recommends consumers visit a lending professional of their choice to understand programs available before shopping for a home. As an educated consumer, they will better be able to make the major purchase of their life with less anxiety and confidence that the mortgage product they receive is tailored to fit their financial goals.
The consumer must be aware of all of the costs of obtaining mortgage financing and understand and know their rights as a buyer before signing an agreement of sale. That's why the consumer needs to find a lender that is willing to take the time to be sure the consumer understands the mortgage process, costs and their rights as buyers. Shop in order to save, and get a second opinion to preserve your financial health.
Regardless of who you choose to be your mortgage lender, there are terms you will need to know:
Mortgage Banker
Mortgage bankers are your best solution for financing a home. This is the category Omega Financial Services, Inc. falls into even though we are also considered mortgage brokers as well. Basically, a mortgage banker can be a mortgage broker, but a mortgage broker cannot be a mortgage banker. Sound confusing? To become a mortgage banker, Omega Financial Services, Inc. secured the necessary steps to be licensed by the state of Pennsylvania to lend money to ourselves; we secured the ability to operate as a bank in a sense. Although mortgage bankers will still sell your loan to its investors, choosing a banker over a broker allows you to weed out the "fly by night" companies. To be a mortgage banker, you must be willing to go through an approval process that a company looking to make a quick return would not take.
By choosing a mortgage banker, you are also gaining more flexibility in your financing options. Mortgage bankers are able to lend you money directly and sell your loan down the road. This creates and environment that lends itself to a quicker turnaround because your loan can be approved in-house, instead of waiting for a lender to approve it. In a busy climate, this can take weeks off of the time required to approve and close a mortgage. When you choose a mortgage banker, you are choosing to have your home financed in the best program available for you.
Mortgage Broker
Mortgage brokers can provide you with the power of numerous lending institutions at their fingertips. They have the ability to access a network of banks to shop various interest rates, programs, and fees. However, like other possible mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers can have potential downfalls. It is imperative that you search out a mortgage company and carefully research their background. Below is a list of questions you should be asking about each mortgage company you research.
- Are they licensed in the state you are buying the home?
- How long have they been in business?
- Are they affiliated with any mortgage related agencies?
- What are their closing costs in relation to the interest rate they are offering?
- How many loans have they originated?
A good mortgage broker will gladly provide you with honest, upfront answers. By carefully screening mortgage brokers, you will be able to differentiate the good from the bad, enabling you to locate a lender that will provide you with the best financing options.
Many real estate offices today have their own mortgage company and although this provides convenience to you, the consumer, the controlled business relationship between the mortgage broker and the real estate office can be expensive. It is best to locate a third party lender and let agents do what they do best, locate a home that meets your expectations of a dream home.
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