Compare Mortgages

Some loan officers have had tremendous amount of success buying mortgage leads, while others have wasted tremendous amount of money.  Some of the best lead sources are kept secret – wouldn’t you, if you have found a good lead source?

Surely, it is nice to spend money on mortgage leads that convert well into customers, but buying leads is often a risk not many people are willing to take.  What is even better is to generate your own leads that convert well and are also inexpensive to generate.

Here is one technique that you can use to generate free mortgage leads.  In summary, you want to find online forums and discussion boards that talks about real estate and or mortgages.  You would then register as an user to these forums and establish yourself as a mortgage expert.

Here is how you do it:  Pull up a web browser and head to Google search engine and type in “mortgage forum” and that should give a plenty of online discussion boards related to mortgage.  Before signing up for any of the forums, study the forum topics and see what people are talking about in these forums.  Are they mostly home owners?  Are they mostly real estate professionals like you?  Now, do not disregard mortgage forums where many real estate professionals or loan officers hang out, because sometimes they can be your best mortgage lead source.  Sometimes you will find posts and requests from other loan officers for co-op opportunities.

Once you have come up with a few forums you would then go ahead and register for a forum account.  If you have a website, make sure you put that website in your signature profile if the forums allow – and most of them do.  Here is what not to do:  Do not simply sign up to a forum and start blasting your ad all over!  It may be helpful that you introduce yourself to the discussion board telling people who you are and what services you provide.  Make sure you observe the rules of each forum.  Start breaking into the forum by responding to other people’s posts and provide valuable views and advices.  Once you do that, you establish ground in the forum and you will build a reputation around you.

This technique, although free because you do not need to spend money on advertising, may take a while before you see some qualified leads coming your way.  However, it is probably one of the best inexpensive mortgage leads generation techniques.

Compared to other homeowners, Californians pay one of the highest premiums in the country for their warm, sunny climate. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median price for a single-family home in California topped out at an eye-popping £542,000 in fourth-quarter 2005. While finding the best possible mortgage loan rate is important wherever you live, prices like these underscore the importance of doing your mortgage homework if you live in California.

According to “Looking for the Best Mortgage”, an article published by the Federal Reserve, getting a good rate on your California mortgage is basically a three-step process. The Fed’s strategy, which it calls “Shop, Compare and Negotiate”, says a mortgage is essentially a product like a car. Just like the price of a new Caddy, the price and terms for a home loan are often negotiable. So, says the Fed, it pays to shop, compare and negotiate.

The first step in the process — shopping for the best home purchase loan, home equity loan or refinance loan — is easier than ever. That’s because of the dramatic increase in the number and popularity of online lenders. Nationally recognized lenders like Home 123 or Ameriquest now offer a wide variety of mortgage products in many states, including California. Besides offering mortgage products that combine convenience and flexibility, online lenders are also available 247 to give you a free mortgage quote  — something that can’t be said of traditional brick-and-mortar lenders like banks or credit unions.

Shopping around for your California mortgage is just the first step. After that, you’ll want to compare the offers you’ve received. Make a checklist that contains all the key information about rates, points, fees, the down payment, and the cost of private mortgage insurance. Set up the worksheet in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel and give each lender a column of its own. That way it’s easy to compare lenders — and the bottom line — side-by-side.

Finally, says the Federal Reserve, don’t assume a lender’s offer is the last word in your search for the best California mortgage. That’s because mortgage lenders frequently offer different terms and rates to different customers, even if those customers are equally qualified for a mortgage loan. It pays to negotiate, so now is the time to show a prospective lender that you’re a savvy consumer shopping for the best possible deal. Don’t be afraid to ask for lower fees, a lower rate or fewer points!

In conclusion, when buying a home or negotiating a home equity loan or refinance loan, don’t forget to shop around, compare offers and flex your negotiating muscles. That way you’ll get the best possible deal on your California mortgage!