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Choosing a Portland mortgage loan officer is one of the most important decisions you will make at the onset of the home buying process, especially when purchasing a home in Portland, Oregon. So, to ensure you make the right choice the first time, let’s go over what qualities are a must in your Portland LO.
The right mortgage loan officer can make a world of difference when it comes to securing and closing on your dream home. The main reason you should look for proper loan originating assistance, especially in Portland.
Portland has seen a serious influx of home buyers from cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Moreover, real estate experts agree that the single biggest driver for Portland real estate historically has been homebuyers making a lifestyle move.
Lately, people have been looking for exactly what Portland offers–what larger cities have but in a beautiful setting with natural surroundings. So, in order to find a home in a top Portland suburb and successfully navigate such a market with increased home prices, home sales, and lower than low mortgage rates, a local loan officer that has your best interest at heart is exactly what you need.
That said, the right loan officer’s primary purpose is to assist you throughout the home buying process. This means your loan officer will be working closely with you, examining a lot of your personal information. Therefore, you want to find someone you feel is trustworthy, knowledgeable about loan options for both experienced borrowers and first time home buyers, understands your local market, and is responsive to you and your needs.
A few other qualities to look for in a local loan officer to ensure you get the home and mortgage of your dreams include an unmatched reputation, confirmed credentials, and an organized process. The right Portland loan officer should also welcome and encourage questions, be cooperative and willing to listen, plus understand your needs and financial situation.
Furthermore, a good loan officer will be working for a knowledgeable lender who is proficient in all types of loans, frequently handles mortgage loans in Portland, and has everything you are searching for in a lender. In general, most mortgage companies or lenders offer diverse loan products or rather a wide array of mortgage loan choices.
As a result, your Portland loan officer should understand the complexities of each loan option and how they can be used in your specific situation. Thus, you need a loan officer that has access to a diverse range of mortgage loan options in the marketplace that they can easily explain and put to use for you.
That said, a well-known lender or mortgage company could easily assign a loan officer to you, but this still involves finding the right lender/company, which is often a completely separate process. That said, the right loan officer can lead you to a lender who meets your exact needs and financial situation—so it is important to keep that in mind.
A good loan officer should be experienced and have access to reliable support staff. Loan officers typically rely mainly on their loan processor and assistants to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Plus, as a borrower, you will likely speak to your loan processor frequently once you submit your loan documents and possibly interact with their support staff, so it is important you feel confident in their ability and professional style.
Clearly, this is more of a gut response than anything, but you will want to work with a Portland loan officer that you feel comfortable with and not intimidated by. As briefly mentioned, the right loan officer has patience and is willing to spend the extra time to thoroughly discuss all of your options.
Moreover, a loan officer that is willing to go over all the particulars and one who is interested in fostering a business relationship instead of just closing another loan is what it is all about. Some borrowers appreciate making a decision based upon numbers, while others make their decision based upon the relationship and trust they have with their loan officer. Thus, if you have identified two qualified Portland loan officers, choose the one that is a better fit for your personality type—trust your gut instinct.
If your potential loan officer is experienced, responsive, a good fit, with a talented team, and has ample loan knowledge, then they should have a decent number of referrals. In fact, good loan officers will have more referrals than you can handle. Additionally, you should consider performing a Google search on your loan officer.
Find out what their Yelp or Google reviews say. But be sure to take them with a grain of salt, as most online reviews forums can center on the negative. If you do notice a trend, however, make sure to address those concerns with your loan officer.
It is also beneficial to inquire about your prospective loan officer’s experience in the mortgage industry. In other words, ask them how long they have been in the business. Of course, your future Portland loan officer does not need to have multiple decades’ worth of experience; however, your loan officer should have several years of loan origination under his or her belt.
Ultimately, you need an experienced local loan officer that can help you identify the Portland mortgage program for your specific needs. You also want an LO who promptly returns communication has a solid support staff, makes you feel comfortable, and has favorable reviews. Thus, if you come across someone that meets all these requirements, then you have likely found the right loan officer to assist you throughout the entirety of the home buying process.
When you apply for a mortgage, you won’t necessarily be allowed to take out any loan amount. Borrowers need to understand loan limits, which are dollar limits placed on a mortgage. Different types of loans have different limits.
Loan limits are assigned to each county in every state across the country and usually increase at the start of every year to reflect the growth in home prices.
Check out our mortgage loan limit tool for conventional, FHA, and VA loans.
At Sammamish Mortgage, we strive for a personalized experience for each mortgage applicant. That’s why we employ a full staff of experienced, salaried mortgage loan officers, transaction coordinators, and processors.
Mortgage loan approvals is all we do, so every member of our team is highly experienced. If your personal loan officer is out for the day, or it’s the weekend and you need to talk to someone about your loan, someone will be available to you.
Sammamish Mortgage has been in business since 1992, and has assisted many home buyers in the Pacific Northwest. If you are looking for mortgage financing in the PNW, we can help. Sammamish Mortgage offers mortgage programs in Colorado, Idaho, California, Oregon and Washington.
Contact us if you have any mortgage-related questions or concerns. If you are ready to move forward, you can view rates, obtain a customized instant rate quote, or apply instantly directly from our website.
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.