Who is a Mortgage Broker?
A mortgage broker is a licensed individual or company who obtains home
mortgage loans for borrowers by selecting the best available program at the best
available rate. This includes finding customized bad credit mortgage loan
programs for persons with less-than-perfect credit situation. There are specific
educational, insurance, net worth and experience requirements to become a
mortgage broker in order to carry out mortgage lending.
Why use a mortgage broker?
In competitive mortgage markets many lenders use an array of rate offers and
other incentives to attract customers. To many consumers, due to their
infrequent purchases of mortgage products, the mortgage market may appear
confusing and somewhat daunting. A mortgage broker can guide them through the
process of selecting a suitable mortgage and offer mortgage and property related
financial advice.
For borrowers with poor credit records, or other unusual circumstances,
finding a lender may be difficult. A mortgage broker, having specialized
knowledge and multiple lending sources, will normally be a valuable resource in obtaining financing.
What is the task of a Mortgage Broker?
The nature and scope of a mortgage broker's activities varies with
jurisdiction. For example : Anyone offering mortgage brokerage is offering a
regulated financial activity; the broker is responsible for ensuring the advice
is appropriate for the borrowers circumstances and is held financially liable if
the advice is later shown to be defective. In other jurisdictions the
transaction undertaken by the broker may be limited to pointing the borrower in
the direction of an appropriate lender and no advice given.
Therefore the work undertaken by the broker will depend on the depth of their
service and liabilities. Typically the following tasks are undertaken:
- Marketing to attract clients
- Assessment of the borrowers circumstances. This may include assessment of
credit history (normally obtained via a credit report) and affordability
(verified by income documentation).
- Assessing the market to find a mortgage product that fits the clients needs.
- Applying for a lenders agreement in principle (pre-approval)
- Gathering all needed documents
- Completing a lender application form.
- Explaining the legal disclosures.
- Submitting all material to the lender.