Where do I get information when I am looking for a lender? Choosing a mortgage may be the most important financial decision you will make.  You will need all the information you can get to enable you make the right decision for you.  Most of the information you will first become aware of will probably come from advertisements.  These advertisement may come in the mail from lenders, real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, or from builders.  They will attract your attention with low interest rates and monthly payments without telling you in the advertisement that those rates and payments will increase later on during the term of your loan.  Getting all the facts is extremely important. Home loans are available from several types of lenders.  There are thrift institutions, commercial banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions.  They will all be quoting you different prices.

So when you contact several lenders you will want to write down the information they give to make it easier on you to compare them to each other.  This will enable you get the best price.  You can also go through a mortgage broker to find a lender.  The mortgage broker will find the lender from the several lenders he has access to and arrange the transaction.   The broker will not be obligated to find the best deal for you unless you have a contract him to be your agent. Any advertisement for an adjustable rate mortgage will show the interest rate should also show how long the rate is in effect.  They should also include the annual percentage rate because if the annual percentage rate is much higher than the initial interest rate your payments will increase a considerable amount after the introductory period is over.

Another source for information is the lender themselves.  You will want to get all the details about each adjustable rate mortgage program in writing before you have paid a nonrefundable fee.  It is important for you to read the information given to you so that you can ask questions about anything you don't understand.  You have the option to talk with financial advisors, housing counselor, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by call them toll free or you can visit them on-line.

Your local newspaper or the Internet are good places to start looking for a lender.  You can find information about the interest rates and points for several lenders in a matter of minutes.  This information changes daily so you will want to check the ones you are interested in often.