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You can set up a mortgage loan through one of two people: a mortgage broker or a loan officer, both described below. Collectively, these people are known as loan originators.
You might prefer to work with a mortgage broker, an independent third party who searches the different mortgage products lenders offer regionally or nationwide to find the best one for you. Or you might work with a loan officer, an employee at a specific financial institution who represents that institution only. If you want to select from a wide variety of lenders and loans, go with a mortgage broker. If you prefer to work with a local institution, you'll probably be working with a loan officer.
Before you decide to work with a particular loan originator, have at least one conversation with them. You need to find someone you can trust and feel comfortable with, someone you can ask questions and rely on to explain things clearly.
