When you're looking for a home mortgage loan in Alaska, you might work with an officer at a bank or other lending institution, or you might choose to work with a Alaska mortgage broker. The end result is the same - a new house, but the two types of jobs differ.
Bank Loan Officers: The loan officers at a bank, credit union or other lending institution are employees who work to sell and process mortgage and other loans originated by their employer. They often have a wide variety of loan types to draw from, but all originate from that specific lender.
The loan officer takes your mortgage application and works to find a loan product that suits your needs. If your personal credit is approved, the officer moves forward to process the home purchase transaction.
Alaska Mortgage Brokers: Alaska Mortgage brokers are professionals who are paid a fee to bring together lenders and borrowers. They usually work with dozens or even hundreds of lenders, not as employees, but as freelance Alaska mortgage agents.
Think of Alaska mortgage brokers as scouts. They find and evaluate homebuyers, analyzing each person's credit situation to determine which Alaska lender is the best fit for that person's needs. The Alaska mortgage broker submits the homebuyer's application to one or more Alaska lenders in order to sell it, and works with the chosen lender until the loan closes. A good Alaska mortgage broker can find a Alaska mortgage lender for just about any type of credit.
Alaska mortgage broker working to secure your loan is earning a fee for that transaction - and the better deal they achieve for a lender, the more they are paid. Don't be too anxious to disclose the interest rate you would be willing to accept, let them tell you what terms they can secure. Shop around to make sure the terms are reasonable.
Many of the Alaska mortgage options advertised online are by Alaska mortgage brokers. What difference does it make? Maybe none, but you should be aware of the differences between the two positions. A local or online Alaska mortgage broker may find you a lender in another part of the country. An online bank might not have a local office where employees can help you one-on-one.
Alaska Mortgage brokers can often find a lender who will make loans that a bank refuses. Problem credit is one example. Loans for unique or commercial properties might be easier to secure through a Alaska mortgage broker.
