Buying a home is usually the largest purchase any of us will make in a life time. When choosing a home, you want to find one that suits your families needs best. Take the same steps when choosing a mortgage company! When you are looking for a mortgage company, do your homework! Interview the loan officer and ask him what he or she has to offer you in terms of savings, interest rates and mortgage loan products. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate of Settlement charges. Ask the lender if there is a lock fee and for how long? A good lender should discuss with you the different programs that they offer. Most lenders offer VA, FHA and Conventional mortgage financing. You should discuss with the lender your future plans, such as how long you plan to live in the home. This will help them determine if a fixed rate or an adjustable rate mortgage works best for you. With interest rates still at record low, most homebuyers are taking a fixed rate mortgage if they plan on living in the home more than 3 years. Adjustable rate mortgages have many different terms that the rate is fixed, 1, 3, 5 and 7 years are the normal terms that are offered. Fixed rates assure you that the rate is fixed for the entire term of the loan. Loan terms offered are usually 15 or 30 years, however 10, 20 and 25 years are also available. Choosing the right mortgage company will help you make an intelligent decision and make the transaction go a lot smoother. Choosing the wrong mortgage company can result in higher rates, terms that you didn t understand and overall stressful experience. If you would like to know more, please visit my website. My website contains loan payment tools and calculators to help you understand more about what you can afford. You can also apply online. My contact information is on my website. Please feel free to visit us at www.bretlinfloridamortgage.com Glenn Keller is a veteran in the mortgage industry and is associated with Bretlin Home Mortgage of Florida in Jacksonville. Visit our website at http://www.bretlinfloridamortgage.com