What’s the Difference Between a Mortgage Broker and a Loan Officer?

According to America’s largest real estate trade association, the National Association of Realtors, and mortgage brokering and real estate professionals from the Metropolitan Mortgage Corporation: mortgage lenders in Kansas City, buying your home is more complicated when you’ve no idea what’s best for you between a mortgage broker and a loan officer.  While both are essential financial fanatics, you’ll encounter when shopping for a mortgage, and they play contrasting roles worth noting.

The Difference Between a Mortgage Broker and a Loan Officer

Regardless of where or when you’re applying for a mortgage loan, you’ll probably work with either a mortgage broker or a loan officer. While the two are vital in all mortgage dealings, recognizing the differences between them is advantageous.

Title Differences 

A mortgage broker is someone representing multiple mortgage lenders. It’s an individual with a wide range of mortgage products and knowledge about mortgage interests and more. On the other hand, a loan officer is an individual who works directly with lenders such as banks and is often considered for the generation of interests for their employers.

Differences in Their Roles

While both work for mortgage lenders, a mortgage broker can be an individual or a group working independently as an agent for either the loan applicant or lender. Mostly, a mortgage broker will serve as your facilitator between you and your lender. Some of the roles a broker plays include reviewing your financial status, guiding you on the best ways to find affordable mortgage rates, seeking rates deduction, especially when you’re under adjustable–rate interests, and submitting your application to multiple lenders. 

Additionally, your mortgage broker will also walk you through the entire application and closing process.  Also, while working with a mortgage broker, there are fees you’ll pay. The fees are typically 1% of the loan amount they’ll be helping you secure. Also, unless the lender is quick in processing the loan, your mortgage broker has no power to rush things, so it can take longer than you anticipated.

Contrary, a loan officer is usually a qualified mortgage individual working specifically for lenders. They are, without exception, mortgage specialists with extensive knowledge and familiarity with most mortgage products, especially since they mostly specialize with a few lenders or sometimes a single bank thus has in-depth knowledge. Loan officers specifically deal with mortgage transactions from start to end and are highly accomplished in establishing customer relationships with their lenders. Some of the roles they deal with exclusively include helping customers with underwriting issues with their mortgages.

While a loan officer may offer you different loans with contrasting options, most of those products always come from the same lender unless working with multiple lenders at once. Likewise, a loan officer is also referred to as an account executive or mortgage loan representative. 

Differences Between the Benefits of a Mortgage Broker and Loan Officer

Since they are all mortgage experts worth in every mortgage processing, their benefits differ based on your mortgage loan requirements, like the rates you’re fascinated about and your lender’s terms.

Benefits of a Mortgage Broker

Based on your broker’s experience, some lenders might be working exclusively with them as their gatekeepers for prospective home buyers; thus, your odds of getting discounted offers increase.  Besides enjoying discounts, an experienced broker will also present you with multiple lenders contacts you can contact directly. By doing that, you’ll ultimately have a chance to compare different lender’s terms and settle for the best that meets your needs.  Additionally, a broker will also guide you, especially since some lenders may have hidden charges you’ll hardly notice until you’ve signed a contract with them which might also be irreversible.

Benefits of a Loan Officer

The main benefit you’ll enjoy from a mortgage loan officer is their extreme knowledge to help you choose the most best possible mortgage products. A loan officer will compare your products you might not know, offer you guidelines and help with underwriting without charges.  Also, if you’re a first-time home buyer and looking for a quick option, loan officers are the best shot you’ve got. They work directly with lenders, thus saves time than brokers who’ll have to reach out to lenders and negotiate terms before starting the process.

Who Should You Work With?

While your mortgage demands determine who is worth your needs, a loan officer doesn’t operate as a middle person and still doesn’t need a license to work for you.  Contrary, a broker must have an active license and find lenders before completing your process. However, based on your needs, and will perfectly help you through your mortgage processing.

Conclusion

Depending on the mortgage rates, completion time, and if you’re a seasoned or beginner home-buyer, a mortgage broker or a loan officer will always help you sort your needs perfectly.

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