Tampa homebuyers and homeowners rely on the services of a Tampa mortgage broker to get a mortgage to finance their home.
Borrowers who get a mortgage that best suits their needs can save thousands of dollars a year over other options. So in this article, we want to give you important information about choosing a mortgage broker in Tampa, which also applies to brokers in whatever city you may live.
Benefits of a Mortgage Broker
A reputable mortgage broker works with homebuyers and homeowners alike to identify home-loan options that best fit borrowers’ financial plans.
Besides presenting appropriate mortgage options, good mortgage brokers help educate you about different mortgages, while also giving you information about how each mortgage fits into your overall goals.
Perhaps most importantly, the best mortgage brokers help you understand the things you can do to position yourself financially to get a better mortgage than you could have qualified for otherwise. Many times, a few simple things that are not disruptive to your day-to-day activities can result in qualifying for a lower mortgage rate and/or shorter term that can save thousands of dollars over the course of the loan.
At Marimark Mortgage, we focus on customer service in all these areas. We are uniquely qualified to help our clients, especially through the expertise of our owner, Mary Catchur, who has a background in accounting and real estate. Not only is Ms. Catchur licensed as a mortgage broker, she is also licensed in the state of Florida as a CPA and Realtor.
Selecting a Tampa Mortgage Broker
The general process of selecting a Tampa mortgage broker is the same as selecting a lender in any city.
If you know people in the community who have recently bought a house or refinanced their mortgage, ask them about the mortgage company they used, and about their experience. Realtors are also a good source of information about local lenders.
Remember that companies offering mortgages often use people in a sales capacity to sell their products, which can include mortgage brokers, loan originators, etc. So when you talk with a loan originator, you may be talking to a person whose primary job is to sell mortgage products.
Marimark Mortgage, unlike many other mortgage brokers and lenders, de-emphasizes the sales process and emphasizes service to our clients. Our philosophy is to educate and serve, and allow clients to choose to work with us, rather than selling than a mortgage product.
Mortgage License and Reviews
When searching for a loan originator, whether you use a bank or mortgage broker, make sure the person you are working with, and the company, are licensed by the State of Florida by searching NMLS Consumer Access.
For your convenience, here is the license information for Mary Catchur and Marimark Mortgage (check the TOS box, and enter the captcha to go to the page).
Also, check online reviews to see how well the mortgage company and loan originator have performed with past clients. Here are some of the best sites to check, and we have linked to the Marimark Mortgage Reviews for each site so you can easily check our past performance.
Zillow
Trulia
BBB
LinkedIn
Facebook
Marimark Mortgage Testimonials
Search Zillow and the Better Business Bureau
Zillow and the Better Business Bureau are excellent resources to find real estate professionals, including mortgage brokers.
Searching Zillow for Tampa Mortgage Brokers yields results for mortgage brokers. You can click on the profile for each loan originator, and read about the company along with their reviews. Please also take a moment to examine the profile and reviews for Mary Catchur and Marimark Mortgage, and notice the Marimark Mortgage 5-star rating that we are so proud to display.
Searching the Better Business Bureau for Tampa Mortgage Brokers also yields results for mortgage brokers. Click on the links and you will be taken to a page displaying an overview of the mortgage company, you can also see their BBB rating, and check to see if they have had any complaints. Please take a moment to examine information about Marimark Mortgage, and notice the Marimark Mortgage A+ Rating.
Pre-Qualify for a Mortgage and Get to Know the Mortgage Broker
After reviewing the information you’ve accumulated, you are ready to choose a Tampa mortgage broker and get started.
The first thing you want to do is call the mortgage broker and get pre-qualified, which can be accomplished in about 30 minutes over the phone or in the broker’s office. Becoming pre-qualified for a mortgage allows you to immediately begin searching for a home with a Realtor as a qualified buyer. Then, as you search for a home you can begin the longer process of being pre-approved for a mortgage.
During the pre-qualification process, you will get a feel as to whether the mortgage broker is a good fit for you. If it is, continue the process of getting pre-approved. But, know that you can change to a different broker during the process if you are not comfortable for any reason, or you do not feel that your needs are being served.
Marimark Mortgage
Marimark Mortgage is a Tampa mortgage broker serving all of Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. As you can tell from our testimonials, we focus on customer service and education to provide our clients with a mortgage that best suits their needs.
As a mortgage originator, we specialize in conventional home mortgages, FHA, VA and USDA mortgage options, refinance loans, and reverse mortgages. We’ve also worked extensively with a variety of refinancing options to help clients lower their payments on their home.
To get started with a mortgage to buy your next home, please fill out our Quick Mortgage Application, or contact us direct.
The Marimark Mortgage Newsletter will keep you informed with important events in the mortgage industry that could impact your finances.
We especially focus on ways to save money on your current and future mortgages. And, we continually share the information we share with our clients, because we believe informed consumers are the best consumers.
Real estate agents, and other professionals in the industry, will receive an ongoing wealth of information that will help them serve their clients.
