3 Reasons to work with a Local Lender for Your Mortgage Needs

If you're in the market for a new home, you've likely learned that you should be working with a local loan officer to obtain financing. But why?

Here's the deal, I'll tell you a secret that the competition won't.  We are all have essentially the same products, the same ish pricing and the end game is the same: close the loan and get buyer's the keys.  All fun and games right? So how do you choose who to work with?

I'm a cards face up gal, always have been, so when clients come to me "shopping" lenders, I tell them all the same 3 things.

1. Work with who you like. Purchasing a home is a BIG, emotional often long process. You could be hanging out with this person for a while, so it's important that you jive with them.
2. Choose a loan officer who is AVAILABLE-key factor when purchasing a home is being able to obtain payment information lightening fast. A loan officer who is available, day, night and weekend and open for communication, numbers and pre-approval letters is massive when shopping for a home.
3. And lastly Choose local for so many reasons 

Reason #1 to work with a local loan officer when pursuing home ownership  (& most important) - REPUTATION

So you know when you go to your coffee stand, the barista knows your order and she's got your drink made for you by the time you pull up to the window? I love that .  Same thing happens in real estate. The repetitive motion a realtor/loan officer have after they've done a few deals together allows for a relationship that's unparalleled. I cannot tell you how many times clients have been in multiple offer situations with similar offers submitted, and they ultimately ended up winning the deal because of the loan officer's name on the pre-approval letter. Reputation is everything, especially in a small town, so choosing the respected, seasoned loan officer and their team is integral in having a leg up on the competition. Local loan officers know the market, they know the listing agent and the buyers agent, they know your barista. Name recognition and reputation goes a long way in this world, especially in the real estate market.

Check reviews, stalk your loan officer on social media- learn who they are in the community and I promise you will find success. 

Reason #2 to work with a local loan officer - THEY KNOW YOUR MARKET

Sometimes it's hard to imagine life outside the box we live in, but the truth is, the real estate market varies not only from state to state, but from county to county and town to town.  A local lender will be fully aware of the neighborhood you are purchasing in, have a better understanding of turn times for appraisers in the area, and have an overall better feel of the market you are hoping to buy in. Pre-approving is not the only job of the loan officer, structuring to the market and the clients' needs also plays a big role in making sure the highest and best offer is submitted and ultimately accepted.

Your loan officer's knowledge of the market is unparalleled because they live in the community.  They go to the grocery store, know the best parks and what time traffic gets bad. Someone outside of the area likely will not understand how to work with a DOD employee (common to our area) or understand that VA financing does not require a termite inspection in the state of Washington.  Getting an offer accepted is one thing, but getting to the finish line is the most important thing. A local lender is best suited for the job.

Reason #3 you're local loan officer - AVAILABILITY, TRUST & CONFIDENCE

With Uber Eats, instacart, and Amazon Prime at our fingertips, the world as we know it has succumbed to the instant gratification mindset. So why should obtaining a mortgage be any different? While it is true you can fill out an application online and be "pre-qualified" in seconds with some random person half way around the world, there is one thing that is highly lacking in the online real estate model -Trust. 

Purchasing a home will likely be the biggest monetary transaction consumers make in their lifetime. When hundreds of thousands of dollars are at risk and to be frank, homelessness, trust is the one factor that can instill confidence in homebuyers. The whole goal of pre-approval is to get the offer accepted and how do we get offers accepted? By submitting the highest, best and most confident offer possible.  Knowing the numbers, the game plan and being able to pick up the phone, pop by the office and communicate with a real, live, individual allows for buyers to be fully aware and prepared for the process.  Homeownership only happens once the process is complete and keys are in hand.

If you're in the market for a new home, you've likely learned that you should be working with a local loan officer to obtain financing. But why?

Here's the deal, I'll tell you a secret that the competition won't.  We are all have essentially the same products, the same ish pricing and the end game is the same: close the loan and get buyer's the keys.  All fun and games right? So how do you choose who to work with?

I'm a cards face up gal, always have been, so when clients come to me "shopping" lenders, I tell them all the same 3 things.

1. Work with who you like. Purchasing a home is a BIG, emotional often long process. You could be hanging out with this person for a while, so it's important that you jive with them.
2. Choose a loan officer who is AVAILABLE-key factor when purchasing a home is being able to obtain payment information lightening fast. A loan officer who is available, day, night and weekend and open for communication, numbers and pre-approval letters is massive when shopping for a home.
3. And lastly Choose local for so many reasons 

Reason #1 to work with a local loan officer when pursuing home ownership  (& most important) - REPUTATION

So you know when you go to your coffee stand, the barista knows your order and she's got your drink made for you by the time you pull up to the window? I love that .  Same thing happens in real estate. The repetitive motion a realtor/loan officer have after they've done a few deals together allows for a relationship that's unparalleled. I cannot tell you how many times clients have been in multiple offer situations with similar offers submitted, and they ultimately ended up winning the deal because of the loan officer's name on the pre-approval letter. Reputation is everything, especially in a small town, so choosing the respected, seasoned loan officer and their team is integral in having a leg up on the competition. Local loan officers know the market, they know the listing agent and the buyers agent, they know your barista. Name recognition and reputation goes a long way in this world, especially in the real estate market.

Check reviews, stalk your loan officer on social media- learn who they are in the community and I promise you will find success. 

Reason #2 to work with a local loan officer - THEY KNOW YOUR MARKET

Sometimes it's hard to imagine life outside the box we live in, but the truth is, the real estate market varies not only from state to state, but from county to county and town to town.  A local lender will be fully aware of the neighborhood you are purchasing in, have a better understanding of turn times for appraisers in the area, and have an overall better feel of the market you are hoping to buy in. Pre-approving is not the only job of the loan officer, structuring to the market and the clients' needs also plays a big role in making sure the highest and best offer is submitted and ultimately accepted.

Your loan officer's knowledge of the market is unparalleled because they live in the community.  They go to the grocery store, know the best parks and what time traffic gets bad. Someone outside of the area likely will not understand how to work with a DOD employee (common to our area) or understand that VA financing does not require a termite inspection in the state of Washington.  Getting an offer accepted is one thing, but getting to the finish line is the most important thing. A local lender is best suited for the job.

Reason #3 you're local loan officer - AVAILABILITY, TRUST & CONFIDENCE

With Uber Eats, instacart, and Amazon Prime at our fingertips, the world as we know it has succumbed to the instant gratification mindset. So why should obtaining a mortgage be any different? While it is true you can fill out an application online and be "pre-qualified" in seconds with some random person half way around the world, there is one thing that is highly lacking in the online real estate model -Trust. 

Purchasing a home will likely be the biggest monetary transaction consumers make in their lifetime. When hundreds of thousands of dollars are at risk and to be frank, homelessness, trust is the one factor that can instill confidence in homebuyers. The whole goal of pre-approval is to get the offer accepted and how do we get offers accepted? By submitting the highest, best and most confident offer possible.  Knowing the numbers, the game plan and being able to pick up the phone, pop by the office and communicate with a real, live, individual allows for buyers to be fully aware and prepared for the process. 

Choose local, Choose us

I am writing this blog from my favorite locally owned restaurant, Silvercity.  My office is about 5 minutes away and we frequent it often enough that the waitresses know our names, our orders, and our day to day. I love it. I was raised in Kitsap County, graduated from South Kitsap High School and came back to raise my kids after college. My kids go to school and play on the playground with many of my clients' children. I see clients in the grocery store, know some pretty rad business owners, and know the back roads through Gorst to avoid Shipyard traffic.

We know the housing market here on the Peninsula because we've been in it for a combined 25 years and have lived in Kitsap County for all of our lives. We know the listing agents, the buyers agents, the title reps, the appraisers and we're in real relationships with these people. This means our names on a pre-approval letter hold weight. It matters.

Choose local, choose homeownership. 

XO 

Ashlee Cameron 

Local Loan Officer 

Branch Manager NMLS 1377661

The Lake Cameron Team