06/19/2026
Jen Holbert with Compass Real Estate highlights why she recommends trusted and vetted preferred lenders to her clients
If you are new to buying a home, you will probably find a realtor first, because the internet prompts you to start there when you want to schedule a home tour.
Before touring a home, a good realtor will first ask this question:
-Have you talked to a mortgage lender, and are you pre-approved?
A SEASONED realtor will ask this as a follow-up question:
-If you are pre-approved, what mortgage company and loan officer are you working with?
And if you aren’t working with someone, they will offer you a preferred lender list as a guide to get started. And they will have a curated script as to “why” they choose to work with their lending partners.
When you have been in the industry for several years, you quickly learn that not all mortgage companies and banks are the same, and not all pre-approval letters carry the same value. And when it’s your buyer client’s earnest money and/or your seller’s money on the line, it means a lot to direct your clients to reliable lending partners.
LOTS can go wrong in a transaction that people don’t talk about. Just because you “talked” to a lender, doesn’t make your loan a slam dunk, or eliminate bumps in the road. If your loan officer/mortgage company doesn’t ask you a lot of questions upfront about your income/assets/debt/credit; or they don’t have a comprehensive discussion with you after thoroughly reviewing the documents you provided; and you haven’t received a clear loan strategy around your budget at the end of the analysis, I would advise you to say “thank you, next”
Rate is important, but I promise you choosing the right mortgage lending team is hands down the MOST important decision when deciding on financing a home.
DM me “Getting Started” if you are interested in seeing if you’re ready to buy a home.
