In order to use our time wisely, it's important to know in which price range to look for homes. Many sellers require that a pre-qualification letter be submitted along with an offer. In a hot market there's no time to waste when submitting an offer. The pre-qualification process is quick and painless. Some lenders even pre-qualify you over the phone and then fax in the letter. The lender who pre-qualifies you does not necessarily have to be the lender you go with for financing the loan.
Because financial pictures vary from buyer to buyer, there are a variety of loans available. To find the mortgage that's right for you, you should interview several lenders. My profession provides me with a lot of insight into different lending practices and know which lenders aren't predatory, but reliable, good faith partners. I also want my clients to be aware of a rarely known pot of money on the closing table, called the YSP (yield spread premium). So do yourself a favor and talk to me about the lenders I work with. And, by the way, there is absolutely nothing in it for me. I make referrals based solely on my conviction of the quality of service you'll receive.