CHOICES IN LENDING Why should you use a mortgage banker/mortgage broker for your financing needs? The mortgage lending industry has been through some dramatic changes in the past several years. The changes primarily benefit the consumer. There are far more products to choose from and more creative ways to finance a transaction than ever before. The sources of mortgage funds have expanded from your local branch bank to hundreds of mortgage bankers and institutional lenders nationwide, including overseas investors making funds available to the mortgage consumer. WHAT IS A MORTGAGE BANKER A mortgage banker is a company that makes real estate loans to borrowers directly using company funds but has none of the other functions of a retail banking organization such as checking accounts or car loans. As a mortgage banker we make loan to consumers directly. Your loan package is assembled at our company, we make the loan decision, issue loan documents and disburse funds - all in our local office. This means your loan can be closed in just a few days, if necessary, and you always have direct contact with those working and approving your loan. WHY ALSO A MORTGAGE BROKER A mortgage broker has the ability to place loans with any number of lending institutions. This flexibility improves your chance of getting the loan you want at the lowest available cost because a mortgage broker works with lenders on a wholesale basis rather than a retail basis. Due to volume the wholesale pricing we receive is lower than what would be available to an individual consumer. In addition, as some wholesale lenders become busy or slow and have to meet capital requirements their pricing will fluctuate. As a mortgage broker we always know who is offering the best rates. BENEFITS TO OUR CLIENTS This mortgage banker/broker combination gives each of the Thompson Groups clients the greatest choice and flexibility. Through our client interviewing and strategy discussions we narrow the products down and then focus on achieving the best possible pricing amongst all the lenders/investors available to us. Due to our size we know that we will always have access to the newest products and the best pricing as it becomes available in the marketplace. Our expertise combined with Metrocities Mortgage strength really does create an unbeatable combination for our clients.