William Raveis Real Estate
John Mahan, William Raveis Real EstatePhone: (508) 331-8339
Email: [email protected]

A basic guide to reviewing mortgage lenders

by John Mahan 05/28/2023

Factors to consider when reviewing mortgage lenders featured image

Before purchasing your home, you may find yourself searching in the market for mortgage loans. Finding a good mortgage lender can help you solidify the funding needed to secure a home and can help to simplify some aspects of the homebuying journey. 

How does a mortgage work?

So, what exactly is a mortgage? A mortgage is a loan with terms often ranging from 10 to 30 years in which a borrower is awarded financing to purchase a residential property. Monthly payments of a mortgage loan go towards the principal balance, mortgage insurance, property tax and interest rates. 

Tell me the minimum credit score required for a home loan?

On average, many mortgage lenders offering conventional loans require a credit score of at least 620 to demonstrate good credit history. Loan types such as FHA loans do allow borrowers to qualify with lower credit scores; however, this often comes with higher interest rates and a larger down payment requirement. 

If you’re in need of a larger mortgage, you may be considering applying for jumbo loans. Due to the higher amount of financing being borrowed, the average credit score needed to qualify for a jumbo loan is around 700. 

Review methodology

As you compare and review different mortgage lenders and loan types, there are a few great factors to consider to narrow down your search: 

  • Do they offer lower interest rates? 
  • Do they have good costume reviews regarding communication and integrity? 
  • What fees do they charge in connection with taking out a loan? 
  • Do they have local servicing? 

By reviewing your credit history and doing research on



About the Author
Author

John Mahan

I'm John Mahan, Sales Associate with William Raveis Real Estate, Harwich Port Office.

Throughout his childhood, John Mahan spent summers on Cape Cod at his parents’ home in Dennis Port. His intro to the Cape was, as he puts it, when his parents “carried me down the stairs at Sea Street Beach when I was a week old.” With a lifelong connection to Cape Cod, it seemed only natural for John and his wife, Mary, to move to Harwich – where they still reside – with their two young children in 1996.

Prior to moving to Cape Cod, John lived in the Worcester-Auburn area where he worked for Mass Electric for 10 years and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Utility Workers. When John and his family moved to the Cape, he worked at NSTAR for six years.

John began his career in real estate in 2002 when he joined Team Waystack Realty in Harwich Port. He has been a consistent top producing realtor in the Harwich area for the past 20 years. John’s approachable demeanor, combined with an integral understanding of the Cape Cod residential real estate market, have allowed him to build trusting, long-term relationships with his clients – both sellers and buyers.