Illinois Home Mortgage Loans - 3 Ways To Find The Best Lender

By Jane A. Hale

The best mortgage lenders in Illinois continue to remain busy, even as the housing market cools. With a surplus of homes on the market and low loan rates, buyers now have the advantage when purchasing a home. In 2006, the average price for a home in Illinois fell to $210,900, a drop of 1.9%. And mortgage rates fell to 6.44%, nowhere near the region�s record home loan rates of 16% during the 1980�s. Even with lower home prices and cheaper mortgage rates, homebuyers should still take the time to find a good home loan lender. With the right type of financing, thousands of dollars can be saved on the purchase of a home. The following three tips will help you sort through all your lending options to find the best lender for you.

1. Determine Your Financing Needs

Before your begin looking for a lender, decide the type of financing you need and want. With Illinois�s home prices temporarily falling, don�t pick an interest-only loan unless you plan to keep the property for several years. Traditional loan structures, such as fixed and adjustable rate loans, will protect you in part from possible deflation of your home�s value. Remember though that since 2001, Illinois homeowners have seen between 18% and 50% appreciation in their property values. So while 2006 has seen a slight drop in home values, most real estate experts predict rising property prices in the future.

2. Research With An Illinois Address

Mortgage rates for both national and local lending companies are determined on local economic factors, as well as the Federal banking rate. So make sure that you list your new Illinois address when researching loan rates to get a realistic loan estimate.

3. Apply Online For Better Mortgage Rates

To get a lower rate or reduction in loan fees, apply online. Nearly all lending companies accept applications online since it reduces their overhead. To encourage customers to use this feature, they often offer incentives, such as a one point discount or waiver of some loan fees when using their website.

Visit Illinois Lending Center for a list of Recommended Illinois Home Mortgage Lenders, whether you are looking for home purchase, refinance or a home equity loan.