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What to ask your next mortgage broker?
To survive the shakeout in their industry, mortgage brokers will have to do business more transparently. A number of bills before Congress would require them to disclose fees and take on a fiduciary responsibility - that is, represent their client's best interest.
To survive the shakeout in their industry, mortgage brokers will have to do business more transparently. A number of bills before Congress would require them to disclose fees and take on a fiduciary responsibility - that is, represent their client's best interest.
A few large banks are cutting mortgage bankers out of the process. Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500) has recently said it will make all loans directly to customers. Several websites have arisen to facilitate such direct sales. MortgageMarvel.com, which launched in November, can get you quotes from 280 banks and credit unions around the country and, unlike Bankrate.com, Lendingtree.com and other familiar online names, does not steer you to mortgage brokers.
If you still want help from one, you don't have to wait for the regulators, however. You can insist on reformed behavior yourself. Demand that your lending middleman set his fee in advance - not just what you will pay but also what he will get from the bank, which affects your rate. His or her total fees should not exceed 2% of the loan.
A growing group, referred to as up-front brokers, make a practice of baring all for you. You can find a list of them at upfrontmortgagebrokers.org.