A mortgage lender is a financial institution — such as a bank, credit union, or online mortgage company — that offers and underwrites loans for home purchases (or refinancing). Because each lender has specific borrowing guidelines and offers different interest rates, incentives, and loan terms, it’s crucial to thoroughly research your options before making a decision. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to comparison-shop and find the right mortgage lender for you. 1. Check your credit score : before hunting down the best mortgage lender , you must know where you stand in terms of your credit health. Here’s why: your credit profile can significantly impact the kind of loan and interest rate lenders are willing to offer you. To find the best mortgage lenders, you need to go through a few steps. Start by analyzing your situation. Then consider exactly what you’re looking for. You probably are looking to by a property in a particular area. Maybe you are dreaming about the country life. In that case, you should think about rural mortgages. You’re also looking for a property of a certain size with certain amenities. Determine what you want to start out. Then determine how much