There's a lot of money to be made by the companies that provide the switch from mortgage broker to mortgage banker or find mortgages for home buyers, not only on the interest, but also on closing costs and other fees. You also can apply with a mortgage broker, credit union, professional or trade associations that you belong to, the financial services firm that manages your mutual fund investment account, state and regional housing agencies, a private home financing company or even the seller.

Basically, you can approach a mortgage banker or lender directly, or you can go to a mortgage broker. With so many possibilities, where do you start? Get mortgage licenses - Mortgage broker licensing Requirements and learn what it takes to become a mortgage broker in all 50 states including mortgage license requirements and websites to visit for more information. Mortgage Broker License and what is required to get mortgage licenses. Mortgage License Mall mortgage license, mortgage lender banker, home equity loans, home improvement loans, purchase money mortgages, and mortgage refinance.

Mortgage Banker to broker
As Steve O'Connor of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America puts it: Why not go directly to the source? The mortgage banker is the lender; the one making the loan directly.

"And it can be cheaper, and perhaps faster, if you go to the source of the goods," he said. Even if you use a broker as the middleman, it's the lender who makes the ultimate credit decision, said O'Connor, the association's senior director of residential finance.

You can look at the broker to banker section of your local newspaper to get an overview of lenders in your area and their rates. A mortgage banker will present you with only that lender's program of mortgages, so you need to speak with several lenders to do comparative shopping.