On episode three of Closing Day, we address the process of choosing a lender and how to approach the financial piece of buying your first home all from a bank lender’s point of view. Kyle interviews Ronnie Stevens, a home lender at First Interstate Bank here in Missoula, Montana who has been working in this role for over 17 years. As a lender, Ronnie considers herself to be an educator, helping home buyers through this process that is often very confusing. She believes you can never be too early or too late when it comes to meeting with a lender so take advantage of the, often free, pre-qualification process
Topics addressed in this episode:
* Where to start when approaching the lending process
* The pre-qualification process
* How your credit score is determined and how to raise it
* What makes a good lender and benefits of a local lender
* HOA dues
* Different types of loans
* Property taxes and other pieces of a mortgage payment
Ronnie and Kyle address the above topics and more as they dive into the lending process for first time homebuyers.
*Resources: *
Credit Karma (https://www.creditkarma.com/) - https://www.creditkarma.com/
First Interstate Bank Home Mortgage Information (https://www.firstinterstatebank.com/personal/borrowing/mortgage/) - https://www.firstinterstatebank.com/personal/borrowing/mortgage/
Forbes Article - A look Behind the Curtain: How to Choose a Mortgage Lender (https://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2013/03/26/a-look-behind-the-curtain-how-to-choose-a-mortgage-lender/#61e48e6f2a30) - https://www.forbes.com/sites/moneybuilder/2013/03/26/a-look-behind-the-curtain-how-to-choose-a-mortgage-lender/#61e48e6f2a30
Home Buying Kit for Dummies by Eric Tyson and Ray Brown (https://www.dummies.com/store/product/Home-Buying-Kit-For-Dummies-6th-Edition.productCd-111919170X.html) - https://www.dummies.com/store/product/Home-Buying-Kit-For-Dummies-6th-Edition.productCd-111919170X.html
Homeword Financial Education (http://www.homeword.org/our-services/financial-education/) - http://www.homeword.org/our-services/financial-education/
You can contact Ronnie at veronica.stevens@fib.com or (406)523-4377
Visit our website (http://www.pintlergroup.com/) to contact us and for more information about Closing Day!
You can also find us on Instagram @ClosingDayPodcast (https://www.instagram.com/closing_day_podcast/?hl=en) and on Facebook at Closing Day Podcast (https://www.facebook.com/Closing-Day-Podcast-2197268306996798/).
Special Guest: Ronnie Stevens.