I've been involved with home loans and refinancing for several years now: As I use to work for a large mortgage firm and as a landlord of over 11 properties, and I've tried nearly all the major online loan companies like eloan, and others to compare rates (especially to refinance my income properties). And guess what, other then the largest online loan companies: the ones you see on TV, most of them are not very competitive at all!
These firms don't offer the loans, nor even broker the loan direct to a bank, like most mortgage companies do. They broker the loans through another broker, who sometimes sells the lead to yet another company.
How does that affect you?
Imagine how much of a percentage cut each one of these companies is taking off the loan - talk about middlemen! By the time the loan rate actually gets back to you, you could have cut off a few points and saved yourself thousands of dollars - or years off the life of your loan! Be sure to check for reviews of reputable companies online and their interest rates from third party sources. Thats the best way to insure you're really getting the best rate available, and it's personally saved me tens of thousands of dollars once I found about about all this.
Also, you'll want to improve your knowledge of reputable online loan companies and the little known techniques that can save you - or make you - a lot of money in the way you structure your loans, try reading free articles like the ones at:
The Home Loan Advisor
Good Luck and low rates!
About the Author
Zachary Truss has worked in the mortgage and home loan field for several years, and is now a private real estate investor focusing on multi-unit income properties. He collaborates and writes articles for:
http://kickme.to/loan-advisor/