I Love Nashville Realtors I Work With

I have been a loan officer for almost eight years. I was told in the beginning that I would end up hating realtors because I would have to bend over backwards to please them and to keep their business. (This wasn’t exactly the wording…) However, this has not been the case at all.

In fact, I decided in the beginning that I would either find realtors that wanted to work with me or I would find another industry to work in. With that in mind, I now work with a handful of realtors in Nashville Tennessee that I believe are a cut above the rest. They concentrate on what is best for their clients and work with me to ensure their clients get the best value in their loans as well as their property.

People always ask me this question; why do I need to work with a realtor? Here is what I have experienced, as a lender, as to what a realtor can do for you.

Contract Negotiations: An experienced realtor can save you money and time on negotiations with the seller and/or the seller’s realtor. There are many little do and don’ts and they vary from state to state. If you don’t know all the restrictions, codes, and variances in your state you can potentially loose money negotiating your own loan, or worse; once it’s bought.

House Condition: Though a realtor is not a home inspector, a good realtor knows the houses that come on the market very well. They preview the houses, ask questions about the houses and in some cases, have shown or sold the same house before. If you know the history of a particular house or neighborhood, you are way ahead in the game. It’s easy to buy a lemon without a realtor.

Good Neighborhoods: Realtors know their neighborhoods! In fact, most of them live in or near the neighborhoods they serve. They know the schools, where to shop, hospitals and other needed services. If you look at the realtor's certifications, you will notice a series of letters behind their names. Ask what they represent. Many realtors work hard to get special certifications to work with seniors and first time buyers. Some specialize in foreclosures and renovations and working with investors. They know their stuff and can do a lot of homework for you that will save you time and money.

The Right Loan: A realtor is not a loan officer and they cannot advise you about a loan, unless they have their mortgage license as well. However, they have seen more loans than most loan officers; they know how to read them and understand them. Show them your Good Faith Estimate. You may be paying fees and points that are unusually high and they can help catch those things and save you money.

A Good Loan Officer: Realtors like to work with loan officers they trust to treat their clients well. The loan officer knows that if they don’t do a good job, you, the client, will tell the realtor. If the realtor is not pleased with the loan officer, they won’t send anymore of their clients. The loan officer will treat you well and get you the best deal possible.

Maybe you see a thread that runs through these reasons; they all can save you time and or money and sometimes, a lot of time and money. But the reason I love the realtors I work with is this; they are great individuals who care about others. They volunteer their time because they care. They are good people, and I am not only lucky to have the opportunity to work with them; I am a better person for knowing them.