Generally speaking, a 'direct lender' is a lender who lends his own funds. Some mortgage lenders use this term to differentiate themselves from mortgage brokers, who arrange loans between you and a lender. A direct lender should have control over the loan process from start to finish, but simply being a direct lender doesn't guarantee that you'll get great pricing or great service.
Simply put, a "conforming" mortgage "conforms" to a set of standards so that the loan can be eligible to be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
Read MoreNo, we're not in a position to do that, but you should be careful when reviewing offers that haven't come from your mortgage servicer.
Read MoreMortgage rates fluctuate from day to day, depending on a number of factors related to the economy and to choices made by investors. While some mortgage money comes from deposits held by banks and credit unions, most of the funds for borrowers come from investors in capital markets.
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