While deciding on the right lender, one should address the following questions: Does it really matter where you get your first mortgage? What is the difference between different types of lenders, and how does that impact on the mortgage you can get?

The lender you select can make all the difference in whether you get a mortgage, or whether you get the best mortgage that is suitable for you and whether the process is smooth or stressful.

Basically, you need to choose a lender who has significant experience helping first-time buyers. A lender who offers a wide range of loan types and packages is also ideal because it means that he will be able to offer you a loan that is suited to your needs. It is also important that the lender offer competitive rates.

So, when considering a home loan center to have a home loan deal with, the first step you should take is to educate yourself about the different types of lenders.

By selecting the right lender, you can save yourself a lot of time and you can also make the process of applying for a mortgage smooth and stress free. The main thing you need to know is which lender offers which types of loans better than another, as this will assist you pick the best lender for your financial circumstances.

There are two major types of lenders, namely those that accept deposits and those that do not, meaning, institutional lenders and non-institutional lenders.

Institutional lenders are inter- and intra-state banks, certain securities firms, savings and loans and credit unions. Non-institutional lenders include mortgage bankers, pension funds, and private lenders. There are some mortgage brokers who fund loans through a special arrangement with a bank.

Characteristically, the flow of paperwork within the home loan center of big institutions would be from a loan processor, who ensures that the proper documents are in the borrower's file and in order, to the first-line or first-signature underwriter, who might be able to approve your loan depending upon the bank. The rule-of-thumb about approvals of strong loan packages which is used in most large lending institutions is that it takes one to approve, but at least two to decline a home loan application.

It is recommended that you get some information in regards to non-institutional lenders during the process of selecting the best lender. Many union members, such as carpenters and longshoremen, have money in a pension fund that makes mortgage loans. Some of these, such as the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), lend to members of the retirement group who are retired or currently working and contributing to their fund. So this is one option of lenders for home buyers to consider, depending on their situation.

While selecting a home loan center you should understand that normally, if a borrower goes to a non-institutional lender, unlike a loan center, it is a mortgage banker. Mortgage bankers are the middlemen, who, after they sign off on loans, fund the loan with money borrowed from lines of credit from banks and/or other sources. When the loan is closed, they then sell the loans to Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Wall Street firms, or other institutions and investors.

Given the fact that they operate with lower overhead, mortgage bankers may offer a better rate than a bank. Although their individual approach will differ, all home loan lenders try to originate mortgages that will create a positive cash flow with the minimal amount of trouble and cost.

Regardless of what type of lender or home loan center you will select to deal with, ensure that the lender tells you what the offer is, that they explain the rates; the prepayment terms and the costs involved.

During the process of selecting the best loan for your situation, you will also need to know about the different grades of loans and their characteristics.

The type of lenders does impact on the type of a mortgage you can get, and you need to do your research and get all the necessary information about the various types of lenders and what they can offer; and then choose the one that best suit your situation.