Finally, be thorough in your search. If you are truly looking to get a
full picture of the loans available to you, contacting your local
institutions (banks and credit unions) is a great step in the process
and sometimes the added benefit of supporting local business or having
a nearby branch office can make up for an interest rate shortcoming.
It is up to you to assign priority to something like that.
Interest rates are important but while you've set out to pursue the
lowest rate possible, you might find that there are other benefits you
haven't considered that are important as well. These aspects should
also make their way into your loan comparison as things like
convenience, reliability and other factors differ from lender to
lender. Decide what is important to you and what concessions you would
make to accommodate one of those other desires.
Finding the lowest interest rate possible is a noble goal and with the
avalanche of online information at the fingertips of anyone with an
Internet connection, finding that rate is easier now that in the past.
However, as you go through your search, keep in mind that a mortgage
is more than just an interest rate and remain open to other benefits
that might offset a bit of a higher rate.
