Next Step: Interview Lenders
Once you select your real estate agent, they’ll likely give you a list of preferred partners—especially lenders—who have consistently delivered excellent experiences for past clients.
Lenders typically make it onto an agent’s recommended list in one of two ways:
Proven Performance
Your agent has worked with them many times and the process has been smooth, transparent, and successful for everyone involved.Reputation Over Time
Their name comes up repeatedly from clients, colleagues, and local professionals over months or years—consistently, positively, and from multiple circles.
I’ve even added lenders to my list before working with them personally, simply because their name came up again and again over 6–18 months from different people sharing great experiences. Once that happens, I make every effort to work with them myself to confirm what I’m hearing.
Interview Not Only to Find the Best Agent—Do It to Find the Best Lender Too
What to Ask (and Why You Should Ask Everything)
Below are just a few starter questions, but your list should be tailored to your needs, timing, and financial situation. There truly isn’t a question you “can’t” ask. If there’s something we aren’t legally allowed to answer—such as questions restricted by Fair Housing—we’ll simply let you know.
It's completely normal. But if you don’t ask, you won’t get the clarity you need to move forward confidently.
The goal is not to second-guess during the option period or scramble to find an “out.” The goal is to make an informed, grounded decision from the beginning—knowing this is the right home under the right circumstances.
If you want neutral, government-backed information on choosing a lender or understanding mortgages, here’s a reliable resource:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — https://www.consumerfinance.gov/mortgage-resources/
Take Your Time—It’s Faster Than You Think
Talking to professionals doesn’t require coffee meetups or formal office appointments (unless you want those). Most initial conversations are simple 10–15 minute phone calls.
Speak to people. Ask for referrals from your circle—not just from your agent. Compare notes. Trust your instincts, but support them with information.
A short conversation now can save you stress, prevent costly mistakes, and set the tone for the entire home-buying journey.
And if I’m one of the people you choose to call, I’m always happy to talk—no pressure and no expectations.
Interviewing the Professionals Who’ll Guide Your Real Estate Transaction
Buying a home isn’t meant to be spontaneous — and choosing the professionals who guide you shouldn't be either.
Gone are the days of clicking on a house online, having a stranger show up to unlock the door, and, if the vibe is tolerable, declaring, “I guess this is my buyer’s agent now.” And if you don’t like the person, you invent a polite escape story about already having an agent who is “out of town.” Then you repeat the process for the next house… until one of those door-openers becomes “your agent” by default.
Those days are over. Thank goodness!
With today’s requirements like the Buyer Representation Agreement and mandatory disclosures about compensation, buyers need to have real conversations before stepping into the first home. Not after. And definitely not after you’ve already found “the one” and you’re ready to put in an offer.
For years, it was primarily sellers who interviewed real estate agents. Now buyers must do it too. And honestly, they always should have.
Why Buyers Should Interview More Than One Professional
The homebuying process is rarely spontaneous. Buyers benefit from speaking with—yes, interviewing—more than one real estate agent. Even if the first person you talk to seems fantastic and you’re confident you’ll work with them, still call at least one more agent. Just one more conversation can reveal differences in communication style, experience, expectations, and strategy.
It’s perfectly appropriate (and recommended) to be transparent. Let each agent know that you’re having introductory calls with more than one professional and will decide who is the best fit to move forward with.
If you need help getting started, here’s a detailed guide:
Why Buyers Should Interview Real Estate Agents