Searching for the best mortgage broker near me mostly returns ads and single-rate-sheet lenders, and proximity says little about who will actually shop your loan. Duane Buziak shares seven vetting strategies, starting with NMLS license verification, that homebuyers and refinancers in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia can use before giving out a Social Security number or allowing a hard credit pull.

Adding a co-borrower with bad credit can help your mortgage application or sink it, depending on your numbers. This step-by-step guide shows how to test whether you need a co-borrower, understand co-borrower versus non-occupant co-signer roles, and structure the loan to avoid a surprise denial or an inflated rate.