Clark’s blood boils every time he hears about people getting ripped off on mortgages and closing costs. It happens a lot because there are a very small group of honest workers in a large pond of scum. A wave of reform is emerging in the business though. Companies are playing fair and square with their customers and are even helping coach people through the process. You’ll know these companies because they guarantee the closing cost amount in writing. That is your first step when trying to find one of these companies. ABN-AMRO, eTrade, eloan, DiTech, and Priceline are just a few of the organizations that are offering customers a fair deal. Secondly, you must compare interest rate, points and closing costs from lender to lender. It’s not just about the interest rate. Clark prefers that you not pay a point, but that is up to you. You must also decide what kind of loan you want – fixed, variable or other. The best loan in Clark’s opinion is a fixed rate for 15 or 30 years. But if you’re not staying in the home that long take out an ARM for the amount of time you think you’ll be there – 3, 5 or 7 years. Figure out what you want and then no one can play games with you. For help, check out mtgprofessor.com