After being in the mortgage business for over 14 years, this is one question that bothers me the most. Sure, consumers look at us as being professionals and expect us to be upfront and honest. Have you seen people get taken advantage of from a realtor's or loan offier's point of view just because your competitor uses the words, "I promise" and or "don't worry"??? Do more 1st time homebuyer's get taken advantage of because they are new at this?

I remember one particular client from 5 years ago that stayed with a lender because she felt like they did a lot of work for her, even though they told her that she needed 5% more down and more fees 2 weeks later. But this was after the realtor had me sit down with her and I told her that the original deal on the table from this particular lender was not going to happen. When the realtor called me later and told me that I was right, I decided to see what I could offer her. I was 3/8% lower and about $1,000 cheaper. She still decided to stay with the current lender.

Sure, some people just don't want to go through the paperwork all over again. But why?  When it is costing you more money?  If I could save a penney here and a penney there, why not. especially when this is more than just pennies.

Just recently, did I run into this again. 2 times in one week and you wonder if the market is turning again in regards to individuals over promising and under delivering.

• I had a client in Wisconsin that was told that they could do this one gentleman's loan as an FHA loan. He never heard back from them for over 3 weeks. He then actually found me here on Active Rain, after reading a few of my blogs and feeling comfortable about me. I went over his scenarios after I asked him a few questions, but he still wouldn't give me his social security number. He wanted to check up on me and my company. Not a problem, I have nothing to hide. Sure, I am out of state, but I can do the same and sometimes better even than the individual next to you. Well, he called me up a few days ago and he told me that he just received a bunch of e-mails from this company that his spam filter had stopped. He then said that he was going to stay with them. Listen to this now... Mr. Wisconsin said "I appreciated all of your help, your e-mails, and your follow-up calls. If I evern need you again, I'll call you." Even after I would e-mail him, I would call the next day to follow up with him on the phone and vise versa. But he never received this service from the other company. Do some people think sometimes? 

• My other client was told by one of my loan officers that we could get him a loan of $810,000, but we needed to prove income. We have been working with this client as a stated since August, because he couldn't supply a full 12 months of bank statements. Then he tells us that he went to another company because they got him approved at $850,000. I finally asked my loan officer for this clients number so I could ask some questions. I called him last Wednesday and he tells me that they told him 2 hours prior to my call that they couldn't help him now, after 2 weeks in processing. And now he has 1 week to close, because he didn't make a mortgage payment. I start collecting his documents and I can use his bank statements now. But funny thing, he doesn't qualify for more than $820,000. And one main reason that he went with the other company is because they said they got him an exception for the higher amount, when they originally said 800k. Funny thing though, even if they got the exception for the dollar amount, did anyone bother to see if he quailfied with his income?  Now we are under the gun and I had to drop everything that I was working on last week.

Overall, I know these things happen. What are some of your stories?  Some thoughts?  When does a client decide to seek additonal advice and or help?  I have had a few clients tell me that they are staying with the current company because they felt like the other person did a lot of work, even if they are higher now. In my opinion, even after they lied. I would love to hear from realtors also, giving us examples of how this has happened to them and or their clients. And what some consumers should look out for when talking to these individuals.

Update: I am adding this because of Patricia's comment. I don't mind shoppers, but read this also. : Shoppers that shop themselves right out of the market.......