What questions should I ask a mortgage broker near me?

Short answerAsk which loan products they offer, how they are compensated, what their average closing timeline is, and whether they have closed loans like yours recently. Also ask how they handle rate locks and who your day-to-day contact will be. Their answers reveal experience, transparency, and whether they will stay reachable through closing.

Reviewed by Juan Fernando Romero, NMLS 2557318Updated October 14, 2026

The details

Ask specifically about their experience with your scenario, such as self-employment, investment properties, or condos, since general experience does not always transfer.

Get the answers in writing where it matters, particularly the quoted rate, lock period, and estimated lender fees.

Related loan programs

Home loan

Conventional Loans

A conventional loan is a mortgage not insured by the government that follows Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac guidelines.

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Self-employed

Non-QM Loans

A non-QM (non-qualified mortgage) loan is any mortgage that documents income or credit outside the standard Qualified Mortgage rules, using bank statements, a P&L, 1099s, assets or rent instead of W-2s and tax returns.