Choosing a mortgage lender is one of the biggest financial decisions, and your real estate agent can help you make it.

Before you choose a lender, read these insider tips from a trusted source — Realtors.

Three homeowners refinanced their mortgages six times combined — and learned some lessons the hard way.

You can save money with a refi by crunching the numbers.

You can save money with a refi by crunching the numbers.

Crystin Liboma refinanced into a lower-rate, shorter-term mortgage to rescue her finances.

Crystin Liboma refinanced into a lower-rate, shorter-term mortgage to rescue her finances.

Crystin Liboma refinanced into a lower-rate, shorter-term mortgage to rescue her finances.

Buying a home is as much about life as it is about math. Recent Bankrate research shows Americans overpay on mortgages by $65 billion a year. But three homebuyers — Maameefua Koomson, Sean Stoyanowski and Garrett Duyck — each scored lower mortgage rates with one simple move: they compared more than one lender before signing.

Your mortgage rate matters, but life changes don’t wait for the housing market.

Your mortgage rate matters, but life changes don't wait for the housing market.

When a lender tells you how much you can borrow, it feels like permission to spend. But eligibility and affordability are completely different things. First-time buyer Khyrunnessa Rabbini learned this early: she rejected a $250,000 prequalification to borrow half. That one decision gave her the financial footing to build a six-property real estate portfolio.

The Lupos built a real estate portfolio using these 5 strategies.

The Lupos built a real estate portfolio using these 5 strategies.

Breaking into the Los Angeles housing market, 32-year-old Benny To found a creative path to homeownership by buying a multifamily probate property. Despite being told the sale would be easy, a family dispute forced him into a nine-month court battle. Ultimately, his perseverance paid off, securing an income-generating asset that cushions rising living costs.

Chandra Hawkins repaid $10K in credit card debt, improved her credit score and bought a house.

Chandra Hawkins repaid $10K in credit card debt, improved her credit score and bought a house.

Chandra Hawkins repaid $10K in credit card debt, improved her credit score and bought a house.

When the Javiers agreed to be on the show “This First House,” they had to buy a house fast — and with only $350K.

When the Javiers agreed to be on the show “This First House,” they had to buy a house fast — and with only $350K.