FINANCIAL MARKETS - continued

Checking around is always wise, but look at more than just pricing--if you go to a direct lender, make sure that your specific financial situation and property and loan amount fit the lender's criteria. If at the last moment, you realize that the lender will not make the loan, you will need to painstakingly rebuild your loan package, as opposed to having your loan broker send a copy of the package to a new lender immediately. How does the money flow work? After completing a loan, most lenders collect multiple loans together and sell them to an investor, such as Wall Street (in the form of mortgage-backed securities such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac), insurance companies, large capital corporations, and so on. If your loan is sold, the only change you'll notice is the address and name on your monthly bill. All terms of the loan are set in stone and do not change.