Hi, there can be differences. If the community bank lender is local to the property you are buying, they may be better informed about appropriate appraisers/appraisals, for example. It can sometimes be easier to use a local lender due to their familiarity with the area and housing market. However, each bank has its own products, qualifications and rates, so just because a lender is local doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily get a better rate. Also, after you get your mortgage, any bank or lender can sell the servicing rights of your loan to other companies, so the mortgage may not even stay with that bank. For these reasons, it is best to have four lenders who are appropriate for you so you can get the best deal. A community bank local to the area you are buying in AND a big bank like Chase, AND a broker or two would be a good mix.
