Raising your credit score or saving more for a down payment can take months or years. Choosing the right lender is something you can do right now. A Realtor.com study of 2025 loan data found that buyers who went with a very competitive lender instead of a typical bank lowered their rate by about 0.19%.
On a typical Athens home, that’s real money. Using the $417,500 median from Classic MLS and 10% down, a 0.19% lower rate saves about $2,900 if you stay 5 years, and about $17,000 over the full 30 years. That’s about double what a buyer gets from raising their credit score from 690 to 720, and you don’t have to wait for it.
There are three main kinds of lenders. Retail lenders are usually banks you work with directly. Correspondent lenders are often smaller local companies. Mortgage brokers shop your loan with many lenders. In 2025, brokers and correspondent lenders usually had slightly lower rates than banks. But the lowest rate isn’t always the best choice. Some of the cheapest lenders are so busy that they close slowly, and a slow closing can cost you the house. Pick someone who keeps your timeline in mind.
For more tips on buying smart in Athens, follow Athens Real Estate Pro on Facebook. If you’re comparing loan offers and aren’t sure which one fits, send them my way. We can go over them together.
Sources: Classic MLS (Hive), single-family sales, Sept. 2026; Realtor.com, Oct. 1, 2026.