Are you excited about purchasing your first home? Or maybe this isn't the first, but you should be excited anyway! It's a big step and a big decision. Finding the right mortgage loan is key. The key to saving yourself money and probably a few headaches down the line.

Here are some helpful hints on finding a good mortgage loan.

First, consider the home you are planning to purchase. Know what you are looking for and want, but also realize what your limits are. How much home can you afford? Any mortgage company can tell you what they think you can afford, but know what that all breaks down for you per month.

Finding quality mortgage lenders is easy. Most companies are well known. There are several different places to look as well. Start with your own bank. Will they loan you the money? At what interest rate?

Another place to look for a mortgage lender is real estate offices. They often have their own lending companies set up to help their customers. Mortgage lending is big business. Fear not, there are places out there that will loan to you.

You can also find mortgage loans available to you online through mortgage companies. While they lose the personal touch of being near to your home, they often have the best rates available. It can't be any easier to look from site to site to find the best rates out there.

When talking to the mortgage lenders, there are things you should know. You will need to know your income and expenses. You will need to know your basic credit rating. Good, Poor, or Excellent.

Then, there are things you need to find out about the lender as well. What are the rates? What are the terms? What additional charges are there? What length of loan can they give you? All of these things are things you can compare from one lender to the next. Easily.

Compile all this information. And then choose. Choose based on how you felt about that lender, about how they helped you, and the bottom line. Who has the best deal? Who can you trust? Getting all this down, will give you the understanding of what to expect from a lender down the road.