Whether you decide on working with a direct lender or a mortgage broker, a mortgage does not get completed without a loan officer. As such, its important to work with the right loan officer. How can you decide who is the right loan officer for you? Of course its important for your personalities to match but here are some other important things you should take into consideration when choosing a loan officer to work with.

Amount of experience - If you are a first time home buyer you may feel more comfortable working with a loan officer with years of experience. If you have purchased or refinanced a home before and are comfortable with the process you may be willing to work with a loan officer with a limited amount of experience.

You should also find out if that particular loan officer has experience with your type of situation. There are some loan officers or companies that specialize in a specific type of situation, self employed, first time home buyers, foreclosure buyouts, problem credit, etc.

The right loan officer will be knowledgable about the programs that their company provides to borrowers. They are honest, courteous and provide outstanding service. The right loan officer will have your best interest at heart and not his checkbook.

You may want to consider what certifications, if any, the loan officer has. Some states have strict requirements for licensing, and some states have no licensing requirements at all. A loan officer who has sought out additional certifications and training likely has more to offer than one who hasn't.

You should do a quick check online of the company and the individual loan officers name in order to make sure that the company and/or loan officer you are working with seems reputable. This will help to find the "right" loan officer because this may save yourself the hassle of working with some company with a lot of pending lawsuits or that consistently has poor business practices and ethics. Try checking the Better Business Bureau, Rip-Off Report, the state's mortgage licensing agency and/or the Attorney General's office. You could also just do a Google Search on the company and/or loan officer's name in quotes to see if any bad articles or information is floating around. A few complaints against a company does not necessarily mean that they are not a good company to work with but maybe just use a little extra caution.

Ask your mortgage professional for references if you feel uncomfortable with his or her experience. Be wary of a Loan Officer who promises the world to you. An experienced Loan Officer will under promise and over deliver for you.