What actually matters when choosing a home loan lender

Sharing a few things I picked up while sorting out financing here, in case it helps someone. The lender you choose matters as much as the house, and it's easy to rush.

A few things that made a real difference for me:

• Go local if you can. A Dallas-based lender tends to know the pricing, timelines, and appraisal quirks better than a national call center, and they move faster.
• Speed actually counts here. This market moves quick, and sellers favor buyers who can close fast and on time, so ask any lender how quickly they realistically close.
• Compare at least three, and look past the headline rate. Two lenders can quote the same rate and be thousands apart once you add up the fees.
• Make sure they fit your situation. FHA, VA, conventional, and self-employed programs are all different — the right lender points you to the one that actually fits instead of pushing one product.

Nothing groundbreaking, but slowing down on the lender choice saved me money and stress. Happy to answer questions if anyone's going through it now.