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If you know your credit score, then it is easy to find out the mortgage rate you can qualify for without an initial credit inquiry.  There is no sense in having a credit report inquiry when you are still shopping for a mortgage loan and deciding on the best mortgage company.  Your mortgage loan officer should be able to evaluate your qualification and give you a clear idea of what is available without running a credit report.  Knowing what is available prior to committing to a mortgage company will help you get the best mortgage loan.  

There is a difference between APR and APY.  You can ensure you are getting the lowest cost mortgage loan by screening through low mortgage rates that come with unnecessary fees.  While some fees are unavoidable, you should not have to pay additional fees to get a low rate.      

There are thousands of mortgage companies to choose from and even more loan officers to work with.  Deciding on a mortgage company should entail more than just finding the lowest mortgage rate.    Choose to work with a loan officer with capabilities that match your expectations.  Find out more about the loan officer you are working with through the National Mortgage Licencing System consumer portal.