Most people start their home buying process by walking into the bank where they keep their checking account. Or maybe calling that "Big Name" lender on the radio or TV. That's fine. It's also not always the best move, and this episode explains why.

Michael breaks down the difference between wholesale lenders and retail lenders. He breaks down what a mortgage broker actually does, how they access rates you'd never get by walking into a branch, and why the big bank with the fancy commercials isn't necessarily offering you the most competitive deal. There are scenarios where a retail lender makes sense and scenarios where a wholesale model is going to save you a meaningful amount of money over the life of your loan.

The goal isn't to knock any particular kind of lender. The goal is to make sure you understand what you're choosing and why. Subscribe to Home Buying Made Easy and come back every week for more.