Frequently Asked Questions

Question: "Am I obligated to accept an offer?"
Answer:You are under no obligation to accept a loan offer that is presented to you. See the FAQ on LendingTree Loans for more information on LendingTree Loans and Home Loan Center.

Question: "Does LendingTree charge any "upfront fees"?"
Answer:LendingTree does not charge any kind of fee for the service of matching borrowers with lenders. In addition, no lender that you are matched with through LendingTree will ask you for any upfront fees to "guarantee" or "insure" a loan. Beware if you are asked for a fee or "insurance" before completing an application with a loan officer. No legitimate lender does this.

Question: "How do I get started?"
Answer: It’s simple. From the home loan page, select the loan type you want and complete our online loan request. It takes about 15 minutes to complete the form. If you need help, look for our calculators and tips to help you along the way.

Question: "How secure will my information be?"
Answer:LendingTree uses secure technology to ensure that the data you send us is protected, confidential and secure.

Question: "Does each Lender pull my credit report?"
Answer: Each Lender has their own policy about pulling your credit report. Some pull your report before they make you a loan offer, others pull your credit report after you have accepted their offer. In all cases, LendingTree pulls your credit report when you complete a loan request. All inquiries for your credit report within a 14-day period will count as one inquiry if you are looking for a mortgage to purchase a home, a mortgage to refinance your home, a home equity loan or line of credit.

Question: "Can I negotiate directly with the Lenders?"
Answer: Absolutely. You are under no obligation to accept a lender's first offer. In fact, if you've received a better offer from another Lender, we give you the opportunity to tell the Lender about it through our Web site. In most cases, when you receive your loan offers, we will provide you with contact information for each Lender. Feel free to contact the Lender directly to discuss different loan programs. However, if you accept a loan offer from a Lender on the LendingTree Exchange, be sure to send your response through LendingTree so that we can update our records.

Question: "Do you have Lenders who deal with bad credit?"
Answer: Yes! We have Lenders who work with borrowers with perfect credit and not-so-perfect credit.

Question: "How can I change the information I submitted on my loan request?"
Answer: In most cases, you will have to complete another loan request with the updated information.

Question: "What are your closing costs?"
Answer: Each Lender determines their own policy regarding closing costs. Unfortunately, we are unable to determine the amount of closing costs or out-of-pocket closing expenses. If we are able to match your request with a Lender, you may discuss your specific situation with them once you are in contact.

Question: "What if I don't want to give you my social security number?"
Answer: We request your social security number to ensure that we receive accurate information from the credit reporting agency. Our Lenders evaluate the information they receive in your loan request as well as the information contained within your credit report. For these reasons, we encourage you to enter correct information in the social security field.

Question: "I've accepted an offer. How do I close the loan?"
Answer: After you accept an offer, you will need to communicate with the Lender directly (via mail, email or phone) to complete the loan process. You will need to verify the information you provided through our site through W-2 forms, pay stubs, house appraisals etc. You'll also need to sign the official application forms from the Lender and schedule a closing.