Let's take a few minutes to learn something you may not know about getting a mortgage.

Many people think that the only place to get a mortgage loan is a mortgage bank. Many think the television advertising from certain mortgage companies makes them the cheapest place to get a mortgage. Well, this isn't the whole story.

You can get a mortgage from your local bank, credit union, mortgage bank or thrift institution. This gives you a lot of choice in where you get your mortgage. Take some time to interview lenders at the different institutions before making your choice. Pay attention to the length or term of the mortgage, the interest rate and the closing costs. Some companies may want you to pay 'points'. We'll deal with points in another tip, but for now just be aware that you need to compare all these factors with different kinds of lenders to get the mortgage loan that's right for you.