Most people who work in finance do so on an automated system. They plug in numbers and get a response. They do not understand the interrelationship between the numbers. This puts them at a disadvantage on being able to make the best recommendation for how you should proceed. The loan officer exam, which bank employees are not required to pass, is focused on the financial legalities and does not cover technical questions. To put you in the best position to save you money and make a great choice with your investment, your loan officer should understand how the numbers are interrelated. Ask other lenders; at what point do you break even if you buy down the rate. How many deductions should you add to your federal taxes to offset the interest you will be paying on your mortgage. Is buying a home a better financial decision than renting. The truth is it depends. If your loan officer cannot answer these question you should find one that can. The owner of Northern Virginia Mortgage has a degree in finance, has worked as a financial analyst for Cambridge Associates, and for Cohen Milstein building financial databases to calculate losses in class action antitrust cases. Do you want to trust your money with the loan officer that your real estate agent is getting a referral fee from? Or do you want someone who can give you well-thought-out honest advice?