Money, Money, Money, Money

Numerous conversations with banks and other mortgage institutions answering the same questions over and over again sure does get old. They all seem so circumspect. I've been determined to shop for the best deal on this so in hindsight it probably would have been prudent to get my ducks in a row and be better prepared for these conversations.

With regard to the money aspect of it specifically, I seemed to be able to get more efficient with the conversations when I'd rattle off some of the facts. "I have $X in the bank, cash, in these accounts. I have $X in this fund I am going to close (and the total of all the $X's is about half the total cost of the house). I own a SFR (Single Family Residence), which I paid $X for in 1995, that I still owe $Y on ($Y being about 1/6 of the original purchase price). I do not wish to tie the purchase and sale of either together. I am buying the new house, and will sell the old one as a separate transaction. My three credit scores are A from Transunion, B from Equifax, and C from Experian." That quick paragraph alone seems to move things along. Of course there are still tons of other questions to be dealt with, but at least by the end of that paragraph they know they have someone on the line who can get the money without any major complications.

In the past I have been able to seek out and find good deals on financing. That hasn't proven to be the case so far this time. They really do all seem about the same, so far...