Overwhelmed with mortgage lenders – SF Bay Area, California

[Kenley Law]

I'm trying to apply/get prequalified for my first mortgage in the SF Bay Area. I'm from Canada working here on a TN visa, married to a US citizen. I have 15 months of credit history and my credit score is in the 700 range. Choices for mortgage lenders in Canada are a lot more limited, so it is easier to shop around for. I find that in the US, there are so incredibly many choices, it quickly becomes overwhelming choosing the best lender that would provide the best overall value (mainly, overall lowest costs).

I've tried online lenders like SoFi and Better, but I am really at a loss as how to evaluate their different offerings. I'm thinking of looking for a mortgage broker, in hopes that he/she would be able to help me aggregate different mortgage products in the market. Could anyone offer advice whether that is a good approach or is there somewhere else I should start?

Thank you