What's the importance of having a local lender?

[Long G. Tran]

Craig Curelop, author of The House Hacking Strategy, suggest that you find a lender that lends locally. Why is that? I'm in San Diego. Why would it be advised that I not find a lender that lends in Las Vegas or Phoenix?

[Stacee Evans]

Using a small local lender that you build a relationship with makes the process easy. I send a quick email when I make an offer on a house and they immediately reply with the pre-approval letter.  They know me and have other loans, so there is no approval process at this point and they will fund as fast as I need it and include repairs in the loan. This is just for one area I invest in and they are local to that area.