Quick Solution

If you are planning to refinance I would definitly find out about no closing cost loans.

Where do I start for purchases?

Yellow pages or referalls get at least 3 companies. You are going to tell them you are buying a home and you need a good faith estimate. Tell them how much you are putting down and how much is purchase price. They might want to run your credit they don't need too. Just tell them your credit is good. If you don't have perfect credit go to Nonconfoming loans and FHA.

You just need the INTEREST RATE and the CLOSING COSTS.

Tell them you want the good faith estimate because you are trying to find the best deal. You have automatically saved money. After you have done this for all three companies compare the closing costs and the interest rates. Some might have lower interest rates but higher closing costs. Others might be opposite. If one company has a low interest rate but high closing cost see if they will lower the closing costs to match the other company. Some companies try to get you with a low rate but they charge high closing costs. You can ask them to send you a Truth-In-Lending. This will give you an actual interest rate including closing costs.

Read Things Mortage Companies don't want you to know to explain this further.

If you are purchasing a home and want to bring as little money to closing as posible?

They do have loans with 100% financing. The rate is going to be in the 10% range. Or you could ask for a no closing cost loan? This is the most underused consumer weapon.

If you are purchasing a home the seller is probably paying some or all of the closing costs. You are still acually paying for it. Don't you think you could get 3% off the price of the house if they were not paying 3% of closing costs.

For example if the seller is paying 3% of closing costs and their is $500 left over you can use that money and apply it to your escrow account. This must be stated in the contract or the money is given back to the seller. I have seen buyers haggle over $500 on the sales price and then not say one word about the closing costs.

My Last Advice.

Everything is negotiable.