how to know a lender has your best interest in mind

Why Realtors choose First Financial

A Realtor’s key to success is literally in the door but remember – it can turn both ways.

As a realtor, you know the importance of referrals and that the right referral can enhance your client’s experience of finding the perfect home. Did you ever think about how referring your client to the right mortgage lender could be a competitive advantage for you? Finding a home and securing financing can be stressful, so working with the right mortgage lender can alleviate those pain points for your client and allow them to enjoy the process. First Financial Bank can be that advantage for you.

First Financial’s mortgage team ranks high in customer experience indices, and hundreds of realtors throughout the Midwest trust First Financial enough to recommend us to their peers. We don’t take that privilege lightly. We know relationships count, and that our mortgage lenders carry the responsibility of protecting a Realtor’s good reputation.

To that end, we have developed the following five benefits that help distinguish our service and provide a stand-out experience.

Benefit 1: Our sweet product suite

A community is made up of different kinds of people, so First Financial offers a variety of mortgage loan options to suit varying needs.¹ In addition to traditional loans such as VA, FHA, fixed-rate, and adjustable-rate programs, First Financial Bank’s suite of niche mortgage products include:

• CHAMP (Community Housing Affordable Mortgage Program) – Affordable loans for homebuyers with limited credit history, limited income, or looking to purchase a home in a low-to-moderate income (LMI) area, including first-time homebuyers.
• Physician/Professionals – Flexible home financing for physicians, accountants, attorneys, and many other busy professionals with household incomes of more than $100,000.
• Jumbo – Fixed and adjustable mortgage rates on home loans of more than $766,550.
• Community Builder – A money saver for those looking to buy in low- to moderate-income areas, these loans feature reduced closing costs, grant funds, and there are no mortgage insurance requirements.
• Construction – For those building homes, these loans deliver flexible payments over time to cover building costs. They also include a one-time closing option, to save time and money on closing fees.
• Community Heroes – We offer special benefits to make buying a home accessible and affordable. This loan is perfect for teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, medical care providers, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, and active or former military.
• Bridge – Short-term loans to carry clients between buying and selling homes, available to those buying through First Financial lending.

Benefit 2: We have regional understanding and national expertise

First Financial employs nearly 50 loan officers across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, and each has the backing of an administrative team to make sure the needs of our clients – realtors and homebuyers – are met quickly and seamlessly. This knowledge is aided by the fact that they know, and may even live in, the neighborhoods their mortgage clients are exploring.

To that end, our loan officers keep up to date on national training, changes, and opportunities in the housing and lending markets, to ensure the loan products we offer satisfy the needs of clients and get them where they want to be.

Benefit 3: The closing date is on us, but you can pick it

Our loan officers have bought and sold homes too, so they are familiar with the pain point of a closing that does not take place on schedule. We pay attention to the closing dates clients select and work with them to ensure their expectations are met. Giving flexibility in choosing the date provides a literal sense of closure, and valuable peace of mind.

Benefit 4: We have easy, time-saving tools and quick pre-qualifications

First Financial Bank’s website includes a loan application portal that homebuyers can access on their own, eliminating the step of realtors having to send applications to their clients.

These easy-fill forms, accessible from our mortgage page, empower potential buyers to apply when and where they want. There’s no need to have many back-and-forth phone calls with a loan officer or email lots of documents (borrowers can even start applications and save them to finish later).

That said, we also want to make sure we best serve all our homebuyers and therefore will support an in-person or digital experience, depending on borrower preferences. Our goal is to meet all borrowers wherever they are in their homebuying journey.

We know every step of the homebuying experience is a big one, so we’ve used our resources to ensure that first step – getting pre-qualified – is easy. At a time when houses are selling as fast as they’re being listed, this could make the difference between owning a dream home or seeing it go to someone else.

We also provide easy-access guides for homebuyers, including frequently asked questions and answers on our website.

Benefit 5: Our relationship pricing will make you look good

Not only do we value your relationship, but we value the relationships we have with our clients. That’s why we give our clients the best pricing! When your homebuyers bank with us, they gain access to loan benefits that lower rates and save on closing costs. The benefits of banking with us don’t stop with getting the best possible rate. By having a bank account with us, our clients gain access to our full suite of digital tools to make managing their finances, including their mortgage, simple and convenient.

We know trust is hard-earned, and we know that we are responsible for the trust of every realtor who recommends us.

Ready to unlock your potential? Here’s how to reach our team.

Want to learn more about our mortgage products and co-marketing opportunities? First Financial can include the headshots and contact information of participating realtors, alongside our loan officers, on any of our marketing materials.* Connect with a mortgage loan officer to find out more.

* First Financial Bank co-marketing opportunities are fee-based.