Thinking about it, the mortgage transaction is a secondary transaction, one small yet essential piece of the main event: the purchase of a home. It begins before we get involved, and continues long after. Being exceptional lenders requires clear knowledge of the environment in which we're operating. Working with local agencies gives us a window into the needs, challenges and opportunities of our local housing market, valuable insight we must have as we define our strategies and structure our mortgage programs and products.

Where to start Local governments are often a good place. Housing is important in every community; it's a political issue everywhere because housing has been a national housing policy priority since the 1940s. City Hall should welcome your inquiries, especially with the type of lending help credit unions offer. They will also be able to put you in touch with local groups that have housing as either their primary or partial mission.