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Loan officer & real estate agent — what each one does.

Buying a home takes a team. Two of the most important people on that team are your mortgage loan officer and your real estate agent. They have different jobs, different licenses, and different superpowers — and you really want both.

Mortgage Loan Officer

A licensed professional (NMLS-registered) whose job is to qualify you for a loan, shop programs and pricing on your behalf, and shepherd the financing from application to the day you get the keys.

  • Reviews your credit, income, assets, and goals — then matches you with the right loan program.
  • Issues your pre-approval letter so you can make competitive offers.
  • Locks your rate at the right time and discloses every fee in writing.
  • Coordinates with the appraiser, title company, processor, and underwriter.
  • Solves problems when something in the file changes mid-process (it usually does).

Real Estate Agent

A licensed professional whose job is to help you find, evaluate, negotiate, and close on the actual property. Buyers typically work with a buyer's agent; sellers work with a listing agent.

  • Knows the local market — pricing, neighborhoods, schools, and what's actually moving.
  • Sets up showings, evaluates comps, and helps you write a smart offer.
  • Negotiates price, repairs, concessions, and timelines on your behalf.
  • Coordinates inspections, appraisals, and the title/escrow timeline.
  • Guides you through closing paperwork and hands you the keys.

How they work together

They talk to each other constantly.

Your agent needs to know your pre-approval amount before writing offers. Your loan officer needs the executed contract the moment it's signed. A good LO/agent pair shares info proactively so nothing falls through the cracks.

Their incentives are aligned with yours.

Both are paid when the deal closes — successfully. That means both want a smooth transaction, a fair price, and a happy buyer who refers them in the future.

Together they protect your timeline.

Most contracts have hard deadlines for financing, appraisal, and closing. A coordinated LO and agent will keep you on track and renegotiate dates when life happens.

How to pick the right pros

  • Ask for referrals — your loan officer probably has 2–3 agents they trust, and vice versa.
  • Interview more than one. Communication style matters as much as experience.
  • Verify licensing: agents on your state's real estate division site, loan officers on nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
  • Read recent reviews and ask for references from past clients.
  • Pick people who explain things in plain English — not jargon.

Need a loan officer you can trust?

Joey has 25 years of mortgage experience in Utah and works alongside the best agents in the state. He'll happily refer you to one if you don't already have someone.

Get in touch