When you’re ready to apply for a mortgage, one of the most important questions you can ask is: who do you use? In the mortgage industry, there are mortgage brokers, usually independent businesses with a variety of mortgage products, or loan officers, who typically work for one specific lender. Who your loan officer actually works for is important. The answer makes a huge difference in the kind of service, rates, and advocacy you’ll receive during the process.

At Indigo Mortgage in Albuquerque, company president Ben Lucero believes borrowers deserve to know the truth. There’s a major difference between working with a mortgage lender (or banker) and working with a mortgage broker — and knowing that difference can save you money and frustration.

Lender vs. Broker: What’s the Difference?

• Mortgage lender/banker: Loan officers at a bank or mortgage company work for their specific institution. Their loyalty is to their employer, not necessarily the borrower. They can only offer the rates and terms their bank publishes, even if better options exist elsewhere.
• Mortgage broker: Loan officers at a broker like Indigo Mortgage work directly for the borrower. They act as your advocate, processing your loan locally and then shopping it to multiple lenders to find the best rates and terms.

Ben Lucero explains it this way: “How can a loan officer represent both the bank and the borrower at the same time? It becomes a conflict of interest. At Indigo Mortgage, our only loyalty is to the borrower.”

Why Brokers Put Borrowers First

Working with a mortgage broker means your interests come first. Brokers don’t answer to a single bank — they answer to you. That creates important advantages:

• No conflict of interest. A broker represents you, not the bank.
• Shopping power. Brokers compare offers from multiple lenders, ensuring you get the lowest available rate.
• Flexibility. If underwriting guidelines seem unfair, brokers can often push back on your behalf — something a bank loan officer usually can’t do.
• Local service. At Indigo Mortgage, loans are processed right here in Albuquerque. Borrowers can meet face-to-face with Ben Lucero and his team.

The Limits of Bank Loan Officers

Bank loan officers are restricted by the products and rates their institution offers. That means:

• They cannot shop your mortgage around.
• They are required to offer their bank’s published rates, even if those rates aren’t the most competitive.
• Their first loyalty is to the bank, not the borrower.

This often leaves borrowers paying more than necessary for their mortgage. As Ben Lucero often points out, “If your loan officer can’t shop your mortgage around, chances are you’re not getting the best deal.”

How to Know Who Your Loan Officer Works For

If you’re unsure whether your loan officer represents you or the bank, just ask a simple question:

👉 “Do you shop my loan with multiple lenders, or do you only offer what your company provides?”

If the answer is that they can only offer in-house products, they’re working for the bank. If they shop your loan to multiple lenders, they’re working as a broker — and working for you.

The Indigo Mortgage Difference

Here in New Mexico, Indigo Mortgage has built a reputation as a trusted local mortgage broker. Ben Lucero and his team have helped countless borrowers secure better rates and terms than they would have found at a bank.

When you work with Indigo Mortgage, you get:

• Personalized service from a local team.
• Clear explanations of every rate, fee, and requirement.
• Access to multiple lenders so you can be confident you’re getting the best deal.
• An advocate who fights for your interests during underwriting.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to mortgages, brokers are better. Loan officers at banks and mortgage lenders ultimately work for their employer, not the borrower. Brokers, on the other hand, represent you — and that makes all the difference.

Don’t settle for a loan officer who can only offer one option. Call Ben Lucero and Indigo Mortgage to see why working with a broker is the smarter choice.

Contact Indigo Mortgage

Brokers are better, and Indigo Mortgage is here to prove it.