Google isn’t looking to become your mortgage broker or loan officer, but it is looking to hook you up with one–officially.
The search-engine giant May 19 opened Google Advisor, a one-stop shop for financial services such as credit cards, CDs, and checking and savings accounts. It also includes mortgage-comparison tools.
Available only in the U.S. for now, Google Advisor lets users search for financial services products and then lists competing choices side by side.
Google Advisor users will enter information about what they need, whether it be for a mortgage, credit card, CD, or checking or savings account. Then they can tune their specifications by checking boxes on the left of the Web page.
Google will spit back a list of the offers that match their criteria, along with rates and contact information, such as in this mortgage loan example.
Users can then call or e-mail a service provider that fits their requirements. One thing that’s cool is the tool updates results on the fly, typically within 2 seconds. Check out how it works in this demo video from Google:
As Google Advisor Product Manager Simon Arscott noted:
“Financial decisions may be some of the most difficult decisions we face–whether it’s finding the right credit card or understanding the impact of paying an extra point on a mortgage. And these days, it seems like we have more financial options than ever.“
Truer words were never spoken. My wife and I this month secured a mortgage loan. While not on the level of difficulty or requisite dryness of the house inspection we just survived, securing the loan was tough enough.
And we had a broker lined up already because we are long-time friends of the real estate agent. Imagine that.
However, we also are selling our current home and have talked to plenty of people who were aren’t so lucky.
Google Advisor could help these people get the info they need. It’s not a pretty Website, but it’s fast and efficient.
Surprise, it’s a Google product.