Suzanne De Vita

About the author

I’m a senior editor on Bankrate’s Home Lending team. I’ve covered the housing market, mortgages and real estate for the past 12 years. At Bankrate, my areas of focus include first-time homebuyers and mortgage rate trends, and I’m especially interested in the housing needs of baby boomers. In the past, I’ve reported on market indicators like home sales and supply, as well as the real estate brokerage business. My work has been recognized by the National Association of Real Estate Editors. I've also completed the education requirement and passed the national exam for licensed mortgage loan originators.

Before joining Bankrate, I was the senior online editor at RISMedia and Real Estate magazine. Prior to that, I was a content and PR strategist for a home staging firm and an art teacher.

Outside of contributing to the team at Bankrate, I spend time with my family, dog-ear cookbooks, fill out crosswords in ink and practice yoga.

Suzanne wants you to know

It can be difficult to understand what it takes to get approved for a mortgage, especially if your credit needs work or you carry different forms of debt. My best tip: Search thoughtfully for a mortgage lender, keeping in mind that a low rate, while important, isn’t the sole indicator of a positive lending experience. Don’t be afraid to ask the loan officer to help get you in qualifying shape, whether that’s advice to lower your DTI ratio or guidance on low-credit programs. You’ll be able to tell right away which lender’s on your team and which is more focused on getting the sale.