• Fixed-rate mortgage (usually for a 15- or 30-year term)
• Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) which has a fixed rate for a certain time-period and then is pegged to an index (eg. prime rate, treasury-bill rate)
• Balloon mortgage in which only interest is paid until the end of the loan; all the principal is paid at maturity (often, the loan is refinanced at that time)
• Purchase-money mortgage, where the seller finances a part of the sale, essentially becoming a bank
• Wrap-around mortgage, which involves 2 or more mortgages
• Zero-coupon mortgage, where no interest or principal is repaid until the maturity of the loan
• Reverse mortgage, where the principal is not repaid until the borrower's death
• Bridge mortgage, which are used to finance a property for a short period of time while longer-term financing is arranged

You might, however, prefer a more personal touch. This is particularly true if the mortgage you need doesn't conform to the requirements of loan-guarantee agencies such as Fannie Mae. (A conforming mortgage is for single-family homes where the loan requested is both less than $275,000 and less than 80% of the home's appraised value).

Certainly, your bank is in the business of making loans and they know you, which might ease the process and lower closing costs (generally, about 4% of the loan amount). In addition, the company you work for or own might have a banking relationship which could help you, as well.

Mortgage brokers are also an avenue to secure a loan, particularly a jumbo loan where the amount is larger than a conventional mortgage. These brokers usually represent many lenders; you have the opportunity to compare different rates and terms without spending a great deal of your own time on the search. Other leads and advice can come from your lawyer, accountant or financial planner, and from acquaintances who have recently financed a home.