FreeMortgageSearch.com is Duane Buziak’s free mortgage comparison tool, run by a licensed broker (NMLS#1110647) who can shop hundreds of wholesale lenders. It uses a NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft pull mortgage inquiry, so you can compare offers with no hard inquiry and no obligation. This article does not reproduce star ratings or testimonials. It shows you how to read any FreeMortgageSearch.com review, including ones you find elsewhere, and how to verify each claim yourself in a few minutes.
How the Comparison Works From Submission to Offers
The process runs in a fixed order, and knowing it lets you check any review against what actually happens.
- You submit basic scenario details: loan purpose, estimated home value or price, down payment or current balance, and the state.
- A NoTouch Credit Pull runs. This is a soft pull, so it does not appear as a hard inquiry on your credit report.
- You receive side-by-side offers drawn from hundreds of wholesale lenders, not a single company’s rate sheet.
- You decide. Nothing obligates you to move forward.
Why it is free to you. A broker is generally paid when a borrower chooses a loan and it closes. If you compare and walk away, you owe nothing for the comparison. Broker compensation on a loan that does close is disclosed in your loan documents, and the Loan Estimate is where you confirm it.
What a soft pull replaces and what it does not. A soft-pull comparison supports mortgage pre-approval without a hard pull at the shopping stage, which is where most people want to be while they gather numbers. It is not a full application. When you choose a loan and apply, the lender or broker will need a hard credit pull to underwrite it. The CFPB explains how credit inquiries and shopping for a mortgage work, including why multiple mortgage inquiries in a short window are generally treated differently from unrelated credit applications by common scoring models.
So a reviewer who says “no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval” should be describing the comparison stage. A reviewer who closed a loan went through a hard pull at application, and that is normal.
What to Look for in Reviews of a Mortgage Comparison Tool
On coverage: this article reproduces no star ratings, review counts, or customer testimonials, because none have been supplied with source and date for publication here. If you see a number attached to FreeMortgageSearch.com elsewhere, check where it came from and when. Duane’s verified channels and his NMLS record are the places to start, and any review quoted on this site should carry a source and a date.
A checklist for reading any review
- Quoted rate versus closed rate. Did the final loan match what the reviewer was shown, and if not, did the reviewer say why (market movement, credit changes, appraisal, lock timing)?
- APR and fee transparency. Did the reviewer see APR, points, and lender credits, or only a headline rate?
- Responsiveness. How fast did questions get answered, and was it the same person throughout?
- Credit-pull disclosure. Was the reviewer told when a soft pull ended and a hard pull began?
- Whether the reviewer closed. A review from someone who only requested quotes tells you about the quote experience, not the closing experience. Both matter, but they are different.
Red flags
- Testimonials with no name, date, or platform you can check.
- No licensing details for the person or company behind the offer.
- Quotes that show a rate with no APR or fees.
- A hard pull required just to see numbers.
One misconception is worth correcting directly: a low advertised rate is not a review of the loan. Rates in ads and in glowing reviews often assume strong credit, a large down payment, and discount points paid up front. The document that tells you what a loan costs is the Loan Estimate. Compare those, not headlines.
Broker Independence Compared With a Single Lender’s Shelf
The structural difference between an independent broker and a national direct lender explains most of what reviewers praise or criticize. National direct lenders such as Rocket Mortgage, Movement Mortgage, Guild Mortgage, and NFM Lending originate loans through their own products and underwriting. That is a legitimate model with its own strengths. A broker places your loan with a wholesale lender chosen after comparing options.
| Factor | Independent broker via FreeMortgageSearch.com | Single national direct lender |
|---|---|---|
| Products available | Programs from hundreds of wholesale lenders, so niche guidelines can be matched to your file | The company’s own product menu and guidelines |
| How pricing is compared | Multiple wholesale offers are lined up side by side before you choose | One rate sheet; you compare by collecting quotes from other companies yourself |
| Credit pull at comparison stage | NoTouch Credit Pull soft pull, no hard inquiry to see offers | Varies by company; confirm whether numbers require a hard pull |
| Who sets final terms | The wholesale lender that funds the loan, with the broker structuring and shopping the file | The company that originates, underwrites, and often services the loan |
| Compensation model | Paid when a loan closes; disclosed in loan documents | Paid through the company’s own pricing and margin; fees appear on the Loan Estimate |
| Fit by borrower type | Rate-shoppers, self-employed or non-standard files, and buyers who want several options at once | Borrowers who value one company handling every step, or who already have a relationship with it |
A single-lender option can still fit some borrowers, particularly those who prioritize one point of contact or a familiar brand. Neither model is automatically cheaper on any given day. That is the logic behind Dare to Compare: put an offer from a direct lender next to the broker’s wholesale offers and let the Loan Estimates decide.
A Worked Example: What Comparing Two Offers Is Worth
Suppose you are borrowing $400,000 on a 30-year fixed-rate loan. These rates are illustrations only, not current quotes and not a promise of what the tool will return for you.
- Offer A: 6.25%, principal and interest of about $2,462.87 a month.
- Offer B: 6.00%, principal and interest of about $2,398.20 a month.
The difference is $64.67 a month. Over 360 payments, that is about $23,281 ($64.67 x 360 = $23,281.20) in principal and interest, before taxes, insurance, and any mortgage insurance.
APR disclosure: The rates above are the note rate only. The annual percentage rate (APR) also reflects points and certain fees, so it is the better single number for comparing the full cost of borrowing. Your actual APR will depend on your credit profile, loan amount, property, and the points and credits in each offer.
Now see why APR and the Loan Estimate matter. Suppose Offer B charges 1.5 points, which is $6,000 on $400,000. Dividing $6,000 by the $64.67 monthly saving gives about 93 months, or roughly 7.7 years, to break even. If you sell or refinance before then, the lower rate cost you more than it saved. If you hold the loan for the full term, it likely comes out ahead. Only the full set of numbers on the Loan Estimate shows which case you are in.
One more reference point on loan size: the FHFA conforming loan limits for 2026 are $832,750 for a one-unit property in most counties, with a high-cost ceiling of $1,249,125. Limits vary by county, so confirm yours on FHFA.gov. Loans above the limit are priced differently, which affects any comparison.
How to Verify a Broker and Run Your Own Dare to Compare
You do not have to take any review, including this article, on trust. Verification takes about ten minutes.
Step 1: Check the license. Look up Duane Buziak, NMLS#1110647, on NMLS Consumer Access. Confirm that the license status is active and that your state appears. Duane is licensed in VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, and MD. If your property is elsewhere, this tool cannot serve you, and that is worth knowing before you spend time.
Step 2: Gather an offer you already have. If you hold a Loan Estimate from a bank, credit union, or direct lender, bring it. If you do not have one, you can still start with the soft-pull comparison.
Step 3: Line up the same five items on every offer:
- Interest rate
- APR
- Points (discount points and origination charges)
- Lender credits
- Cash to close
Step 4: Ask for the same lock period on each. A 30-day lock and a 60-day lock are priced differently, so comparing them is not comparing like with like. Request a same-day comparison so rates are not drifting between quotes.
If you are buying your first home, here is the part nobody mentions: choosing between a broker and a bank is itself a decision. A bank offers you its own loans. A broker shops loans from many sources and brings you the options. Neither one is wrong, but you are allowed to ask both for numbers on the same day.
For background reading, the CFPB has plain-language pages on shopping for a mortgage and on how to read a Loan Estimate.
FreeMortgageSearch.com Reviews: Eight Questions Answered
Is FreeMortgageSearch.com legitimate?
It is operated by Duane Buziak, a licensed mortgage broker (NMLS#1110647), and the company’s license appears in the compliance block at the end of this article. You can verify his license yourself on NMLS Consumer Access. Duane has been helping buyers find the right mortgage since 2014.
Is it really free?
Yes, comparing offers costs you nothing. A broker is paid when a borrower chooses a loan and it closes, and that compensation is disclosed in your loan documents. If you decide not to proceed, you owe nothing for the comparison.
Does it hurt my credit?
The NoTouch Credit Pull is a soft pull, so it does not create a hard inquiry at the comparison stage. A hard credit pull is required later, when you choose a loan and submit a full application.
Am I obligated to proceed?
No. You can review offers, run Dare to Compare against a quote you already hold, and leave without any commitment.
How is it different from going directly to a bank?
A bank or direct lender offers its own products at its own pricing. Duane, as an independent broker, can compare offers from hundreds of wholesale lenders for the same scenario. A direct lender can still fit some borrowers, which is why comparing both is worthwhile.
Which states does it serve?
Duane is licensed in VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, and MD. The tool is national in design but can only help with properties in those states. You can confirm current licensing on NMLS Consumer Access.
How accurate are the quotes?
Quotes are estimates until a Loan Estimate is issued, and rates can change daily, so any figure is accurate only as of the day it is quoted. Your final rate depends on credit, loan amount, property, and lock timing. Compare the Loan Estimate, not an early quote.
What do I need to start?
Basic details are enough: loan purpose, property state, estimated price or home value, down payment or current balance, and permission for the soft-pull NoTouch Credit Pull. Income and asset documents come later, if you choose to move forward.
Verified Facts Are the Only Review That Holds Up
A review is only as useful as the facts you can check behind it. Confirm the license, read the APR, and let the Loan Estimate settle the question. Your dream home is within reach. Start comparing personalized mortgage rates from trusted lenders today and discover the loan solution that fits your budget and goals. Compare rates now and take the first step toward securing your home with expert guidance every step of the way. Start with a NoTouch Credit Pull on FreeMortgageSearch.com by Duane Buziak, then run Dare to Compare against any offer in hand.
