There is a rumor that mortgage brokers can screw up a deal beyond all recognition because they don’t have control over the product or the underwriting criteria. Well, just like 80% of Realtors are probably incompetent, the same goes for a mortgage broker. It makes sense that if you go to a direct lender that does not broker the loan to other firms, they may be more familiar with the product and the criteria for obtaining the loan. However, I have to tell you that most top producers have a great mortgage broker on the team that can go different places for different needs. When you have a great mtg. broker they make it their business of knowing the products and the criteria of the companies they get the loans from. So if you are an average agent that likes to spread the business around, with no true alliance to any one lender team member, you might pick a direct lender. However, if you have a killer business that understands team work you probably have a top notch broker that can take you where you need to go and close when you need to close, all with amazing service, third party endorsements, checklists and joint lead generation systems. Pick your team correctly.