Originally Posted by onwebcam

All I can suggest is use a broker. Brokers can do just that broker your loan to multiple lenders and/or fit your loan to a specific specialty lender. Whereas going directly to a lender you have to fit within a specific set of parameters and if you don't fit, no loan.

Another tip, if short on downpayment be very rate conscious with the broker. Make him/her shoot for a lower rate and when he/she gets your desired rate target lower your upfront cost by asking him/her to bump your rate and decrease your fees and then compensate rate increase by overpayment later if needed (always write a separate check with overpayments stating "apply to principal.". It's very likely he/she is quoting you a bumped rate anyway which pays "points" on the backend.