When shopping for a home loan, getting a competent loan officer (and an ethical one) is far more important than saving a fraction of a percentage point on your interest rate. Going with the "lowest bidder" may save you five or ten bucks on your home loan, but choosing who to work with just because of the lowest interest rate could very likely get you a "loan shark" who will get you stuck with a rate that is irreversible, or you might not even get a loan at all.

The best ways to avoid originators who are incompetent, or who practice unethical tactics:

Avoid shopping for a L.O. in the phone book or newspaper. That