One thing I never quite fully understand is why investors treat lenders like a number on a spreadsheet. They look for the lender that will race down to the bottom for fees to win over business, rather than focusing on a positive win-win relationship. 

From a mortgage broker's perspective, I have found that getting to know your lenders, creating a solid relationship over time, and even throwing in other broker referrals, tends to get you more savings in the long run rather than calling 100 lenders offering the same thing and plugging in to a spreadsheet which one is the cheapest and deciding from there. 

Not only will you save more in fees, rates, etc.. by being loyal to your lenders, but you will also get plenty of exceptions, files get priority to close faster, and you won't have to worry about bait and switch. 

Those are my two cents. But I am curious if any investors found calling around is a better strategy over the long haul?