[redwitch]

There are banks aplenty -- BofA, SunTrust, Colonial, Wachovia and so on. Several along 466 and 441 -- all convenient. TV will try to steer you to Citizen's. The advantage is they really do close on time and are the most efficient I've ever seen. They also are usually about 1/4 point higher than the average.

I'm also sure that if you look around, you'll find some mortgage brokers who can frequently find even better rates but are not as efficient and, if you're purchasing a new home, might create problems in closing on time.

I do know of some people who used Citizen's and then refied after the closing. I also know of one couple who started with their bank up north, had some problems and switched to Citizen's, who managed to close them within the 30-day period although they had less than 10 days to get all the documentation needed. It is a very well-oiled machine.