Mortgage Broker or Mortgage Banker?

Today I spoke to a nice young man who is a mortgage broker. I've generally in the course of my real estate career sent more business to a mortgage banker vs. broker for a number of reasons including but not limited to "perceived lower cost" in terms of origination fees, in house processing etc. As the market has changed, especially the credit markets as well I thought I'd post this question to all of you - 1) in today's market would you rather work with a broker or banker and secondly what criteria or questions do you ask a new lending partner before sending them any business. Mine tend to be a little bit of shooting the breeze (build rapport, if there's no chemistry chances are we're not going to hit it off during a difficult transaction), I check to see who they've worked with (REALTORs) who I might know, how long in the business etc. Anyone of you got some mind blowing questions to use, I'd love to hear about them.

thanks! Happy 4th to all you lucky folks that get to take the weekend off - I will be staying back in the valley bracing the heat :(

Uzi Husain, REALTOR(R)

serving greater Phoenix & Scottsdale with a special emphasis in Goodyear!