Steve Cowman got me a great rate on a 30 year fixed mortgage. Sure, it helped that I happened to time the rates just about perfectly, but the fact remains I only paid a fair origination fee (on the front end) and nothing additional in fees (i.e. no yield spread premium or broker rebate) on the back end. Here's a tip. In your first meeting with him, offer to pay him a 1% origination fee, but nothing on the back end including any "float down" to go to you, and for documentation have him agree in advance to give you an updated "good faith estimate" 3 days before signing.