Fair question, but thin markets squeeze lenders too. When origination volume is thin, many lenders are already operating on very slim or even negative margins per loan. Absorbing credit report and application costs on top of that doesn't win business in any sustainable way. It just deepens the loss on each file, and chasing volume with margins too thin to survive is a losing strategy. Not all volume is good volume. So the better way to evaluate a loan officer goes beyond who shaves off the smallest fees. A loan officer is a financial partner for your whole homeownership, and if you invest, your real estate journey: someone who structures the right loan for your situation, catches problems early, and still answers the phone years later when you want to refinance or buy again. A few hundred dollars of upfront fees is small next to the cost of the wrong loan structure or a deal that falls apart at the finish line. Compare the full package (the rate, the total fees, the guidance, the reliability) rather than optimizing for the lowest line item. The cheapest quote and the best outcome are often different lenders.