The different types of sites differ markedly in terms of the extent to which they provide the features useful to consumers that are identified in What to Look For in a Mortgage Web Site . Referral sites are for consumers who for whatever reason intend to shop through conventional channels and whose first order of business is to compile a list of lenders who are active in their area. Lead-generation sites are for consumers with special needs that might not be met on a shopping site, particularly those with significant credit problems.
Shopping sites are for everyone else who can boot up a computer and use a mouse.
They are easy to identify because the lender's name will be prominently displayed on the screens. Single-lender sites account for the majority of all mortgage web sites. Most of the web sites of mortgage brokers fall in this category. The functionality of single-lender web sites runs the gamut, from a single screen advertisement that doesn't do anything, to elaborate interactive sites that include sophisticated tools, detailed price information, corporate background, and more. However, it is not possible to comparison shop across even the best of the single-lender sites.