When I toyed with the idea of a mortgage, I used this site. I filled out the required information and sent it to them. I did not see an inquiry hit my CR from that information.
I received several calls within 48 hours, and I talked to several lenders. Here is where it went bad, I told them that I was not interested in a mortgage now. I wanted to just see different option and such. I gave my information to them, but I repeated that I did not want a mortgage now.
Guess what? 3 lenders pulled my CR, even though I specifically told them I did not want to get a mortgage now.
I think they are a fairly good option, but just make sure you are 100% ready to get the mortgage now.
Personally though, I think your local credit unions will probably beat the rates you can get on Lending Tree. If you do not mind me asking, what are your scores?
Starting Score: 583 EQ, 612 EX, 569 TUWith your middle score, you should be OK with getting a fairly good rate. However, I have heard of some lenders using the lower of the two couples middle score, which would hurt in your case.
If you have any baddies, I would get them cleaned up. At the same time I would lower the CC utilization below 10%. If either of these are on your CR, then cleaning it up will spike up the FICO scores.
I would still visit a credit union and look there. Also, I would check out the FHA website. They might be a good option, and with only 3% down as a minimum.
I hope it helps, but there are other gurus here that are a lot more knowledgeable than me. I am sure they will kick in their 2 cents.
Good luck!
Have seen a lot of talk on here with regard to them and home mortgage so went and took a quick peek at their site wondering if they do auto loans, which they do. Anyone have any experience with them on the auto loan side? Are they difficult to get a loan with, how are they to deal with, paperwork, customer service, etc? Thanks 
Thanks daWorm! Did you just fill out one app w/Lending Tree and one CR was pulled by them and a whole package was submitted to all of the banks they felt might approve you and then you received 4 offers from the ones that said "yes?" It seems like there are a lot of those companies out there that do the same kind of thing as Lending Tree. I've seen a lot of them that apparently look to help (or so they say) or get approved people with credit problems (slow pays, bankruptcies, etc). But I'm weary about these companies and the problem, as we all know here, is having too many pulls of your credit report. That would be great if the company you put the app in with is the only one that pulls and then THAT is submitted to the 5, 6 or 7 (or whatever) banks as opposed to you go straight to all those banks and having 5, 6, 7 (or whatever) pulls on your report. 