Shopping Residential Loans

[Will F.]

It's been a while since I've shopped a residential loan (last few have been commercial).  I'm actually house hacking a three unit and need to pull out an owner occ residential conventional.

In the past,  I just went through lendingtree and chose the lowest rate I found or just went with lenders from the big banks I bank with.  I'm pretty sure that you can get unlimited credit pulls without affecting my score, as long as it's in the same 2 week period right?

I was thinking local credit unions, small local banks? Suggestions?  

Or is it beneficial to go through a mortgage broker and have them shop a bunch of loans? Or would I get lower rates going direct to banks?

I'm looking for lowest APR and few points, 30 year fixed. Thanks gang