Next-Gen (better, new american) vs local lenders?

[Josh Lustig]

BP Hive Mind:

Any brilliant thoughts on this? Of course, I see better rates (and perhaps $$ off fees if you find a comparable offer ex: price matching+$1000 off from better.com) from some of the online-only orgs, but I have heard the counterpoint that local lenders often move just as quickly and use local appraisers.

Personally, for my first rental, I used a local lender and then refi'd later with better.com. Had a good experience with both, but worried about closing with better.com given some of the (albeit not many) horror stories posted here. Curious to hear other folks' experiences.