Advantages of Going to a "Big 4" bank?

Hi everyone, I finally signed a contract--just put in my 10 percent deposit. All this after a 13-month search, which included scores of Open Houses and 7 previous, failed bids in bidding wars So I'm ecstatic and relieved and also exhausted. Now on to the mortgage application. Please answer the following questions, if you can 1)In another thread, someone alluded to the "Big 4 banks" in NYC (for... [more]

Hi everyone, I finally signed a contract--just put in my 10 percent deposit. All this after a 13-month search, which included scores of Open Houses and 7 previous, failed bids in bidding wars So I'm ecstatic and relieved and also exhausted. Now on to the mortgage application. Please answer the following questions, if you can 1)In another thread, someone alluded to the "Big 4 banks" in NYC (for mortgage financing). Which are they: Bank of America, Wells, ??? 2)What's up with the Bankrate and Streeteasy (Zillow) mortgage search engines? When I go on bankrate.com to research typical rates for the loan I"m looking for, I get "sorry: no products are available for you." I get this message, even though I've selected many different loan products: 30 year fixed, 15 year fixed, 7 year ARM. Here's the thing: I'm a fairly safe applicant (financially). Im looking for a non-Jumbo loan. 60 percent down on a 1.266m property; 810 credit score; no debts; stable job with salary in the top 3 to 5% for NYC; after closing, will have almost enough in liquid reserves to pay off my mortgage early. I'm not too worried about getting a mortgage, because I've already been pre-approved for Wells, and my banker just quoted me a rate of 3.865 % for 30-year-fixed (and 2.875 for 7-year ARM). I'm just curious why no results come up for me when I go on Bankrate.com. Similarly, when I check Streeteasy's search engine, the results that pop up for me are few and far between. Sometimes just 3 lenders, and the rates are much higher than what my banker at Wells Fargo quoted. What's going on? I feel like I"m in the Twilight Zone? Does Streeteasy's search engine return results only from their sponsors--and that's why the lenders are names I've never heard of before? But why does Bankrate give me to total diss--no results! LOL 3)Also, how important is it to get a mortgage from a Big 4 or Big 7 or Biggie Big (may he R.I.P.) bank--as opposed to a Joe Schmo Small Village Community Bank? I just visited another site, LendingTree.com, to research typical rates. The results that came up always include 2 or 3 banks whose names I've never heard of. If one of these smaller, less prestigious banks ends up giving me the best overall product, shouldn't I just go with them? Thanks so much for any feedback. CoyWolf [less]