* Consult with friends and/or family who have been through the home loan process. Ask them for several referrals. Contact these lenders and get a sense of their approach to transacting business. Do you feel that you are being consulted or manipulated?

* Contact the Colorado Mortgage Lenders Association at 773-9565. Ask for a list of their lender members.

* Call the Better Business Bureau at 758-2100 and check to see if the company you are considering has had any complaints filed against it. You can also call the Colorado Attorney General’s Business Regulations Unit at 866-4500.

* Ask for a detailed breakdown of fees. Find out what fees are paid up front and what fees at closing. Ask the lender to explain the tax consequences of the loan.

* If you want to file a complaint against or have a problem with the lender call the CMLA’s consumer help line at 830-3834 or (800)611-4830.