I actually have an interest in LendingTree...I have a fairly strong interest since I am an employee. In speaking with one of the moderators, we agreed that I may be able to provide some insight into the program.

In response to the previous statement by bocastephen, I agree that you need to factor in the length of time in determining the value of miles you will receive versus the overall value of the loan. However, I don't think that a person should sacrifice their interest rate in favor of mileage, except in exceptional situations. (Maybe you will only be in the home for a few years and you could really use the extra plane ticket). The number of customers seeking shorter term or adjustable rate mortgages is definitely growing as more and more homeowners learn about the process and the large amount of money which can be saved if the loan program fits their needs.

In response to many other postings throughout the FlyerTalk Forums, the rates and fees received by customers associated with the airline partners should be no higher than a regular LendingTree customer for a couple of reasons:

-in many cases, Lenders are not aware that the customer is even affiliated with an airline program. They may not find out that the customer is due miles until after the closing.
-the cost of any and all miles which are given to a customer through LendingTree is paid by LendingTree, not the Lender or Real Estate agent. LendingTree does not pass these costs on to Lenders and therefore, Lenders have no reason to pass any additional costs on to the consumer.
-The same lenders are used for LendingTree requests and requests associated with an airline.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I am not here to sell you on LendingTree-just wanted to clear up any misconceptions about the program. If you have any questions, let me know. Sorry this post ended up so looooong.

Eric