Its brokers cut deals by asking few questions and reviewing even fewer documents, investigators say. For thousands of credit-crunched homeowners, New Century Financial appeared to be their savior. The California-based mortgage catered to the riskiest borrowers, even those with credit scores as low as 500. To ensure that you will be getting the best mortgage rate, find out if the lending company you are dealing with has a broker. This is fundamental if you want to get the best mortgage rates and save your money. Contracting a broker may mean additional fees to subtract from your budget.