Y o u're likely seeing a lot of  advertisements  these days from online mortgage lenders who want you to think that getting a mortgage on the web is quick and easy. So when researching  or applying for a mortgage or mortgage refinancing, should you forget the trip to your local banks, credit unions and other walk-in lenders?  As enticing as these ads may seem, the answer is: probably not. It's fine to begin researching a mortgage online. And ultimately you may decide that's where you should get your loan. But don’t expect it to be as simple and fast as some of those advertisements imply. And you may be able to find better deals elsewhere. Online mortgages gain in popularity Shopping for a mortgage online is becoming increasingly popular. In its  2017mortgage satisfaction study , J.D. Power reported that, for the first time, mortgage shoppers submitted their applications online more often than any other way, including by visiting a walk-in lender. But in its