Berkeley Parents Network: Mortgage Brokers

Berkeley Parents Network

Mortgage Brokers

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Legal & Financial Services > Mortgage Brokers

Need a broker for advice about buying another house
Broker for a Mixed-Use Loan
Mortgage Broker for Refinancing
Mortgage Broker for someone with bad credit
Patient Mortgage Brokers for first-time buyer
Thinking about buying a house
What's the usual fee for a mortgage broker?
Refinancing, Not Very Financially Savvy
Where to get a home equity loan
Berkeley mortgage broker
First-time buyer with modest income
Refinancing second mortgages
Unsolicited Reviews of Mortgage Brokers
Older Recommendations
Related page: Real Estate Agents

Need a broker for advice about buying another house

July 2007

I've already checked the archives and am looking for some current mortgage broker recommendations. We're thinking about buying another house and need some creative advice on the best options. Clueless

Mary Lou Till from LaMorinda Funding Group is the person for you! She's VERY creative, and deeply devoted to her clients. She's one of the top producers nationally and does that by repeat business. Her clients just love her. Call her at (925) 282-6015. Her e-mail is marylou[at]lamorindafunding.com. Julie G

For a superior mortgage broker specialist who can help you find the best options for your loan, call Jim Aron at (510) 644-2205. He knows things that most of us aren't even aware of and he's very honest and easy to talk to. He's the best. Lynch.larry

I very highly recommend Gwen Hoople. Over the years, she's helped me with 2 home purchases, refinancing as well as setting up a home equity line. She's very knowledgeable, very thorough and absolutely a wonderful person to deal with. She will give sound advice and would never talk anyone into any risky arrangements. I'd never choose anyone else for my mortgage and related needs. You can reach her at (510) 301-3037 or at gwen@mortgageholmgren.com. Good luck! Rosie

Jenny Shore of Alternative Mortgage Sources is incredibly knowledgeable, resourceful and personable. I can give her my highest recommendation. Her phone is 652-7900, or email her at jenny[at]altmortg.com David

I highly recommend Zach Griffin of La Salle Financial Services. We have used him a few times and know other people who have used him. They all rave about him, as do we. He is smart, creative, and very nice. When we bought our first home more than 10 years ago, we didn't have much money. He helped us find great loans and avoid PMI. He later helped us with an equity line of credit on that house. Then, for our most recent home purchase, he worked extremely quickly to help us make an offer a house...when we weren't even shopping for a house! We saw a house, decided then and there we wanted to move, called Zach to help us get a letter together to go with the offer that was due in a few days. Then he helped us get our loan for the new house. All immediate, no lag, no hassle. He just handles everything efficiently and well. I can't say enough good things about him and his support staff. I *hate* financial dealings with a passion, but I never mind dealing with him. He makes it so easy. Zach Griffin La Salle Financial Services Direct: 510.339.4300 x 117 http://lasallefinance.com/zgriffin.html His office is in the Montclair district of Oakland. good luck!

Evelyn Rogerson, who works with Atticus Mortgage Group is a great broker. Not only is she filled with knowledge and good at getting you the mortgage you need, but she can explain it so it makes sense. Her number is 510 501 8473 or evelyn[at]vicjoshi.com Sydney M

I cannot recommend Ken West highly enough. I am a single mom and Ken was very creative--he helped me buy and refinance my home (twice) and he has helped several friends do the same. He was recommended to me by two friends who have worked with him for 10 years. He is exactly what you want. When I told him I needed to make repairs and could I refi, he pulled my credit report while we talked, took notes and told me when the rates were favorable, he would give me a call. Several weeks later, he called and followed through with the refi. Plus, he is a great human being and will travel to you. I have never seen the inside of his office. Ken can be reached at 415.383.9203. Tell him Michelle A says hi. Best of luck. michelle

i very highly recommend jenny shore. i'm a single mom with an under the table job and Jenny was able to get a no-doc loan and 100% financing so that i could buy a duplex. she is extremely creative and very helpful. she even helped me figure out that it was not a good idea to buy a place that i had been interested before i saw mine even though it would have been in her self interest to have me buy the place. she is very smart, very personable and and is able to explain all the money stuff...even to me, and i hate numbers! jenny shore 510-652-7900 jenny[at]alternativemortgagesources.com happy homeowner

Hi, my good friend, Jenny Shore, is an excellent mortgage broker. She can find amazing loans for anyone. I didn't think I would ever be able to secure a loan for the house that I bought a little over a year ago and she got me a good loan with a great rate. She worked really hard to help me to get me the best deal on the market and to understand all the terms and lingo. Her office is in Emeryville and she works with an office in San Francisco called Alternative Mortgage. I've sent many friends to her and they all were able to get loans or refis and were extremely happy with her knowledge, creativity and dedication. Her office number is 510-652-7900. Allison

Our favorite mortgage broker is Jenny Shore of Alternative Mortgages. We've used Jenny for a couple of refinances on our old home and then very recently on the purchase for our new home. She is so thoughtful and easy to talk to, and she possesses a tremendous sense of integrity. She found several solutions for some potentially tricky scenarios for us, and worked very closely with us to find the best loan for our needs. Nothing seems impossible for her, and she is so careful to make sure the whole process is as un-stressful as possible, even though all mortgages are stressful from my perspective (although nobody else seems to get as stressed-out about such things as much as I do). If it's possible to enjoy such a process, then Jenny is the one to make that happen! Her office is in Emeryville, but we often met where it was most convenient for us. She's very flexible that way. We also really appreciate that she's on the cutting edge of finding ways to ''Green'' the mortgage business and works with all kinds of creative buyers and properties. Her number is 510-652-7900. You should at least call her and find out if she's a good fit. Your mortgage broker is somebody who you should totally be able to trust and connect with. We highly recommend Jenny. Good luck! Julia

Hello! Here is a great person for a discussion of what your needs are concerning a mortgage. She is trustworthy, she will listen and give you want you want. Here is her name Julia Demeter at 520-9700. email is: julia[at]mortgageholmgren.com Karen K

I am a former mortgage broker and know many loan people - lots of mediocre and bad ones; every now and then a real professional. Here are two that you can trust to guide you through any scenario: Rise Myers, 925-838-4820 risemyers[at]sbcglobal.net

Nathan Petrowsky, 510-541-7382 or 925-465-7105 nathan.petrowsky[at]charterfunding.com
jessica

We have worked with Jenny Shore of Alternative Mortgage Services (510) 652-7900. I can not say enough about how helpful she has been. She has been smart, proactive, available and caring in her efforts to help us buy our next home. My wife and I have bought three houses, but we always seem to have to re-learn everything each time. Jenny is a patient and skilled teacher and support as well as being very astute about her business. Plus, she is a genuine person and a delight to be around. A rare combination. I cannot recommend her more highly. David

Broker for a Mixed-Use Loan

May 2007

I am seeking a loan to renovate an apartment in a building that I co-own in NYC in order to bring it to market value. The building has two apartments, and a restaurant below. The building is paid for in full. I do not want to refinance my residence in CA (for various reasons), but am having a difficult time finding a lender due to the issue of 'mixed-use''. Does anyone have any advice or a broker to recommend for this? I am looking for a loan of approx. 150K and would like to repay within 5-7 years. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Anon

I, too, found it impossible to find a lender for a small mixed-use building. My solution was to get a $250k equity loan on my residence. If you have $150k equity in your home, you might shop around for an equity loan. Joann

Mortgage Broker for Refinancing

April 2007

Does anyone know of any good mortgage brokers to help me with a refinance of my property? I've got a variable interest rate that's going way too high and I don't want to just go with any lender, worrying that they could go belly up. Ideally I'd like to go with an interest only loan, but then I would probably want to do an addition to my property in order to afford the higher payment. So someone who has experience with costruction loans would be good too. thanks, Nader N

I think Zack Griffin of La Salle is the best. We have worked with him a few times over the past 10 years. Several other people we know have also used his services and rave about him. He is on top of everything,very creative, and great about seeking out the best loans. I cannot recommend him highly enough. I HATE anything finance-related, but it is never confusing or scary when I'm dealing with him. For example, we were planning a remodel and weren't even shopping for a house. We saw a house we liked and decided to bail on the remodel and make an offer, which was due in two days...after a weekend. We called Zach and he hopped to it, got a letter together for us and got loan paperwork started, and we got the house. I don't know if any other loan officer would have worked that hard that quickly. I feel he definitely made a difference for us. Here is his info: Zach Griffin Loan Consultant http://lasallefinance.com/zgriffin.html

The person you ought to contact is Jenny Shore of Alternative Mortgage. She is one of the brightest people I know. She thoroughly knows the mortgage market and all the products out there. I could not recommend anyone more highly. You can call Jenny at 652-7900, or email her: jenny@altmortg.com David

I have a great mortgage broker who has helped us with two refinancings and, more recently, with buying a new house. He's very knowledgeable and a nice guy. His name is Roger Smith at LaSalle Financial in Montclair. Phone: 510-339-4300 Cathy

Rose Sherzai at Holmgren Associates (510-339-2121)is the absolute best. She actually hears and keeps in mind your specific goals instead of just shoehorning you into a package. She's right on top of every detail and has a wonderful manner with clients. I really can't recommend her highly enough. Brenda

Patient Mortgage Brokers for first-time buyer

Feb. 2003

I'm looking for a good mortgage broker who knows a lot about deals for first time home buyers and someone who is patient and clear and can explain things to someone who doesn't have a mind for numbers. Danielle

I'd like to recommend my great mortgage broker, Aubrey Bartlett, 650-577-5890 office, 415-572-7832 cell, with Pacific Guarantee Mortgage- he works the whole Bay Area. He is very experienced and has all the connections you could possibly need. He quickly found and locked just the mortgage that I needed (twice) and my situation was a bit complicated. And in addition, he is an exceptionally nice person- not pushy & sleazy like the previous broker that I worked with! You can tell him that Cecelia recommended him. Cfl

I ''inherited'' my mortgage broker from my father in law who has worked with him for 20 years. This guy is absolutely great! He helped me buy our house, refinance it, and is now working on a line of equity for my parents. He is very patient, extremely personable, and does a great great job at getting the very best rates. Please let him know I recommended him to you. But be aware - he is a very persistent salesman. So be clear about your decision once you make it. Merton Chun, Nova Mortgage, 2647 21st Avenue, SF CA 94116. (415) 665-3188. He does mortgages all over the Bay Area. Peter

We are currently working with Marjo Shaffer of Residential Pacific Mortgage as we get ready to purchase our next home. She is at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 195 in Alamo. Her phone number is 925-831-1855, her e-mail is marjo AT rpm-mortgage.com, and her website is www.rpm-mortgage.com/majo. I am not good with numbers and I have been very pleased with Marjo and her ability to explain things to me. Lori

We used Mitch Grashin in North Berkeley when we bought our house and we have since done two re-finances with him. What I like about him is he listens carefully to what our needs are, and then suggests different options, giving us the pros and cons of each one. He is very knowledgeable, and is good at explaining all the different advantages and disadvantages to someone who doesn't know much about financing. He is proactive without being pushy, and is a nice guy too, a dad with schoolaged kids in I think El Cerrito. His email address is mitch AT mortgageholmgren.com Ginger

Mortgage Broker for someone with bad credit

April 2005

Hello. I'd like recommendations for a trustworthy mortgage broker who works with clients with bad credit who are not too knowledgable about the mortgage process. My husband is trying to get the family home from his name into his brother's name so that it is no longer a liability for him. His brother wants the house and wants to assume the outstanding mortgage balance. However, he has terrible credit and has not been proactive in doing things like obtaining his credit report. I ordered it for him but he needed to send in info clarifying that his address was a residential address and not commercial and he hasn't followed up and sent that in yet. I want to take the next step and find him a mortgage broker to move this process along. Also, interest rates are rising. Any good recommendations are welcome! THANKS!!

Jason Russell of Rob Wolf & Associates is a fantastic broker who always gets the deal done. He has worked with clients with 100% financing, poor credit, self-employed, no verified assets, etc. Unlike many brokers who sit on the paperwork until the last minute, Jason gets things out the door immediately. He has appraisers that he works with to make sure that your appraisal is lined up as quickly as possible, and he really breaks his back getting the deal done in time or even early! It really makes a difference in today's competitive real estate market to have someone who can close your deal in 14 or 21 days, and Jason also has a great reputation among real estate agents. He also promptly responds to emails and returns phone calls and makes himself available to explain all your options. He does not just farm out your work to some lower down broker! He also knows all the little loopholes with the different lenders to help you get the best available rate, and unlike brokers who will "sell" you on an initial too good to be true rate, what Jason tells you is what you will get - period. We own several properties and have worked with other brokers, and no one can get a deal done like Jason. We started out like you with poor credit, no history of income (because we are self-employed) and no down payment, yet Jason got us our first house and with his help, we now own three properties and are considering a fourth, only two years later! Our net worth has gone up tremendously since we've been able to get in the real estate market. His work made all the difference to us! He and his family also live in the Claremont/Rockridge area, so he knows the East Bay. I highly recommend him! Mike and Jen

Thinking about buying a house

Dec. 2002

Hi - we're thinking about buying a home and would like a current recommendation for a mortgage broker. I've seen some on the site, but they're all a year or more old. thanks! Stacy

Hi, We just refinanced (about to close) our mortgage and used Gary Paul at Chase in Walnut Creek. His phone number is 925-256-4120 x208 and his email is Gary.S.Paul at chase.com. We got great rates, and he was very responsive. Let him know I referred you, if you use him. Michael

My sister and I recently bought a house together and we used Lisa Wagner from KLA Mortgage 558 -6830, on Solano Ave. in Albany. She's wonderful, she got us a great loan and fabulous interest rate with our not-so-great credit, and at the last minute, our deal was about to drop through due to a mistake at our title co., and she stayed late to make sure that everything got straightened out. She knows tons about everything- including tax, and she explains anything you want. She's great. Brenda

I can recommend a fellow PTA board member who runs a mortgage brokerage. The following is the contact information: Thomas Tankka NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HOME MORTGAGE Tel/Fax: 510.338.1078 Email: norcal-mtg AT pacbell.net Maria

to the poster interested in finding a mortgage broker. i highly recommend bezhad zandi - 415- 892 - 2006. I did my original mortgage, and several refinancings, with him. Great service and good rates. margo

For a great mortgage broker, try Gwen Hoople at 559-4005. She is smart, conscientious, and very hardworking. You can count on her to get you a great deal and to make the process as smooth as possible. Betsy

I would like to recommend Glenn de Cicco (cell # 510-414-GLEN). He arranged our mortgage when we bought our house and is now helping us re-finance it. I have found I needed to nag other brokers to get estimates/responses from them, but Glenn has always answered promptly to our calls. Also, we shopped around with different lenders, and he defintely got us the best deal. Regards. EP

Hi. We just refinanced with Jim Park at Park Place Financial and I got his name off the Parents Network. He's nice, knowledgeable, and the refi was really quick - 4 weeks from start to finish. His number is 925-399-6315. He's in Pleasanton but we did everything by fax, fedex, phone and then at the end he sent the notary public out to our house. How easy is that?! Happy Refi Customer

What's the usual fee for a mortgage broker?

Nov. 2002

We are refinancing our house after doing major renovations and additions and have been working with a mortgage broker who is very responsive and helpful (unlike our prior broker). However, he is asking for a commission/fee of 1% of the total loan, which is a good-sized chunk of cash. This seems high to me, but I'm having trouble finding comparisons. What is the usual fee for such services? Joe

I worked at a mortgage firm before my baby was born. Broker normally charges anywhere from 0.5-3%. But since the interest rate is quite low at this time, you may ask for no point no fee. Which means you don't have to pay for any commission or any other closing fees. You can always cancel your loan (before signing your loan doc) if you are not happy with the fees that you need to pay for. I am not sure how far are you in the process of getting this loan, but it will be wise if you can shop around more. Now is a perfect time to do a refinancing. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask me. sam

Refinancing, Not Very Financially Savvy

Sept. 2002

Has anyone refinanced their mortgage in the recent month or two? Any recommendations on where to start--who has a good rate, low (or no) points, etc? What about taking out a home equity line of credit? Is it better to just take the cash out with the refinance, or do a separate home equity line of credit (especially if the remodeling won't be done right away)? How does that work? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks. Signed, Not Very Financially Savvy

For your refinancing needs and questions, I can recommend Denise Davis at Key Mortgage. Her email address is denise.davis at keymortgage.com and her phone number is 415/446-1879. She was excruciatingly patient with me to get me up to speed on the pluses/minuses of refinancing and when it makes sense to do so. I've had friends call her, who after Denise crunched the numbers, said it really didn't make sense for them to refinance at this time. So, that indicated to me, she's just not out for the sale. Please give her a call and tell her Patty sent you. Patty

I just recently got my 2nd Home Equity Line of Credit. This type of financing was a better fit for me than refinancing because it's like having money in a bank account. You only pay on what you use. For instance, if you get a HELOC for 70,000 but end up only using 30,000 or not using all of it right away that's what your payments are based on. The first time I went on line to LendingTree.com because every convential bank turned me down. I got offers from 3 different sources including Wells Fargo, and chose the one that I liked the best. There were no points, no hidden costs, no closing fees and an incredible 4.5 interest rate. When I wanted the 2nd HELOC I went directly to that bank online and got a response in a couple of minutes. The notary comes to you at your convenience 24-7 to sign the papers. It's incredibly easy and obviously I highly recommend it. If you have any other questions please ask. Rachel

If you are looking to lower your interest rate and/or want to consolidate other loans (that would include auto loans, education loans, credit card debts or any other debt that you have), it might be better to refinance and take out a line of credit. But if you are only looking at getting money to remodel, a line of credit might be the way to go. If you need more advice or help, feel free to call me, I am actually a loan agent! 510-334-5358

Dear Not Very Financially Savvy ;-) The place to start is to decide what type of loan you need. A home equity line is usually what's wanted for a remodeling project that will be paid for over an extended time, because you don't borrow (and make payments on) the money until you need it. But equity lines generally have variable interest rates and annual fees, so in some circumstances a plain fixed-rate mortgage refi which gives you cash out can be a better choice. If you want both remodeling money and a lower interest rate, you might do *both* - refinance your current mortgage with a lower-rate mortgage in just the amount of your current balance, plus get an equity line, from the same or a different lender. By closing both at the same time you could save some costs. You might want to meet with a mortgage broker or accountant for some help determining what's right for you.

Next, you have to shop for the best deal. One place to start is on the Internet. There are a lot of web sites that allow you to compare different loan packages and see what the prevailing rates are. Another place to start is with your current lender. If you're happy with them and you've been a good customer, they may be willing to refinance and/or set up an equity line for you with very minimal costs (because they don't need to extensively re-underwrite you or your house). And yet another option is to meet with an in-person mortgage broker, who can offer you the best deal among many lenders. If you have any credit problems, a broker is usually the best choice because he or she can search out the best package you can qualify for - and generally, brokers' fees are paid by the lender, not the borrower, so it doesn't cost you anything extra. Good luck! Holly

I would like to recommend Russell Doi of First Residential Funding. He's on Solano Avenue in Berkeley, and his phone number is 526-6554. He's very knowledgable, but not a high pressure sales type. Kim

I've used the services of Sue Thomas at LaSalle Financial for the past several years. I guess I've had about transactions which involved purchasing or refinancing. I think that she and her staff are excellent. The phone number is 339-4300. Indigo

I can give a glowing recommendation to Jill Friedlander! She helped us get great loans on 100% financing (yes, we were desperate). We had been working with a different mortage broker before Jill and the other was awful -- very sales oriented, very cheesy, and ethically challenged (lied, ignored messages from us, and almost lost our chance at getting our house). We were wary of mortgage brokers after that experience and were plesantly surprised when Jill turned out to be friendly, helpful, and very professional. She works in Novato but don't let that bother you -- we moved from San Jose and she was very accomodating. Her contact information is (415) 506-0200 or JillLoans AT aol.com. Tell her Laurel and Jack sent you because I think she works on referrals mostly. laurel

We used Tom Nitsan of MPR financial 510-527-6146. I never actually met him but dealt with all business over the phone and by email. We found good rates with him and found him to be be responsive and professional. Good luck. Loraine

I can highly recommend Denise Davis at Key Mortgage. She has been very creative in finding the right loan to fit our lifestyle and repayment needs. Her email address is denise.davis AT keymortgage.com and her phone number is 415/446-1879. Tell her that Patty sent you. Good luck! Patty

Tom Nitsan is a great mortgage broker. He's with MPR Financial (apparently, they're all great in that office.) 510-527-6146. Refinancing is very very easy when Tom's on the case. I did a lot of research on my own and came up with nothing that could compare with what Tom was offering. We chose the no-cost mortgage, which was absolutely painless. Now our interest rate is 6.75% and we save about $150/month. Jodi

I highly recommend Tom Nitsan at MPR Financial... phone 510- 527-6146 or email tom at mprfinancial.com. We worked with him when we bought our house originally and he's helped us with 2 refinances. He's really great about providing different options (rates, costs, points) and explaining them. We've always found him helpful and really easy to work with. Kana

I worked with Ian Cartan of Western American Mortgage both for my initial house purchase and for my refinance. He is wonderful--thorough, knowledgeable, and proactive. He's also very personable. 510/339-4070, in Montclair. Jennie

Hi, you are welcome to call me at 510-558-3192 (home) or 510-334-5358 (cell). I work with a mortgage company called Tri-Bay Financial Group, it's located in the city and offers excellent service. You can visit their link at www.tri-bay.com. amymike8199 AT yahoo.com

My partner and I have refinanced several times in the past two years, and we highly recommend Jackie Muzio of Metro Mortgage. She has been efficient, forthright, and patient with our many questions. We have refinanced on a no-fee basis, getting a slightly higher rate, but bearing no cost for the transaction. Jackie can be reached at (707)527-6744 or metromortgage AT hotmail.com. Avi

I have the MOST FANTASTIC mortgage broker: He gets great rates on NO COST, NO FEE mortgages (and I mean REALLY no cost -- nothing!), he makes the paperwork super simple, he sends a notary to you if you need it so you don't need to EVER go into his office, AND he'll contact you every 90 days if rates go down so you can re-fi (again at no cost, no fee). He really has been fantastic -- after using another mortgage broker on my original purchase, I've used this guy to refinance twice now, and he's brought my rate down over 2 percentage points, very painlessly. His name is Jim Muglie at Preferred Financial. His number is (925)820-5557. If you use him, PLEASE give him my name and let him know that I referred you, as he keeps track of referrals, etc. Good luck! And feel free to contact me by email if you have any questions. Sharon

I have a WONDERFUL broker - Marsha Corbett Walker at CMG Mortgage. She helped us buy our first home and refinanced our second. We went with another broker for the purchase of our second home and were VERY sorry. Marsha will do backflips for you and she is very low-pressure. My mom considered refinancing and needed some questions answered. Marsha has been patiently answering questions for months and has never pressured my mom at all. I can't say enough good things about her! 800-881-5463 Her office is in Walnut Creek, but she does everything by mail, fax or phone as needed. Jaime

We have refinanced 3 times in the last 2 years with Sam Fishman of Fishman Financial on Solano Ave. and haven't paid a penny to refinance. Sam was our mortgage broker when we bought, and he was easy to work with then too. He can be very chatty which might bother some people, and he sometimes assumes that you know all the ins and outs, but we have always had a good experience overall. I think his style is very ''gentlemanly.'' In fact, HE CALLS US when interest rates go down enough to make it worth refinancing, with some line like ''it's time to rock and roll!'' With every refinance transaction, our monthly goes down about $100. I think the process is well worth it. Fishman Financial is 528-2255. Claire

Our mortgage broker, Jeffrey Arnold, we've used for over 7 years for 3 refinances and 3 mortgages. We've been very happy with his service, he's very knowledgeable about mortgages as well as general finance and investments issues, and has always found us incredible deals. He is based in Orinda but travels far and wide. His number is: 925 254 5569 e-mail: jeffreydarnold AT msn.com Naomi

Where to get a home equity loan

July 2002

Can anyone recommend a place to get a home equity loan? Is there any advantage in going to the bank where I've had my accounts for 10+ years? My first mortgage is with the previous owners, so I've never gotten a commercial mortgage. I've been going on various websites but I'm a little overwhelmed by the range of possibilities so would like to hear some success stories or warnings of who to avoid. Melinda

I highly recommend Larry Martinez at Chase Manhattan. His phone number is 800-570-5701 ext. 213. He has helped us and other family members with a number of different types of loans. Chase's rates are competitive and the closing costs have been less than what we would have paid through a mortgage broker. Larry is very knowledgeable, reliable and responsive. We think he's great. If you happen to be an attorney, Chase also offers a State Bar discount on the interest rate. amy

To the subscriber looking for a home equity loan......... I would strongly recommend Behzad Zandi, sorry I can't remember the name of the mortgage brokerage he works for but his phone number is 415- 892 - 2006. I have refinanced my house three times with him in the last two years, at no cost to me because they build in a spread. However my rates have absolutely been comparable to, and hve tracked, the market as interest rates have fallen. He also facilitated my home equity line........ Margo Kimball. mbkimball

Bayridge Realty helped me refinance my house and take out some equity. The loan process went quickly and smoothly. Steve Zager, the owner was super helpful, clear, nice and prompt. The office is in Berkeley at 1345 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, across from Fat Apples (tel. 524-3333).

We got our home equity loan through Lending Tree.com. They are supposed to contact different banks with your information and then the banks contact you and make an offer. Supposedly, because they know other banks want your business, you will get good offers, but we were only contacted by one bank, but our interest rate is pretty good, so it's OK. Toby

We got our home equity line through our regional bank Mt. Diablo Bank (Danville branch). They may have a branch in Orinda. In December, the rate was prime rate + 0%. An exceptional rate as the prime rate went down to 4.50% right after we signed (and has stayed there). Of course you're always at risk of the prime rate moving up. No prepayment penalty. Don't know if they still offer this rate, but I learned it's well worth looking regionally, as the big banks couldn't come close. We also got a number of other great contacts from the local bank, such as a contractor for our remodel who has turned out to be exceptional. ndaetz

Berkeley mortgage broker

March 2002

Would anyone recommend a mortgage broker to help us refinance? Someone ethical, smart, well-informed and organized, and preferably in the Berkeley area. Melanie

We were really pleased with Lauren Dunlap, who is a mortgage broker with Nova, 540-7911. She works in Berkeley. My neighbor recommended her to us; she took care of our paperwork promptly (came over on a Sunday!); gave us all the information we needed; kept us informed; great service-we couldn't have been happier. Kathy

We've worked with a mortgage broker in Alameda a couple of times (for initial purchases and recently refinance). Several friends have also used him and been very happy. Gets great rates, very good at helping get your application approved in a reasonable period and handles all the details. His name is Richard Pavao, and his company is California Real Estate Finance, which you should be able to get from information, since I'm not sure where I've put his number. Vali

This is recommend Sam Fishman (528-2255) as a mortgage broker. He takes the time to look at your needs, to evaluate the options, and to offer you choices on finding a mortgage to fit your pocketbook. His office staff is responsive, efficient, and nice to work with. His office is on Solano, across from Safeway. Merry

I just refinanced and consolidated my mortgages (1st+2nd) with E-loan with an excellent rate, no points and low cost. The process was fast, smooth, pleasurable, not to mention the United Miles that come along with it. All exchanges were by phone/e-mail and the notary came to my office for the signatures. Perhaps it was easy because I am an ''easy loan'' (high credit scores and loan-to-value) and I happend to get a very personable service rep, but I would strongly recommend them.

I highly recommend the mortgage broker, Joseph Nichols, with Schnell Investments in Berkeley, 525,4050. He worked with us a long time through many house bids and always provided very sensible advice (when asked.) When we finally got into contract, he managed to help us close in less than 30 days, even during crazy refinancing times. My real estate agent said that Joseph was a miracle worker. Miracles or not, I found him to be very organized and ethical. Sherri

Fabulous mortgage broker in Albany: Karen Ward at RE Loan Mortgage (her business). She can be reached at 510-559-4004 or 4000 I've worked with her for years. She's very ethical, bright and fun to work with. Good luck. Wendy

First-time buyer with modest income

November 2001

These low interest rates have started us thinking about buying a house, despite our very modest incomes. Can anyone recommend some type of financial planner who is knowledgeable about real estate (we'd be first time buyers) who could help us evaluate the pros and cons of buying, and help us find out about financing options? It might be nice if this person could also do future taxes (we've always done our own) and could help evaluate a potential purchase with tax implications in mind. The financial planner recommendations on the web don't mention anyone with expertise in real estate. Berkeley/Oakland is preferable, but a good match is more important than location.

Regarding the need for financial planning related to real estate, as a broker of 23 years ,I have given much advice for first time buyers, but I also can recommend my tax person who also has a real estate broker license, Paula at Financial Fitness Center in Oakland. Good Luck. Tim Cannon berkeleyhome AT aol DOT com

Karen Ward is a mortgage broker in Albany who is very service oriented and knowledgable about tax implications etc. of purchasing - especially the first home. You can reach her at 510-559-4000 Good Luck, Sharon

Refinancing second mortgages

September 2001

Can anyone recommend a place that will refinance a second mortgage only? Lots of brokers want to combine the first and second to refinance, but we don't want to touch our first mortgage. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks. Patty

Call Joe Acker from Partners Mortgage in Montclair at 339-4450. He will be happy to talk to you and propose some options. He has been very helpful with re-financing our first mortgage, getting us a second (separate from our first) mortgage and we are now looking to refinance the second mortgage only. He has excellent relationphips with many lenders and has so far always gotten us an excellent deal. Jana

More Reviews of Mortgage Brokers

Sept 2006

Excellent Mortgage Consultant
I've been meaning to write this for the past month (since we moved into our new home in N. Berkeley). For anyone looking to finance the purchase of a home or to refinance your current mortgage, I highly recommend Brian Moggan at Princeton Capital (his office is on La Salle in Montclair Village). He is very friendly and knowledgable, explains things extremely well, stayed one step ahead during the entire escrow process, and obtain a very competitive rate for us. Even more than that: he would come to our home for meetings since we had to meet in the evening and our baby would be going down for bedtime. We never had to meet at his office, arrange for a sitter, miss any work, etc. We didn't even have to ask him to do this, when he found out we had a 5 month old (when we first spoke on the phone), he offered to have the meeting at our house. When we had an issue arise at the last moment before closing (an issue really the fault of the title company), he didn't present us with a problem and make us scramble; he informed us of the problem and already had a solution as well. He was great, and I can't recommend him highly enough. His contact information is: Brian Moggan, Princeton Capital, phone: 510 -339-4719, email: brianmoggan@princetoncap.com Melody

Nov 2005

Excellent Mortgage Broker
I highly recommend Brian Corey as a mortgage broker. My wife and I worked with him recently because we were considering a refinance or a second mortgage to get cash for a remodel. Although we thought we knew what we wanted when we contacted him (a refinance), Brian spent a lot of time helping us understand different options, even though all of them would bring him less income than a refinance. He ultimately helped us decide that a home equity line of credit would be best for us, although that is his least profitable option. After doing a lot of work on our behalf, he finally suggested that we simply ask our bank to improve the rate on our existing line (meaning he made nothing from the deal). Brian was quick to respond to e-mails and phone calls, and was very friendly. We could not have been happier with our experience with Brian. You can reach Brian at bcorey[at]1stblackhawk.com.
MW

April 2005

Jan 2005

Can you recommend an honest, patient, and intelligent mortgage broker? The archives listing's are over a year old and I'd love to get more recent recommendations. Please let me know how much they charge also. Thanks so much.

Hi, I am looking to buy a home, for the first time... and would like to get some recommendations of trustworthy mortgage brokers. Looks like the last time that the recommendations were updated on the web was 2003. Thank you, Scott

We used Lisa Wagner at KLA Mortgage in Albany. She is a straight shooter, reliable, quick and easy to work with. We actually closed in 15 days and got the lowest possible rate at the time when we bought our home. She made the process easy and was very friendly. She can be reached at (510) 559-6830. We like her so much that we used her for our home equity line. Maya

I highly reccomend our broker his name is Nhan Nguyen and works for Guarantee Mortgage (415) 810-4179 nhanttnguyen AT yahoo.com he is very patience, and sharp. we just purchased our first home and he got us in w/ 100% financing, on a 470,000 house in san leandro. he was willing to meet with u on weekends over coffee to explain details, kept in touch via e-mail about the progress of the loan i really, really loved this guy. and reccomend him, he is here in San francisco, the offices are by the opera house. Claudia

I love my mortgage broker - he's helped us buy two houses. He is the world's nicest guy, too. His name is Bob Casper and his phone no. is 925-932-7403. Fran

We are first time buyers in the process of home shopping and have been THRILLED with our Mortgage Banker and Realtor. We first got a recommendation to our Mortgage Banker through my husband's coworker who was also a first time buyer. We didn't know ANYTHING about buying a house and didn't even know what we should know to know when we were ready. no one would give us simple, black-and-white numbers. We were so frustrated!! We were referred to Marc Geshekter with residential Pacific Mortgage in SF. He sat down with us for 3 hours and explained everything we need to know about purchasing a home from A-Z, including several good faith estimates. Now we know, down to the penny, what we need to not just buy a home, but live in it for the first year. All this advice for free!! his info is:

Senior Mortgage Consultant
(415) 354-5162, office
(415) 983-0975, fax
Residential Pacific Mortgage - SF
633 Battery St., Suite # 110
San Francisco, CA  94111

Melissa

Jenny is a mortgage broker and member of the Berkeley Parents Network. She is a very caring person who will help you find what you need: Jenny Shore - jenny AT shoregroup.ws or 510 845-5747 mel

I can wholeheartedly recommend Jim Aron of Pacific Western Mortgage (510-654-2200). His office is conveniently located on the Emeryville peninsula, right off the freeway. He has arranged two great mortgages for us and I believe most of his clients are repeat customers. A satisfied homeowner

Sept 2004

If you are thinking of buying a home, please consider contacting Linda Herrera of Jacinto Mortgage Group (http://www.ALoanSourceLH.com) regarding your financing options (including no-down payment loans...they're available, too). In addition to being a likeable person, Linda is extremely knowledgeable about her business. She took a decidedly complicated situation and made it an invisible and painless process for us. All we had to do was show up in her office at a time of our convenience, bring our necessary documentation and let Linda work her magic. And, magic it was. We began our home search with every confidence that Linda had the situation well in hand. Adding to our comfort, Linda maintained contact with our real estate agent during the home search and contracting process. She made herself available and promptly returned any phone calls for which she was not readily available. For my next home purchase, I will definitely contact Linda first. Her customer service and support more than facilitated what could easily have been a nightmare. My husband and I highly recommend her services. Anne

March 2004

We just refinanced our house and had the most wonderful experience with our broker that I wanted to get his name out on this list: Cory Reid of Fountainhead Mortgage, (based in Emeryville). Cory was so thorough and efficient and good about explaining the process. He went out of his way to get us the best deal, which included negotiating a return of about $800 from the lender on the fees, and then switching lenders halfway through the process when rates went down. The new loan will end up saving us an additional $65/month. The icing on the cake was when we had to come in to sign the papers. Cory knows that my partner and I both work, and we have 2 small kids. He sent a notary to our house and covered the cost himself so that we wouldn't have to lug the whole family out. Cory's office number is 510.547.4111. katrina

Recommendations from 1998-1999

My husband, Robert Jackson, is a mortgage broker with Bay Cal Financial. Over the past five years, he has done new home loans and refinances for many UC employees and faculty members. Many of the loans have been for clients with non traditional income sources. He can be reached at 1-800-883-8820 ext. 248.

Rose

1999

For the person looking for a financial broker contact Fishmen Financial Services on Solano Avenue, Berkeley. The owner Sam Fishmen provides excellent customer service. C

I highly recommend Jon Riccardi at MPR Financial located at 1320 Solano Avenue in Albany. The phone # is 510-527-6146. We used a mortgage broker 6 years ago with our first house and swore we'd never use one again after all the shenanigans that got played on us. We financed our second home directly through a bank. In January we wanted to refinance and got quotes from all the banks which I felt were too high. Jon came highly recommended from our financial planner so we went back on our promise and used him. I couldn't have been happier. His business makes its money on volume not junk fees and broker fees. Up front he tells you what the costs will be and that's what they are when you go to sign the papers.Kathy

Nov 1998

i recently refinanced my house through Partners Mortgage in Pleasanton (Julie) I had a first time home buyers loan initially and you weren't able to refinance until now and it was a little complex, but they were fast, knowledgable and helpful Andrea

We used Holmgren and Associates for the purchase of our first house and the refinance of the house recently. Our broker is Zach Griffin who has been quite good. He got us a cheap refinance with no points and fees and reappraised our house so that we got rid of the PMI (mortgage insurance). Their phone is 339-2121. My mother in law, who is a real estate agent recommended them, and she's seen lots of mortgage brokers. Myriam

Hi - In response to your request for a mortgage broker, this is a contact I was given by my masseuse Jill Goldreyer over a year ago. She and her partner (also in a nontraditional work situation) bought a house a few years ago, and presumably used this person. I ended up not calling him, so I can't personally recommend him, but I thought I'd pass this along anyway. The info I have for him is:

Zachary Griffin 510/ 339-2121 ext. 254 -- Diana

I don't anyone in the East Bay, but a friend of mine in San Jose is a mortgage broker who handles "non-traditional" situations. I'm not sure that your particular situation applies, but she may be able to help you. Her name is Jennifer Bardes and her company is UC Lending. she can be reached at (408) 441-1072. Hope this helps. P.S. You can tell her that Alison Meyers referred you. She's very nice, knowledgeable and honest. Alison

I recommend Joe Nichols with Schnell Investment Co., 1517 5th St., Berkeley, 525-4050. He has worked with us on two refinances and secured the loan for our current home. Our financial situation was unusual and complicated and Joe proved to be resourceful and persistent. We have benefited from his sound, balanced advice on several related matters. He is very pleasant to deal with, as is the receptionist in the office. Rachel

The man who earned every penny: Joseph Nichols of Schnell Investment Co. 525-4050 (5th St. in Berkeley. I'm pretty sure that's their current number.) Also I've heard very good things about Fishman Financial Group on Solano. Leah

My tenant-in-common/downstairs-neighbor and I were very pleased with Schnell Investment Co. on Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley, both for our initial purchase eleven years ago and a refinance about 5 years ago. And we were not exactly a standard situation: we were two single women buying a duplex, where she had 75% of the down payment and I had about 60% of the income. I think it was Joseph Schnell we worked with most.

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