Mortgage Folks: Reputable web sites?

[sjwaste]

I'd appreciate the expertise of, well, anyone with reliable knowledge to share.

When we purchased our first home, we used a broker. He found us a good rate and locked right before a rate spike. Good work. He isn't licensed in our new state of residence.

So we've sold our old place and are buying a new one. This time around, I'd like to try and do it myself, since there seem to be so many options online. If anyone here used Bankrate.com or anywhere else to compare rates and then sign up, can you let me know what site you used and whether they were ok to deal with?

For instance, Bankrate has good rates listed for Quicken Loans and AimLoan.com. I have no idea whether either one can be trusted with my personal info, so I haven't provided any yet. If others have used them with good results, I'd like to know.

I'm a PenFed member, but their rates aren't as good as others right now. I'll complete an application with them, but if I'm doing that, I might as well shop the web.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i found my refi company through google advisor, im assuming they are reputable if they are 'partnering' with google

https://www.google.com/advisor

 

[mshan]

http://www.askcarolynwarren.com

She does mortgages in Virginia, but is currently affiliated with a bank out west, so I don't know if she can offer you the best rates available (bricks and mortar banks with lots of branches and lots of employees may not be low cost provider).

She may also be able to refer you to someone local that offers competitive rates and is honest and ethical.

Carolyn Warren's response to an e-mail I previously sent her:

"Eastern states I can do loans in:

MA, MD, NC, RI, VA

All other states are in the West.

Just so you know, I work with Mr. Alfredo Robles at Pacific Mercantile Bank. The interest rates are awesome and there are no unnecessary junk fees (of course).

For NJ, NY, CT, and PA, I recommend Michael Braun of Silver Bay Lending.

Thank you for reading both of my books and for recommending them to others. Much appreciated!

I have attached an article here that explains shopping for a loan with the new lending laws.

Best wishes,

Carolyn Warren"

I'd also ask around here: http://www.city-data.com/forum/northern-virginia/

 

[SandEagle]

lendingtree.com ?

 

[mshan]

Others on these forums have commented that Lending Tree just sells your info to others and you get spam for months.

 

[sjwaste]

I should have mentioned, but I moved out of VA. I live in Maine now. So far, Google and Bankrate are pointing me to AimLoans and Quicken Loans. I've started an app with PenFed as well.

I'm wondering if its worth the 1/8 point or so on the rate it usually "costs" to just use a broker now.

 

[sjwaste]

Others on these forums have commented that Lending Tree just sells your info to others and you get spam for months.

I have friends that used Lending Tree, and found that they just got a bunch of calls and spam afterwards. I'm going to steer clear.