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Best Mortgage Brokers in Berkeley

2023

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Website
1209 34th St, Oakland, CA 94608
  • Refinance

Why choose this provider?

Made Mortgage, Inc., is a company serving Berkeley and the surrounding communities. It assists individuals who are looking to buy or refinance a property in choosing from a wide range of loan options. These include FHA, VA, jumbo, and 30-year fixed mortgage. Its team of professionals provides updated information about the constantly changing mortgage rates and conducts a refinance analysis. The company's owner, Scott Nguyen, has more than 10 years of industry experience and also serves in community non-profits.

License Verified:

License: 1894493

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (38)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
6201 Antioch Street, Suite 200, Oakland, CA 94611
  • Purchase

Why choose this provider?

LaSalle Mortgage Services offers personalized solutions to Berkeley. Its loan advisors meet with clients to learn more about their goals, assisting them in navigating through their options and explaining what each possible solution entails. They guide individuals in applying for FHA, VA, jumbo, agency-conforming, and high-balance loans. Other products offered by the company are commercial and mixed-use, out-of-state, and reverse mortgages. Branch manager Roger Smith has over 40 years of business experience in San Francisco Bay.

License Verified:

License: 1452125

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Yelp
4.7 / 5 (69)
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
505 14th Street Suite 900, Oakland, CA 94612
  • Home Loans
  • Home Purchase
  • VA Loans

Why choose this provider?

loanDepot is a mortgage company that has been serving Berkeley and the surrounding communities since 2010. It assists individuals in choosing a loan program that fits their needs whether they are buying, refinancing, or building a property. The loan options include ARM, FHA, VA, and reverse mortgage. Its team utilizes the mello software platform to manage loan transactions and collect income and asset information. The firm's CEO, Anthony Hsieh, has provided keynote addresses for the Digital Mortgage Conference and the Mortgage Banking Association's annual convention.

License Verified:

License: 1749447

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Zillow
5.0 / 5 (26)
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
604 Oakes Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577
  • Refinance
  • Residential Mortgages

Why choose this provider?

Lane Mortgage serves Berkeley, San Leandro, Woodbridge, and other nearby areas. Its selection of financial products includes jumbo, USDA, FHA, and VA loans. The company also assists in the refinancing of existing mortgages and loans. Its staff guides clients through the process of availing themselves of these products, from helping them pre-qualify for their chosen financing option to assisting them in troubleshooting discrepancies in their loan application and helping them review the loan terms before signing and closing.

License Verified:

License: 1673314

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (20)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
4304 Redwood Highway, Suite 100, San Rafael, CA 94903
  • Refinance

Why choose this provider?

California Mortgage Advisors helps clients in the Berkeley area. The firm offers a variety of mortgage options, including pre-approval for first-time property buyers. It also helps clients with refinancing their mortgages to lower their payments, along with offering reverse mortgages to provide cash for homeowners who are at least 62 years old. In addition, California Mortgage Advisors offers loans from co-ops, VA, and FHA. Company president and CEO Jack Terrell has more than two decades of industry experience.

License Verified:

License: 1825

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Facebook
4.8 / 5 (13)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1604 Solano Avenue, Albany, CA 94707
  • Reverse Mortgages

Why choose this provider?

Fishman Financial Group Incorporated works as a mortgage broker that serves clients in Berkeley. It helps clients obtain real estate financing for investment, homes, and commercial properties. It conducts an evaluation of the clients' circumstances to determine their financial needs and seeks solutions related to their situation. It also assists clients in monitoring interest rates and loan programs and finds possible options to lower the cost through refinancing. This company has supported various institutions in Albany, such as the music fund and schoolCARE.

License Verified:

License: 345573

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Yelp
4.8 / 5 (12)
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2987 College Ave Second Floor, Berkeley, CA 94705
  • Refinance

Why choose this provider?

Zach Griffin is an intermediary between borrowers and lenders all throughout Berkeley. As a mortgage consultant, he assists with real estate transactions by taking time to understand client's financial goals and providing them with tailored mortgage solutions. He and his team of loan assistants, processors, underwriters, and closers are trained in all facets of the business. They have also partnered with Guaranteed Rate Affinity, a technological platform, and Realogy, a business that allows brokers to market services to subsidiaries like NRT and Cartus.

License Verified:

License: 295438

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (15)
Google
5.0 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1400 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
  • Refinance
  • Reverse Mortgages

Why choose this provider?

The Crosby Team is an affiliate of Guaranteed Rate that caters to clients in Berkeley. People who are buying a property can get help with securing a loan. Its team assists with choosing terms like the downpayment and the interest rate. The company also helps clients get new mortgages for lower monthly payments or cash using their home's equity. Dianne Crosby, who serves as Guaranteed Rate's vice president of mortgage lending, handled nearly $385 million in mortgages in 2020.

License Verified:

License: 304682

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (60)
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1810 Gateway Drive, San Mateo, CA 94404
  • Refinance
  • New Construction

Why choose this provider?

Supreme Lending is a full-service mortgage lender that has been operating in Berkeley and surrounding areas since 1999. Its branch manager, Danielle Pollack, has been in the industry for over two decades. Pollack and her team are experienced in residential lending. They guide clients through every phase of the loan process—from application and processing to closing. They also offer traditional and specialty loan programs. Supreme Lending is licensed to serve in 50 states and is a two-time recipient of the Dallas 100 Award.

License Verified:

License: 208237

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (14)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

Website
2413 Webb Ave STE E, Alameda, CA 94501
  • Refinance
  • Reverse Mortgages

Why choose this provider?

EstaR Mortgage is a business that offers comprehensive mortgage solutions to clients in Berkeley and its nearby areas. The firm has 17 years of experience helping clients with owning their first homes as well as acquiring new lower monthly payments. It also offers a variety of loan options including FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, and fixed or adjustable mortgage loans. Additionally, its loan officers and mortgage professionals assist homeowners with refinancing, reverse mortgage, and mortgage forbearance.

License Verified:

License: 1547521

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (155)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
1580 Solano Ave. Suite D, Albany, CA 94707
  • Refinancing

Why choose this provider?

Oak Leaf Funding is a family-run mortgage firm that has been serving Berkeley-based clients for more than a decade. The owners of Oak Leaf Funding, Wahid Afzal and Charles Gianfrate, have over twenty years of lending experience and help consumers in the purchase or refinance mortgage loans. They offer clients a range of loan options, such as 203K loans, 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgage, VA and jumbo loans, reverse mortgage, and USDA and HARP loans.

License Verified:

License: 346446

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (19)
Google
5.0 / 5 (12)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
855 Marina Bay Pkwy, Suite: 29, Richmond, CA 94804
  • Multi-Family Loans

Why choose this provider?

Atalanta Financial has been serving clients in the Berkeley area since 2007. The firm offers a variety of mortgage options to first-time and veteran property buyers. Its team helps clients choose their terms, including downpayment and rates. The company also assists with restructuring existing mortgages for lower monthly payments and for getting cash in exchange for a home's equity. In addition, it offers loans for commercial and construction clients, along with VA and FHA loans.

License Verified:

License: 252414

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2200 Powell St, Suite 340, Emeryville, CA 94608
  • Refinance

Why choose this provider?

Newfi is a mortgage brokerage firm serving individuals and families in Berkeley and the surrounding areas. It has a lending portal that allows customers to close their loans easily and communicate with stakeholders throughout the lending process. Its team of professionals has over 100 years of combined experience. Its product team creates niche products that allow its partners to close more loans. The company also uses automation in its operations, such as document collections and communications.

License Verified:

License: 1231327

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.6
Google
4.6 / 5 (145)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
3131 Camino Del Rio N #1100, San Diego, CA 92108
  • Reverse Mortgages

Why choose this provider?

Mutual of Omaha is a mortgage brokerage serving clients in Berkeley and the surrounding areas. It provides retirement planning assistance through a variety of loan programs. These include reverse mortgage, jumbo reverse mortgage, and refinance. It also offers Home Equity Conversion Mortgage for Purchase, which enables homeowners to use their reverse mortgage proceeds to buy new homes. Mutual of Omaha has a mobile application through which clients can communicate with their specialists and calculate their loans.

License Verified:

License: 1489688

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1746 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
  • New Construction
  • Refinance

Why choose this provider?

Established in 2008, Mike Koran is a licensed mortgage broker and division president of Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc., serving clients in Berkeley and its surrounding areas. He provides a variety of mortgage products and services, including conventional, FHA, VA, and jumbo mortgage plans. Koran's extensive background in management, sales, and operations has assisted thousands of homeowners in successfully financing their mortgage. He is an avid tennis player who competes in the USTA and has volunteered in UN refugee camps around the world.

License Verified:

License: 87656

Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (118)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (111)
Zillow
5.0 / 5 (49)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Introduction

    It’s the American dream to buy property, and almost everyone who purchases a home does so with the help of a mortgage broker. It can be intimidating when you don’t know where to begin, what information is necessary, and how to receive a loan. A mortgage broker acts as an intermediary between the applicant and the financial institution.


    The mortgage broker’s role includes comparing loan terms across lenders to find applicants the best options, collecting paperwork the financial institution needs to analyze the application, and guiding the buyer through the underwriting and closing processes. Mortgage brokers can significantly simplify the home buying process.

  • Can mortgage brokers work across state lines?

    Yes, mortgage brokers can work across state lines. However, each state has different licensing requirements for mortgage brokers. Customers should ensure their broker can legally work in another state before going across state lines. Lastly, don’t forget the mortgage process is often time-sensitive, so being in different time zones can be problematic.

  • How do mortgage brokers find lenders?

    Mortgage brokers work independently and act as a bridge between the client and the lender. They reach out to several lenders to form a network and build professional relationships with those they work with often. They use lenders who best meet a client's rates and terms, and some lenders only do business through mortgage brokers.  

  • What credit score do mortgage brokers use?

    There are two credit scoring models in the United States: FICO and VantageScore. Mortgage lenders typically prefer to use FICO. However, each credit bureau uses a different version of the FICO score:

    • Experian uses FICO Score 2
    • Equifax uses FICO Score 5
    • TransUnion uses FICO Score 4

  • Do mortgage brokers help with refinancing?

    Yes, mortgage brokers can help with refinancing. Individuals who have a solid credit score will typically go to their bank to refinance their mortgage. However, if you don't have excellent credit, a mortgage broker may be able to secure you a better interest rate than you could get on your own.

    You pay a fee to the mortgage broker, so you'll want to consider this fee versus your savings in your cost-benefit analysis.

  • Can you work with two mortgage brokers?

    You can definitely work with two mortgage brokers. The advantage of using multiple brokers is that you'll have two people reaching out to several lenders to secure the best rate possible. However, you must ensure you provide matching information to all your brokers. If two brokers provide mismatched information about your application to the same lender, it can send off red flags and delay your approval process.

  • Do mortgage brokers get better deals?

    Yes, a mortgage broker should be able to get you a better deal. Mortgage brokers go to several lenders on your behalf and find the one with the best terms and interest rates. However, note that some mortgage brokers have preferred lenders. A broker may bring you their preferred lender's offer, even if it's not the best one; however, this isn't a regular practice.