We are trying to sell our house and the buyer we were under contract with was using Guaranteed…read moreRate, Chicago office. Our selling realtor contacted the loan officer who provided a letter the buyer was pre approved and verbally assured this buyer could afford the property. The closing date came and went and the loan officer wasn't returning calls to my realtor and attorney. The buyer's attorney kept asking for extensions for a week at a time and since we were so close to closing we continued to agree, although no one could give us answers as to why it was delayed. Over a month after the initial closing date we found out the buyer would not be approved for the loan. If we would have known that sooner we could of had the property re-listed and closed by now. We also found out the loan officer was submitting fraudulent documents with our names on them. For example, one of the units in the building has a lease. We sent the lease to the buyers side to turn in, but then found out it was changed to have a different renter's name on it. We know the loan officer either created it or knew about it. Our realtor and attorney had to contact the loan officer's boss to find all of this out. Our advice to everyone out there, do not use them for your loan, and if your selling, do not accept offers with them as the lender.

This group was recommended to me by my realtor. My big mistake was to go with them without taking…read morethe time to do some research on them. I would not recommend this group for two reasons: I find them incompetent, with misleading practices. Working with them was very frustrating. Every document that they can ask you to provide they will ask, whether it is relevant or not. For instance, I was renting at the time. I was asked to provide my lease -- which is fine -- but then I was asked to ask my landlord to provide a statement that they have received my first+last+security deposit, and then I was also asked to ask my landlord to provide another statement explaining why the lease payment is first+last+security instead of first+security deposit as sometimes done. This is just one example. And I can cite three, four crazy others examples like that. And while all this is going on, they keep you in the dark as to what exactly the interest rate that they will give you will be. And given that all this paper work goes on and on, by the time they clear your application (after paying several hundreds in fees), you have virtually no leverage to negotiate the interest rate with them, since you are then too close to your closing date to walk away and start over. This modus operandi is clearly conceived on purpose to corner people. Although I have an excellent credit, I ended up with an average mortgage rate with them. I will not recommend this group. My general advice to other folks is to make sure they do some research, compare lenders, before committing to working with one. And stay away from Guaranteed Rate Affinity.

I worked with Chris and her team on several loan products. Rehab loan, and refinances and they have…read morealways delivered professionally and timely. I will continue to work with them in the future, they make the process simple and clear because of their knowledge and experience. The process with her team is very organized which makes it easy for me. I will continue to work with her team in the future, especially since they are very transparent and hands on. I recently closed on a refinance and they worked relentlessly to ensure I stayed within the timeframe to close and helped me with the best refinance options. Thanks Again Chris and Team! - Adrian

We can't say enough good things about Chris DePaepe and her team at Guaranteed Rate. We've worked…read morewith Chris on three home purchases and one refinance, and every single experience has been smooth and stress-free. Her team is incredibly friendly and easy to work with, and Chris herself is always available when questions come up. She takes the time to truly educate us on the process so we feel confident at every step, not rushed or pressured. Beyond the basics, Chris goes above and beyond by offering helpful advice on accessing tax information and finding ways to save money, which we really appreciate. She is extremely knowledgeable, transparent, and trustworthy. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Chris to anyone looking for a lender they can truly rely on.

Chris was my lender for the purchase of my first condo and I am so grateful I had him on my dream…read moreteam for closing. My closing was scheduled to happen within 20-ish business days and Chris was on top of everything necessary to get us there. He was a great resource every step of the way and always made himself available to answer any questions. He and his team were very responsive, transparent, and patient when it came to breaking down all the numbers involved. He was proactive in reaching out when rates changed (in my favor) and inspired complete trust with his professionalism and expertise. Thanks for all your help, Chris!

Chris and team were great to work with! I've had the pleasure of working with Chris twice now, on…read morethe purchase of my first home and a refi. Very personable, responsive and knowledgeable. Guaranteed Rate has a quick process, which was also great!

I want to take this opportunity to thank Owing for employing Julius Pang…read more Julie Pang was the consummate professional and very calmly and professionally helped us to provide the necessary closing documents. She has the patience of a saint, she's very kind and generous with her time. We thought Owning was looking for an opportunity to wiggle out of this locked in rate because interest rates were rising so quickly. Boy was I wrong, Owning honored its commitment, very unusual in this day and age. Frankly my wife Kathryn and I can't say enough about Julie pang. And OWNING. I highly recommend this company extremely diligent, honest and reliable.

Empty promises, incompetent agents and wasted time. Bait and switch category. They don't list that…read moreyou need to own a primary home to qualify for a DSCR loan. Total frauds

Guaranteed Rate was recommend as a possible Mortgage lender by my Broker. My own bank's Mortgage…read moreBroker was slow to respond and kept forgetting who I was. From the moment I spoke with Ryan Mecum, at Guaranteed Rate, I felt I was in good hands. He was warm and friendly and outlined very clearly how his company worked. When I got off the phone I felt that I was definitely with the right lender. In the days that followed his staff monitored the many details the process involves. They patiently walked me through the documents that had to be submitted, reviewed or signed. Jason, who was assigned to my file, became my guardian angel, watching over my file with a keen eye and calling me almost daily to review what had been done and what had yet to be done. He always first greeted me warmly and then got down to business. The DocuSign system that this company uses is a streamlined program that takes you step by step through the actions that must be completed. The electronic signature moves through each page and stops where an initial or signature is required. When the key is pressed your signature or initials are recorded on the document and the paperwork is completed in a matter of minutes. One time when I was asked to submit my Social Security card I erroneously submitted my Medicare card instead. Twice more I was asked to submit my Social Security card and wondered what was wrong with their equipment until Patti wrote me a tactful email indicating my repeated error. I called her after finally sending the correct document and apologized. She was so warm and understanding that my embarrassment (I am a senior) disappeared. She also bent over backwards to assist me with passwords and security codes. Whenever I hit a wall because I was confused I always relied on my angel, Jason, who could hear my frustration and would sooth me with kind words and explanations. Once, I became alarmed at a document that seemed to be filled with financial errors. I left Jason a message of anger and suspicion. As usual he responded rapidly and in his calm and friendly manner explained in clear language without talking down to me what the figures were and what they meant. I was relieved, my stress level dropped and I was at peace with the world once again. I laughed at myself when I recounted this experience to a friend who reminded me that I had told her how Jason was always able to assist me when anxiety appeared to be stalking me around every corner. When Jason was on some days off with his family Jim, his coworker, responded to my plea for help as quickly as Jason would have done. He was delightfully personable and I felt like we had known each other for years from his friendly manner. He picked up where Jason had left off and was able to respond to my questions and concerns the same day reassuring me that my loan eligibility for my dream condo was indeed possible. Pam and Michael also assisted me with consideration and kindness with their part of the process when I ran into bumps. I never once encountered anyone there who caused me to feel awkward or slow. Much the opposite I had the impression that at their team meetings they were determined to guide me gently through what can be an overwhelming and challenging process. To summarize, the team of employees at Guaranteed Rate is, in my opinion, first rate. Under the leadership of Ryan Mecum they emulate his personalized caring and dedicated style. To a person, they share his commitment to doing a quality job, in a clear, expert and efficient manner. They understand that they may sometimes be dealing with a confused, befuddled, elderly and overwhelmed person who can easily get lost in this process. What is most clear is that they individualize their clients and want to support and champion their dreams. Thank you folks for making my dream come true. It would not have happened without your dedication and earnest efforts on my behalf.

Ryan Mecum and his team from Guaranteed Rate were recommended by Lynn Reidl from Dreamtown Realty…read more I was seeking a jumbo purchase, and had numerous complexities in my financial picture (recent conversion to partner in my firm, a previous credit issue, and retaining my current home as a rental). When Ryan and I met, he asked me to communicate my needs and perceived challenges. We formulated a plan together, and the execution and service was off the charts! On top of the amazing experience in purchasing my new home, Ryan and his team assisted me with direction on other wise financial actions (and introduced me to an amazing wealth manager). Thank you to Ryan's team - Jason, Pam, Patti, and all the others who made the process seem easy. I have already referred Ryan to coworkers, and will continue to recommend him and his team to everyone I know. Thanks Ryan!!

Joe's the absolute best. He gave us all the info we needed to make a good, informed decision. He…read moreliterally saved us from ourselves last year by recommending we wait a year to get a mortgage because of our situation. We listened to him and he was right. He's responsive, approachable and always there if we have a question. Joe and his team at Guaranteed Rate are outstanding.

As a professional in the real estate industry, I have to say that Joe Burke is one of the best out…read morethere. With all of the things that are going on in the industry, there is no margin of error anymore, and Joe makes sure of that. I have worked with Joe on a number of personal loans for my homes and have been confident to recommend him to friends, family and professionals alike. I can do so knowing that he will take care of them both professionally and personally, with the understanding that this isn't JUST another transaction... this is someone's home and life he's dealing with. Also, he writes a great blog with insight into the marketplace, things to do in Chicago, and more at www.yourchicagomortgageguy.com. Thanks for all the help Joe!