It doesn't get any better than this…read more
My husband and I just purchased our first home. Although we consider ourselves pretty savvy about most things, we were complete novices when it came to home buying. We started our search by getting pre-approved with our bank, and we also shopped around for a lender online. As we started to dive into our home search, we learned that in a competitive market like Seattle, who you choose to do business with can be the "make or break" element of your offer. Often, buyers' funding would fall through in spite of a pre-approval from a bank, so we asked our realtor for his advice. Thankfully, he introduced us to amazing team at North Pacific Mortgage who he personally uses when he is buying a home.
In the spirit of being a novice at the whole home buying thing, I called Phil and asked when we could meet for an hour or so over lunch. Not only was Phil quick to accept my offer, he went out of his way to accommodate my incredibly busy schedule - even braving hospital food to meet me during my lunch break at UW Medicine. Meeting your mortgage officer face-to-face is an unusual event. Meeting one that will drive across town in Seattle traffic just to enjoy a saltless bowl of soup while suffering through metal chairs on a chilly outdoor balcony is a true unicorn event.
Phil was knowledgable, personable, funny and patient. Perhaps most important of all, he was an excellent teacher. He walked me through all the elements we would be considering when it came to closing costs, down payment size, PMI, interest rates, taxes - everything. He also got to know more about US. The buyers. I left our meeting feeling so well informed, but more than that, I left it knowing that I had an advocate in my corner who would fight to get me the deal that best fit my needs.
After meeting with Phil, and especially once we started the marathon search that would result in seven offers over five months with one dream house at the finale, we had the pleasure to work with many people on Phil's team, but none so closely as Denae. Denae responded to emails, texts and calls far outside the hours anyone could reasonably expect her to, allowing us to make informed offers in a pinch that included an in-depth breakdown of monthly payments for the specific property (including its unique set of taxes etc). She was organized, prompt, kind and always positive.
Once we finally got an offer accepted, the real work began. Phil, Denae and team kept us on track and ahead of schedule. Documents were processed quickly, and we always had an open line if we had questions. Ultimately, we closed a full week early, and by all accounts, it was as smooth and painless as a home buying process could possibly be.
As a final cherry on top, Phil and Denae delivered an incredibly personal and generous house warming gift to say thank you. It spoke to their individual care and attention to us as clients, and it made us lifetime fans and loyal customers. Prior to buying a home, I had no idea whether or not it mattered who we went through for our mortgage. Now that we are on the other side, I can tell you unequivocally, it matters a great deal. We move into our new home in just about a week, and while I hope not to move again for a very long time, when that time comes, Phil and Denae will be one of our very first calls!