Future Home Buyers, I originally purchased my home through Chris Eastman and the experience was as seamless as anyone can imagine. I NEVER had a worry in the world knowing Chris was on top of the largest investment my wife and I would EVER make. Anytime I had a question Chris would get back to me no matter where he was...Chicago Blackhawks game, his son's hockey game, family events and even MEXICO! My wife and I closed on the home of our dreams(cliche yes, but true)! Our kids are as excited as we are and the entire process was PAINLESS! As a first time home buyer I couldn't believe how streamlined Chris made our purchase. I CANNOT recommend Chris Eastman enough, main reason being, is that he is amazing at what he does and understands all of the idiosyncrasies and dynamics of home buying...not to mention his "people skills" are SOLID. I work in Law Enforcement and over analyze everything I do down to the last detail to ensure everything goes as smooth as possible no matter what I am dealing with and Chris operates the same way. A few years later I refinanced though Chris and once again, OUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE! I applaud Chris on his ability to adapt to whatever scenario he is presented with in terms of clientele. I have since relayed my experience with Chris to co-workers and friends and to no surprise they ALL had the same experience on their home purchases. Thank you Chris for all that you do! Sincerely, Michael B. read more

First Centennial Mortgage is the BEST!!! Chris you rock! Best experience ever! and if you want to save money at closing, this is your best option! Let me tell you my story. As first time home buyers we were clueless about the whole process of getting a house. At the beginning we decided to go with Guarantee Rate thinking that it would be the best in experience, costs and service... HUGE, GIGANTIC and HORRIBLE mistake. At the beginning they were nice but when the closing costs were discussed they just did not care, they did not offer me any different way to approach this. They even told me to ask my friends for money. A total disaster. Afterwards, I had the fortune of calling Chris Eastman of First Centennial Mortgage. After explaining to him my situation and after showing my numbers with the other guys, he beat the closing cost at first glance. A day after we had a video call, he shared his screen and showed me MULTIPLE options of rates and closing costs.At the end he helped me to reduce my closing costs almost 50%!!!!!!! Chris and his team were always patient and responded to me almost immediately. They have a lot of clients but alway find a way to answer me. And the best thing is that on the closing day he even credited me $500 more than expected. Thank you Chris, Dawn, Mark and your whole team. You are the best. read more

I am not even sure where to start...Chris Eastman and I initially met to go over the pre-approval process in his office. He was very welcoming and very calming that we could get a mortgage. My wife and I loved our new home and it was under contract but we needed to secure this mortgage to have our "forever" home. When we met he was very personable and very transparent about the realities of securing the mortgage. He assured me that I could call at any time with any question. Every step of the process was so easy with Chris Eastman and his staff (Rachel, his assistant is awesome too!). At one point in the process there was an issue (that was all on us), and Chris responded quickly. When Chris called he was at home with the stomach flu and was completely calming, this is a testimony to his dedication to placing clients first and helping us achieve our dream home. To Chris Eastman and all who work for / with him you are truly professional in every way, you secured us an AWESOME rate on our mortgage, you calmed us at stressful times, highly responsive to all emails and calls...I could go on an on. Thank you so much Chris Eastman and everyone at Academy Mortgage! B & K Gaughan, Park Ridge, Illinois. read more

Chris Eastman and his team are awesome! Every interaction I had with Chris, Mindy and Dawn was extremely professional and I truly felt they always had my best interest at heart! I was in a pinch, my lender Citimortgage was unwilling to provide me with answers regarding appraisal issues. Their Credit Risk Manager was supposed to contact me to explain why the appraised value changed 3x, of course I never heard from them. I started to question the validity of the appraisal, as my purchase was a for sale by owner and a competitive market analysis was not performed by a real estate agent. From the moment I spoke to Chris, I knew I had the right man in the job, he assured me that everything would be ok and we could close in under 30 days. After my 3rd mortgage with Citimortgage and being a perfect customer for nearly 20 years with so many unanswered questioned it caused me to seek other options. I'm so glad I did, as I received a lower interest rate with First Centennial and my appraisal came back significantly less than the original purchase price. By going with FCMC it saved me THOUSANDS of dollars. Thank you for everything Chris and Team!! We love our new home! read more

Starting out as a first time buyer, I was very intimidated and unsure of what the home buying road would bring me. I had so many questions and a near complete lack of direction. All of that amateur insecurity was wiped away when I started working with the Academy Mortgage team. Chris and his team (notably Heidi and Leueen) were there for me for the entire process and worked with me to ensure that I was making the best choices possible along my path. Besides providing detailed yet understandable answers to my questions and guidance in the loan process, the entire team supported me with a welcomed level of sincerity and empathy that told me I was not on this journey alone. Because of Academy Mortgage, I was able to easily navigate the loan process and confidently move forward on purchasing the home of my dreams. I would absolutely recommend Academy Mortgage and Chris Eastman's team to ANYONE entering the home buying market. Working with this team truly made home buying a conquerable (and enjoyable!) challenge. read more

I had a great experience working with the Chris Eastman Team at Society Mortgage for my home purchase. From beginning to end, the entire team was incredibly helpful, responsive, and patient with all of my questions. As a homebuyer, there were definitely moments when the process felt overwhelming, but the team did a great job keeping me informed, explaining everything, and making sure I knew what to expect next. Communication was always great, and I really appreciated how quickly they responded whenever I needed something or had a question. I especially appreciate all the work they put in behind the scenes to keep everything moving and get me to the closing table. It was clear that they genuinely cared about making sure everything came together. I'm very grateful to the Chris Eastman and his Team and would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, supportive, and responsive mortgage team. Thank you for helping make my home purchase happen! read more

I highly recommend Society Mortgage and Chris Eastman along with his incredible team, Dawn and Mark, who made my mortgage experience seamless and stress-free! From the very start, Mark was fantastic, guiding me through the initial steps by gathering my information and clearly explaining the documents I needed to begin the process. His attention to detail set a strong foundation. Dawn, the loan coordinator, was extremely easy to work with, showing remarkable patience and bringing a joyful energy that made every interaction a pleasure, just like Mark and Chris. Chris's expertise and dedication ensured I got a great rate, and he was always available to answer my questions with patience and clarity. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine care made all the difference. Even after I closed and thanked Chris, he said to call him anytime with questions on my loan. I highly recommend Chris, Dawn, and Mark to anyone looking for a top-notch mortgage lender. read more

Chris and his team are a well oiled machine. Chris has done all of my real estate deals over the last 10-15 years. Chris gets the deals done. We thought our deal was lost due to an appraisal that came in short (common in this aggressive market), but Chris takes every situation, good or bad, explains it thoroughly and gives you options you didn't know existed. Chris keeps you updated with calls, texts and video clips that show you where you are in the process and your exact next steps. Without Chris and his team we would not be living on the farm that we are today. Chris and his team go above and beyond for their clients and I will continue to use Chris and his team for refinancing and any future purchases our family makes. I am 100% satisfied with the First Centennial Mortgage team and I will continue to refer friends, family and co-workers to my broker Chris Eastman. read more

Chris was my lender when I purchased my condo back in 2016, but when I started thinking about refinancing my condo I decided to shop around. After speaking with 3 other lenders, I decided to go with Chris again because not only did Chris provide me the best rate quote, but I appreciated his quick response and attentiveness. Chris Eastman and his team (Mark and Dawn) at First Centennial are top notch. I recently just refinanced my condo and I love how easy Chris made this process for me. He took the time to do a Zoom call to explain what's happening with you in the beginning. He does a fantastic job of walking his clients through each step of the process in a way I was able to understand. Also, Chris sends you a short video to explain each step of the process. Chris and his team are absolutely amazing and I am so happy I went with them when refinancing my condo. read more

Working with Chris on our mortgage was outstanding from beginning to end. He was consistently punctual, always prepared, and incredibly reliable throughout the entire process. His deep knowledge of the industry made every step clear and easy to understand--he took the time to explain our options and guide us through decisions with confidence. What we appreciated most was his patience. As first-time buyers, we had plenty of questions, and Chris never rushed us. He walked through every detail, addressed every concern, and made sure we always felt comfortable and informed. We also want to highlight the amazing support from his team--Dawn and Mark. They were wonderfully responsive, organized, and proactive, helping keep everything on track and making the experience as smooth as possible. Their teamwork truly made a difference. read more

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I honestly cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for Chris's team. Chris was a godsend. We are First Time Homebuyers and I was absolutely terrified of the process but Chris made EVERYTHING a smooth and anxiety free transition. When I contacted Chris he explained everything from what I had to do to prepare for this adventure to the final day before closing. Everytime I had an ounce of fear or anxiety he was right there to comfort me and assure me. One thing I will never forget "An idle mind is the devils playground". His loan processor Dawn was amazing at what she does and she made sure I got every document to her to make this application process a smooth process. This was LITERALLY like a dream and I'm on a cloud of pure happiness! Thank you Chris! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 10X ! read more

We did a refi of our mortgage through a VA loan. Chris Eastman was unbelievable in how he made the process so simple. His follow up skills are just top notch as he returned every phone call we made to him and answered all questions we had in an understandable manner. My wife and I were never left in the cold as to where we were throughout the journey from start to finish. Chris also has an excellent support staff that ensures all I's are dotted and T's are crossed. Getting a mortgage through Chris is an experience that everyone should endure. He has a personal touch like no other, he listens of your concerns doesn't just do all the talking. He truly likes his job serving the public with his knowledge and experience please don't pass this up you can't go wrong with Chris and his team. read more

I'm sorry it took me so long to write this review but it's not because I wasn't satisfied. Chris was recommended to us through a friend and he had great things to say. Chris and his staff were wonderful !! Through our realtor we found the perfect house in Addison, Illinois. Chris worked his magic in getting our loan approved at a great interest rate. He kept telling me about closing cost and that he always estimated high and not to worry because the costs would certainly be lower. Well he wasn't kidding !! He saved us so much money that I bought all new furniture for our house !! It was a very smooth and painless process. I would certainly recommend Chris and Academy Mortgage to anyone that I know that is looking to purchase a home !! Thanks, Amy P. read more

Chris and the team are truly second to none. Their exceptional service, dedication, and responsiveness made an incredible difference throughout my mortgage journey. From start to finish, Chris stood by me through every challenge and hurdle that came our way. There was even a point when I felt ready to give up, but Chris's persistence, expertise, and thoughtful guidance turned everything around. Today, I'm incredibly grateful to call myself a homeowner. What once felt like a distant dream became a reality, thanks to Chris and the team's unwavering commitment and support. I wholeheartedly recommend Chris to anyone looking for trusted guidance with their mortgage needs. Thank you once again for helping make this dream come true! read more

Fantastic experience. I am a 24 year old first-time home buyer that just had my first child and Chris and his team were very patient with me and educated me on every step of the process and walked me through tips and tricks to saving money immediately and in the long run. I did not use a realtor and FCM worked diligently to meet the deadlines I requested and did a great job following up with myself and 3rd parties for information to keep things going. Chris is a great person to trust and spends time speaking at events and in his community and volunteers in many extracurricular activities. I highly recommend Chris and his team to other people and would use their services again in the future. read more

Mr. Eastman and his staff at First Centennial is top tier when it comes to professionalism and customer service. First Centennial got me the best deal for my home, was 100% transparent through the entire process, and even wanted a picture of my wife and I after we signed the papers for our new home! I have to say a class act all the way around! Mr. Eastman and his staff makes you feel like family and treats you, just the same. I will always be in debt to Mr. Eastman and his staff for going above and beyond to help my family and I get out of a stressful situation with limited time. God Bless you Mr. Eastman and all of your staff at First Centennial! Happy Holidays! read more

My wife and I bought our first house in August 2017. Chris was recommended to us by our real estate agent Cindy, who described him as " he can be intense, but he always closes". Chris does talk fast, and is intense, but is thorough in answering all questions and discussing all angles. Just make sure to stop him and ask questions. He is super nice about it and makes himself available at all hours. Chris delivered everything he promised, well mortgage agents dont make promises, but you get the idea. At closing, everyone in the room mentioned how great our numbers looked and that our mortgage agent did a fantastic job for us. Would use him again for sure. read more

I don't even know where to begin in my praise for Chris and his team. Chris makes the whole process easy to understand, follows through with every commitment he makes, and at the end of the day leaves you more knowledgeable nit just about your loan, but the industry as a whole. Leueen was fantastic at keeping all of our documents straight and staying on top of our file to ensure that we had everything in a timely manner, but yet we didn't feel rushed to get them in. Overall, from the application process and the helpful guidance from the team, to the videos after each step - Academy, Chris, and his entire team went above and beyond every expectation. read more

The moment I reached out to Chris for a preapproval, I knew I was in great hands. Chris took the time to explain every step of the mortgage process and made sure the homes I was interested in seeing were within my budget. I started searching for my home right before the holidays and Chris was always available to answer my calls and any questions I had, no matter what time of the day it was. Chris and his team took the time to get to know me and made sure I was always up to speed on where things were in the process. Thank you Chris and team for all of your time and help. You really made my experience an unforgettable one! read more