This is a very much needed firm for anyone seeking a mortgage on a Laguna Woods co-op…read more My experience was positive with this group, from interface with the CEO to individual staff members. Carolyn Behrens went to bat for me when the lender insisted on a 25% down payment instead of 20%, which I actually put down. From start to finish, this group is professional, efficient, and best of all, on your side.

Responsive & Helpful. THE place to call if you're looking for financing on a Co-op - especially in…read moreLaguna Woods.

I have had an amazing experience doing all my taxes with Peshke Financial. The team is organized…read moreand gets everything filed and completed in such a timely manner. Makes this time of year beyond easy. Thank you!!!!

Chad and his team are awesome. Super quick, organized, and on top of everything. Chad gives solid…read moreadvice, and the whole process is smooth and easy to follow. Honestly, I'm so glad I found them.

My husband and I recently purchased a home with the help of Byron, Jinny, Derek and Russell. I…read morecould list a hundred reasons why I love this group so much, but a few that stood out are: 1. From day 1, they've been very honest and transparent and there was never any surprises that could push back our escrow. If they thought that we would have possible issues, they told us upfront and so we were always prepared for anything. 2. If it's your first time purchasing a house, terms and numbers are confusing. But they've explained everything to us so well. And if we found a house that we liked, all we need to do is send Byron the address and he would email us with the numbers which really prepared us for anything! 3. They're all easy to reach. I could email now and get a response in less than an hour, and if it's important, I could get a call back in minutes. 4. Customer service skills is unparalleled. 5. They give you cookies from Cravory cookies (which is to die for). And once Russell found out that we loved the cookies, they sent us another box! So if I could give them 10 stars, I would. We've had such a great experience with this team, and would highly recommend them to our friends and family.

Came here on a Monday evening to discuss and start to understand the (first time) home buying…read moreprocess. I had been receiving detailed instructions and assistance from Byron Watson and his team on how to find the place - and they're located across from the Irvine Spectrum, on the 7th floor of the Smile Brands building in Irvine! As I was ushered into the office, I quickly saw that they were ready for my visit. I was greeted pleasantly by the staff and noticed a welcome board with my name on it - wow, impressed already. After some pleasantries, we got some water and got to work. Byron was extremely helpful and patient when explaining every detail of the home buying process that we could get to in our two (2) hour time frame. This meeting definitely increased my confidence and willingness to buy a home, and I'm glad Byron and team were there to show me the first step! Will remain in contact with Fairway and Byron throughout the purchase and financing process. A very professional and informative experience that is really valuable - definitely recommend to anyone that's new to this stuff as well :)

Julie Aragon and her team are simply exceptional. I've had the opportunity to work with Julie on…read moremultiple transactions, and every single time I walk away impressed, not just by the results, but by how she gets there. Her professionalism is top-tier, but what really sets her apart is the way she builds relationships. Julie brings a rare mix of creativity, energy, and genuine care to her clients. People don't just feel "handled"...they feel understood, supported, and confidently guided through what can be a very complex process. She's honest, communicative, and relentlessly hardworking. You always know where things stand, and you always feel like you have a true advocate in your corner. If you're a first-time buyer, especially, Julie is a no-brainer. She has the ability to simplify the process, remove the stress, and actually make it an enjoyable experience.

Julie and her team are hands down the best. From the very beginning, they were incredibly…read moreresponsive, easy to approach, and made us feel completely comfortable discussing our budget and finances. There were many times we felt like we were asking "silly" questions because of all the mortgage jargon, but her team always took the time to explain everything clearly and made the process feel simple. Beyond their great communication, Julie guided us through a fast 21-day escrow that successfully closed--something we truly appreciated. This team doesn't mess around; they genuinely work in your best interest and go above and beyond to get the best outcome. Even after closing on our home, Julie continues to be just as responsive and helpful, answering our questions and proactively guiding us as we start thinking about refinancing. The Aragon Lending Team is always three steps ahead. It was such a pleasure working with this team during one of the biggest milestones of our lives. Thank you all so much!

I did not request info from them yet they call 3 times a day. I've asked them to stop calling and…read morethey have refused to do so. Always a call from different numbers. Time to report

Truly grateful with their team on helping me purchase my first investment property. Thank you Max…read moreand your amazing team as well.

I have seen positive reviews of Granite Escrow at other locations and with other staff. We worked…read morewith Lori Wurzel from Granite on the sale of my parents' condo in Laguna Woods during the summer of 2023 and I have to say, it was a pretty terrible experience. My father has dementia, which is why my parents had relocated back to their original home back East, and it felt like Granite was coming up with tons of last-minute requests to verify his condition and our power-of-attorney authorizations. We would get tons of abrupt emails from Lori demanding new things with very little notice or time to comply, so we'd have to scramble to contact multiple doctors and sign and notarize documents. Not a positive experience at all, but we worked with another escrow service for the sale of their second property in California this year and it was just as bad, if not worse. It would be nice if escrow officers knew their jobs and could help facilitate a complicated process involving lots of documentation and signing rather than just ping you with a thousand emails and phone calls asking for things you never knew you needed for a real estate transaction.

Lori Wurzel was our escrow officer and she was instrumental in moving our escrow along during a…read moreparticularly difficult time...COVID-19! Our escrow closed on 10/14/2020 45 days late, but not due to Granite Escrow. My husband and I have 50 years of combined experience as mortgage lenders with 2 major banks, and no one could have expected the delays and complications we experienced due to COVID. I see a previous review and have to remind everyone, it is not the responsibility of the escrow company to explain the process, rather it is your realtor, mortgage lender and in our case the homeowner association at Laguna Woods Village. Unfortunately for us, the HOA was shut down for an unreasonable amount of time, creating a backlog and unnecessary delays because of poor administrative procedures. This is not escrow's fault, and our escrow team was extremely helpful in bridging the issues with all the parties. If you are purchasing or selling in Laguna Woods Village, we highly recommend LORI WURZEL and her team at GRANITE ESCROW. They are professional, highly knowledgeable of all the nuances of Laguna Woods Village, and easy to communicate with throughout the process. Most of the time, Lori answered the phone on the first ring...very unusual in our business. Job well done Lori! Escrow is always the unsung hero in our business. Thank you for your expertise and guidance, Dolores, William and Cynthia Stage

Full circle home loans was an absolute joy to work with. The transition of buying a home was so…read moresmooth and easy. My wife and I would definitely use there services on our next home. Thanks everyone at Full circle.

The only mortgage lender I would use from here on out. Seth is honest, knowledgeable, and truly…read morecares for his customers. He spoke to me about some concerns about the deal to make sure I was aware, and I don't think any other lender would have done that because they would just want the deal. They have competitive interest rates and even matched the fees I quoted. His team, Summer and Bernie, were organized, communicative, and so quick that we were able to close in 21 days. Can't thank them enough.

Dino and Mario are simply the best. I can't imagine a Southern Californian lender offering a…read morebetter customer experience. When you combine the most knowledgeable, the friendliest, the quickest... the list goes on. So helpful in guiding us along the way and making the home buying experience easier. THANK YOU!

Everyone was infor.ative and friendly. The process went smoothly and I would highly recommend.read more

I recently worked with David Muniz at Purpose Funding to help a client buy a home in Rancho Mission…read moreViejo (I'm a Realtor). I've worked with tons of lenders in the past and was VERY happy with David and his team. He was professional, on time, and was able to get a FULL approval on the buyers loan in about a week. Some challenges came up with the HOA during the transaction and I was very impressed with how well he handled it, came up with solutions, and kept everyone updated. HIGHLY recommend :)

David is the best mortgage broker you will ever work with. I am in entertainment and have an…read moreunconventional job and payments are not organized. But David was able to get my loan approved. He was absolutely consistent in following up with everyone, even my accountant. I feel so lucky, I don't think I would have been approved as a single woman with an unconventional job without him. Thank you!

I was looking for help to do a refinance on my home that I purchased in 2023 and I found Vanessa…read more I have done mortgages and refinances before but this process was by far the easiest and most seamless experience I have ever had! From start to finish, the communication and expectations were clear. The prompt and detailed responses were extremely valuable to me. All the appointments with inspection and notary signing went smoothly. Vanessa is a true professional and I have no doubts referring her to anyone looking for this type of help!

Vanessa was amazing! So glad to have worked with her getting a mortgage for our home. She is very…read moreknowledgeable and accommodating. She also has a great personality and is super responsive. I'd recommend her to anyone looking for funding!