Justin Lopatin and his team went above and beyond to help me secure my loan on time with my original locked in rate. Since the start of the process till the end they provided me with a competitive rate, stellar customer service experience, guiding me through this difficult loan process and replying promptly to many of my questions. All went smooth and cool till the underwriter started to request and demand legal documents I did not have, jeopardizing my locked in rate and closing date. Justin relentlessly pulled his team and other managers at Guaranteed Rate to find a viable solution and gladly they were able to re-instate my original loan rate! I am so pleased with this team 's integrity! Thanks to Justin I am now the proud owner of a nice condo with a loan rate I can afford. Big shout out to Justin, Wendy, Melissa, and Cheryl whose actions spoke loudly! This team DO Care about YOU! read more

Justin made my closing process a nightmare. Someone on his team gave me the incorrect wire instructions so my down payment went into someone else's account. He attended the closing when all of this was uncovered but expressed absolutely no concern and after the issue was discovered, and expressed a lack of comparable remorse to the fact that my closing was delayed and my life savings was sent to someone else. My closing was delayed and had to make some last minute changes because my moves were scheduled for the next day. I have asked his organization on at least 2 occasions (both written and verbal) to keep me off of his call list and his mailing lists. The calls, e-mails and paper mail keep coming 3 years after this nightmare. This being said, there are probably better options out there. read more

Justin and his team did a fantastic job of walking us through our very first home purchase. He took the time to explain the whole process to us and I never felt as if I was inconveniencing the team. His team was very responsive and knowledgable. I couldn't have asked for a smoother lending process. I still dream of the cake pop I received when I went into their office to meet them. =) read more

A couple years ago I was a very lost first time home buyer. I used j Justin as my mortgage guy and he was excellent! First off I have no idea kind of paperwork I needed! Justin was patient and kind and guided me through the process. If he can deal with me as an annoying customer he can help you as well! read more

For anyone who doesn't want to read the novel below - short and sweet version is this: highly recommend PERL and Justin, but it seems like they're getting a bit too much business to handle recently which may be causing them to slip a bit. Now that that's there for people, let me just say that Justin is awesome to work with. As others have said here, he's very professional, patient and responsive. As a first-time homebuyer with my fiancee, we had a ton of questions (well, me mostly) that Justin took all pains to answer and made sure I was completely informed throughout the process. (By comparison I started the process with my main bank, BofA, and they offered pretty much the opposite experience in all aspects.) This would have been a 6-star review were it not for some difficulties right at the home stretch of the financing process. Approximately one week before we were set to close, we got the news that a critical form from the IRS had not come through yet and that without it we couldn't close. Now, I'm not blaming PERL for the IRS' shortcomings - but I was a little frustrated that what had been stellar communication seemed to come crumbling down at this precise moment. It was never made clear to us why this form hadn't been requested sooner, or what the possible implications were for its delay. Though our closing only got pushed back a week (and thankfully the sellers accommodated), the needless stress was both frustrating and unexpected based on the amazing process up to that point. I could have let one mishap slide, but then on the day of closing we had another snafu. Rather than get the complete summary of closing costs and how much we needed to bring to closing the day before, that document didn't arrive until after the scheduled closing time. Additionally, PERL delayed so long in wiring the money that the title company couldn't complete the transaction before the accounts closed for the weekend (and it was the Friday before Memorial Day, so things couldn't get squared away until Tuesday). Fortunately, the sellers were again accommodating and we were able to walk away with the keys, but just not the way you want your first closing day to go. My attorney later told me that this was actually the latest in a string of delayed closings from PERL. Now this is likely due to them being swamped because 90% of the time they're incredible to work with. But the delays combined with a frustrating breakdown in communication made the last two weeks of the process much more stressful than they needed to be. read more

We had a short turnaround for our closing, but I never once worried we wouldn't hit every deadline. Justin and his team were responsive, efficient and a pleasure to work with. As with any major decision, you should shop your options. I suspect like me you will find that Justin's offer combines competitive rates with excellent service. Highly recommended. read more

Justin is amazing. He helped me get a mortgage to purchase my 1st home in Chicago. Being a first home buyer, I was nervous about the process and had a ton of questions, but Justin was very patient, was always available, and helped me to feel comfortable. Justin and his team were very responsive, efficient and made the entire process so easy! It's a year later, and I just refinanced with Justin! He kept in touch after the closing, and when rates had dropped a few months ago, he had proactively reached out to let me know of my possible savings. I would highly recommend Justin for any future purchases! read more

Short version: Use Justin and his team. TLDR: We closed on a house in November and used Justin and his team for our financing. He came as a recomendation from friends, and I would now recommend him to anyone that needs his services. Justin and his team were there with us through the whole process. From my earliest questions about qualifying through a check-in email just after closing. Much of my interaction was with Justin, but I found the rest of his team to be just as professional, timely, and knowledgable as Justin is. read more

I had a great experience working with Justin. His team is great to work with. They were very helpful and timely on all of their communications. Highly recommended!!! read more

I tried working with several mortgage companies. I even put a deposit down with a bank before switching to Justin. I wish I would've saved some time and just gone with PERL from the start. Justin was very professional and easy to work with. I also received an awesome rate. I would recommend him to anyone. read more

Just closed another transaction with Justin. It turned out to be a more complex than we initially thought, but Justin and Perl did a great job adjusting to these issues. I'm glad that he was at the helm and guiding us through this one. read more

I have delayed writing this review until three months after our closing, but ultimately feel that a customer should be well informed when making the biggest purchase of his/her life. Overall, our experience with Justin and his team at Perl Mortgage was sub-par. Positives - Fast communication and responsive team members. - Weekly phone call to keep you up to speed on the process. - Good working relationship with my real estate agent and attorney, so seamless communication between the three parties. Negatives - You will not get the best rates. If you have the time, shop around and you WILL find lower. We went with them because we were willing to pay a little more for a lender that came at the recommendation of our real estate agent. - Lack of attention to detail -- his team, while they do work fast, missed lots of details. The following are just a few examples: 1. Not following-up with the seller's attorney in a more persistent way caused a 4 day delay in our closing, although we had given ourselves plenty of cushion time (nearly 2 months to close). Luckily, we weren't pressed for time. 2. We were charged an extra fee ($250) on the day of close and had to call a member of Justin's closing team to fix the error. I imagine they would not have voluntarily returned our money if I had not pointed out the error. 3. Details about fees and closing costs are not communicated clearly -- different members of his team gave differing statements about the closing costs and fees. 4. Our loan was transferred to a bank but the transfer was delayed, causing US to have to reach out to THEM (PERL) to obtain details of where to send our payment, over a month after our close date. - Keep in mind, they are a loan broker, so they can NOT give a rate lock or float down a rate without approval from the loan issuing lender. Pressing for more details about fees or details on when/how we would be able to float-down our rates were met with dismissive replies -- ultimately we weren't able to, although the markets pointed to the possibility of a lower rate (I work in capital markets for a living, so was on top of this). - Overall, I felt the communication with Justin was a bit impersonal. Aside from the initial sales pitch to get us on board, we didn't see him again in person, rarely spoke to him on the phone, and e-mails were short and terse. It may just be his personal style of communication, but we would have appreciated a more friendly demeanor. - It should be noted that no one from Justin's team was present at our closing. While not a huge deal, it caused us to raise our eyebrows one final time. From start to finish, there were too many hiccups, mistakes and brush-offs for us to recommend Justin's team at PERL mortgage. Couple this with the fact that if you shop around, you will get lower rates, and we can honestly advise potential buyers to learn from our mistake and look elsewhere. read more

My experience with Perl was fantastic. Justin's Lapotin, Melissa Clement and Angelo Carrivale were patient and supportive in assisting me with everything associated with my purchase. My engagement with them happened right as Justin was having his first child and even Justin was unbelievably responsive during a time when I would've understood if he wasn't. Being that I was a first time home buyer, I expressed to Melissa that I wanted weekly communication to give me more of a timeline and continue to be proactive for underwriting as we were nearing the closing date. Melissa called me every single Tuesday without fail to give me updates and keep me educated on what they would need from me. I would absolutely recommend the Perl team to anyone who is looking for a seamless experience with an extremely supportive team. read more

"Refinancing can be a tricky process these days and it's important to find a reputable company and a trustworthy professional. I've worked with Justin Lopatin on several occasions and he continues to impress me with his knowledge, high service level and communication skills. People just want a loan and a good rate, that's it. Justin simplifies a complicated process and keeps you updated. I never felt out of the loop or confused. He stays organized and really makes this as stress-free as possible. I've heard horror stories from my colleagues about loans taking 3 months to close or their rate/fees changing multiple times. We closed on my refinance in 3 weeks and he waived my closing fees. I cannot be happier with Justin and Perl Mortgage. If you want your loan closed quickly and without surprises call Justin!" read more

I recently used Justin and his team to purchase a new home and couldn't have been happier with the experience. Justin's communication was perfect from start to finish, as he kept everyone involved the process aware of what was going on at all times (he was even complimented on this by the SELLER'S realtor at closing). His team was also very friendly and professional, and made me feel like my loan was just as important to them as it was to me. I would be happy to use Justin again in the future and will certainly recommend him to family and friends who are looking to purchase or refinance. read more

I've been a practicing Real Estate Attorney for 8 years, I have the utmost confidence in Justin. He is experienced, sharp and professional. He is knowledgable about the products he has to offer and gets the best deal for his customers. His team is well trained and efficient, most importantly, they always close on time. Justin is an exceptional Mortgage Banker, and I highly recommend him to my clients. read more

From the moment you step into Perl Mortgage's office, you can tell that this is a company that values each employee and each client. The amount of good energy flowing through that building is infectious! I think I was smiling from the moment I walked in to the moment I walked out just from interacting with everyone there! Justin took the time to get to know me a little before walking me through the process of getting my first mortgage. This process can be overwhelming for a first timer but Justin and his team were always there to answer my questions. They made sure that I understood my buying power and what would make me feel comfortable long term. I was up against a time crunch for closing and the team at Perl Mortgage made it happen for me! Thanks Team Justin! read more

Justin and his team helped me quickly and efficiently secure a loan, where I made an offer mid-May and closed at the end of June. He was attentive to the changing mortgage rate at the time, helping me lock in to a good rate before a large increase. I would gladly work with Justin and his team at Perl again and plan to refer friends. read more

I went back to Justin and his team for my refinance because the rates simply cannot be beat. They secured me a very low interest rate at a very reasonable price, and for this, I am grateful. That said, I still find that they struggle to keep up with the details. In the end, I would recommend going with Justin and his team, but I would also recommend double checking the details throughout the process to be sure everything you want is being incorporated. I will likely go to Justin again, and hopefully following that experience, my rating will bump up another star. read more

I used Justin for my first home buying experience and was extremely pleased. He and his team were very thorough and took their time to explain everything to me and make sure I was comfortable. I will refer all of my friends to Perl in the future. read more

I just finished the process of working with Justin at Perl. The process of buying a home these days is a very hectic process and being a first time home buyer I was incredibly intimidated. Justin made the process so much better, he was very clear and concise in explaining the process. He was always available, helpful and overall just really awesome in making sure everything was taken care of in a timely manner. The biggest help from Justin was just in his sheer knowledge of the process and what to expect. It was very calming to be able to ask any question even if they sound stupid... he was most realistic in his expectation setting and every call really made sense. Overall I would and will recommend that anyone looking to buy a home in this market reach out to Justin Lopatin at Perl to help out with getting or understanding the mortgage process. read more

I recently bought a home in April and used Perl Mortgage to do so. It is our first home and we were definitely not familiar with the process. My boyfriend and I were extremely please with Justin and his team. They were always available and answered all of our questions and concerns every step of the way. Justin made us feel very comfortable with the whole process and every time I freaked out, he would reassure me that everything would fall into place. He definitely is an expertise in his field and knows what he's talking about. I would highly recommend using Justin at Perl Mortgage for any of your future purchases. read more

Justin and his team worked diligently and meticulously to get us into our new home quickly. I couldn't have asked for a more professional, thoughtful team to help me with my first home buying experience. We had a very tight schedule and the Perl team was there spearheading the daunting task on my behalf, I couldn't be more appreciative!! Thank you all!!!! read more

Justin was wonderful to work with the whole team was extremely transparent and we were able to close in LESS THAN 30 DAYS, honestly it was close to 25. There was never more than a 12 hour delay in a response from any team member and they were all extremely transparent in finding the mortgage structure that was best suited for my goals. highly recommend working with this team in Chicago. read more

Justin has incredible knowledge and a great attitude. He is one of my favorite people to work with in Chicago. I would recommend Justin to anyone looking for a mortgage. Class act. read more

Justin and his team were fantastic to work with- at the beginning. They took a *lot* of time to patiently answer all of our questions, and help us over the weekend as we put an offer in. We closed in 7 weeks, and the first 6 were smooth sailing. The last one was not. I certainly understand a builder getting behind schedule is in no way PERL's fault- but their solution to everything was to push the close date. There was no thought of taking a moment to problem solve, or any signs of recognition that moving the close date was a big problem (especially less than a week before we were scheduled to close!). Both real estate agents worked tirelessly to troubleshoot, and because of them we were able to close (somewhat) on time. The real frustration though was that we did not hear a word from Justin when things started to go south. His team would call us with updates (although we would be told we were on schedule; the next day we weren't), but we had a really tough time getting to him directly to try and sort out what our options were. It was a very disappointing end to what started out so well. Overall- Justin's team was great and they made the beginning of the process very easy. Just be prepared to be on your own if you hit any snags. read more

As a first time homebuyer, I knew I needed to find someone who was willing to work with me to explain the process as well as answer all of my questions. Justin was exactly that person. Justin went out of his way to get to know me and my needs, explain the process, and was accessible at all hours of the day. I would frequently reach out to Justin with questions and he would always answer them as well as the questions that I didn't know I had. He is extremely knowledgeable and was a trusted advisor to me through out the entire process. Justin advised me at one point in my process to lock and I was extremely reluctant to do so. Since I trusted him, I ended up following his recommendation and he ended up saving me 0.67% on my mortgage rate. He knows his stuff! I feel so strongly about Justin's ability to meet your needs that I created a Yelp account just to post this review. He builds instant credibility with his clients and will do everything he can to make sure you are satisfied. I couldn't give a higher recommendation than I am for Justin right now. read more

My wife and I recently purchased our first home in July and worked with Justin and his team. We were extremely pleased with the experience throughout the entire process. Justin took the time upfront to explain each step and gain an understanding of what we were looking for in our mortgage. Justin kept in contact throughout every step of process to ensure all our questions were answered and everything went smoothly with the buying process. I would definitely use Justin again in the future and would recommend him to anyone that is looking to purchase or refinance a home. read more

We purchased a home In Chicago but live out of state. We were very fortunate to be referred to Justin Lopatin and PERL mortgage for our transaction. We were unfamiliar with the lending differences between states as well as the tightened requirements for obtaining a loan. NOt only did Justin and his team secure us a great interest rate, the interaction with him and his team was outstanding. Questions were answered quickly and we were given explanations on all of the nuances of this transaction. Would highly recommend Justin and his team at PERL Mortgage. read more

Justin and his team were extremely helpful and professional. They completed everything on time and provided updates when necessary. Definitely recommend Justin and Perl! read more

Justin and his team do a phenomenal job with clients when it comes to the mortgage process. Whether it's educating them, providing excellent communication 7 days a week, or troubleshooting when issues arise, Justin and his team can be relied on to provide the best possible lending experience. read more

Great company. organized and fair. Good customer service. We will definitely strongly consider PERL for any future financing needs.

Working with Justin was a great experience. He was very detailed and engaged during the entire purchase process which was our first time. I would recommend to work with Justin anytime. read more

Justin and his team were absolutely outstanding. They secured an excellent rate for me on an extremely tight turnaround time, during the busiest time of year - with a smile! Justin and his team took a lot of extra time to walk me through every last detail I asked about (which, as I understand it, was most of them), and they carefully walked me through all stages of the mortgage process. Every deadline was hit and I couldn't be happier about how the process went. I absolutely recommend Justin and his team and would happily re-use their services down the road when the need arises. read more

Perl provides great service. They communicated with me through the entire process, so I never had to worry about the status of my application. I felt like an important and valued client. read more

As a first time home buyer knowing NOTHING about the buying process, Perl and Justin made it super easy for me. I had a million questions, and they were always answered. Buying a home is very stressful but looking back on it, it was such a breeze with Perl. Closing was easy and painless. Thank you Perl and Team Justin! read more

My experience with Perl was amazing - after shopping a few different mortgage brokers, I was pleased to find that Justin & his team had a more personalized approach and seemed to genuinely care about helping me secure a loan. They were also very patient with me as a first time home buyer and took the time to make sure that I completely understood the process & all of the documents, etc. Would definitely go to them again & recommend Justin & his team to others! read more

We could not be any happier with the level of customer service and professionalism of Perl Mortgage, specifically Team Justin. This is the third time we have worked with them on mortgage transactions and every single time they have been prompt, extremely thorough, and very accessible. They truly made the confusing process of buying a home, very easy. We look forward to working with you again in the future and continuing to refer our friends your way! read more

Smooth and calm refi process. Justin was responsive and answered every question. There were no surprises - and we ended up with a higher appraisal and a great rate! Couldn't ask for anything else. Thanks Justin! read more

Bounced around constantly, never got straight answers. They sent me on dozens of wild goose chases, people didn't return calls and emails, etc. Ended up going directly with my bank for a far lower rate. Not sure what value Perl and Justin's team provides. read more