I have nothing but good things to say about Hal and his team! We were first time Home buyers who knew very little about the process, but he listened, explained and answered every question with the upmost professionalism and patience. He walked us through every step and even got us the lowest interest rate we could get. People have often told me to shop around for different lenders, but every other lender that I reached out to, was too pushy and eventually I would have to owe more money even though they claimed they would save me 5k plus! Hal is an honest and genuine person who I am lucky to have met and I cannot thank him enough for helping us get our first home! It's hard to recommend anyone unless my experience or trust in an individual is nothing short of 100% and I would 100% recommend Hal to every one of my closest friends and family! That explains how much I trust and thank this individual. read more

Worked with Hal through the home buying process in getting a loan. Hal is super knowledgeable and was able to guide us step by step in terms of what is needed and expectations. I highly recommend working with Hal!!! read more

As a first time homeowner, there's a lot of new information to learn during the process of closing on a home. I was connected with Hal over a year ago when I started looking for my first home. Hal and his team have been great with making the process of closing on a loan as seamless as possible. Hal has made me personalized videos to explain each step of the loan approval process and has always been responsive during anytime of the day when I had questions. I highly recommend working with Hal for any of your mortgage needs. read more

If I could give 6 stars I would!!! Hal and his team are amazing. As a first time home buyer I felt confident working with Hal. He explained every step of the process, what was needed from me and why, and set a clear timeline. I felt comfortable asking all my questions and he was happily answered them all. I still can't believe how smooth and quick the loan process was. Hal even spoke with the listing agent after we put in an offer. His service is above and beyond. I never had to update him as he was in constant conversation with my realtor. After talking to him everyday for almost a month it feels odd to not ask him anymore questions. I know he is still only a text away. I will definitely be recommending him to all my friends and family. Can't wait to work with the Light team again! read more

How it started: browsing RedFin, thinking about houses How it ended: We bought a great house at a great price, thanks to Hal! Ok, now for the long version of it. My partner and I were casually looking at houses for months and going to a couple open houses just to see what we would like/dislike. (Maybe that sounds like you?) We were introduced to Hal in July. We knew we were going away for a month and pause the home search. Nevertheless, Hal gave us a high-level overview about the process and what we're looking for in a home. He kept in touch with us and sent us auto-generated home suggestions We got back in Sept and our search really ramped up. We really liked a house and Hal helped us with the buying process. He was very thorough and patient with walking us through each of the steps. He plainly explained all of the complex documents and processes to us. We started as total noobs and now I'm asking my homeowner friends if they paid points or got a points rebate for their interest rate. Not only that, but Hal is so thorough when we did home walkthroughs. As buyers, we always look for ways we like the house, but Hal brings an expert-level attention to detail and is honest. "Is the crosswalk across the street going to be noisy?" "This house doesn't have a pantry, but the other one we saw does. A pantry really helps the resell value" Etc stuff like that (at least I) didn't think about much Tldr, thank you so much Hal! read more

My wife and I were first-time home buyers, and we had halted our search for homes after a negative experience with a large bank. Hal was referred to us by a friend who had recently purchased a condo, and we could not have asked for a better guide to our loan and buying experience. Hal was incredibly patient with us and his team was impressively responsive, answering questions late into the evening. Right from the beginning, Hal provided us with spreadsheets breaking down our options on loan amounts, potential interest rates, location specific taxes, closing costs, etc. Our approval process went smoothly and quickly. At each stage of our loan process, Hal provided thorough explanations of paperwork, which we appreciated very much as new buyers. Hal often recorded brief, personalized videos stepping us through paperwork. This approach was very helpful because we could review the videos and paperwork on our own time, then send our questions to Hal before signing. When it came time to make an offer, Hal and his team were once again lightning quick. Despite the intense Bay Area market, Hal was somehow able to arrange an appraisal on incredibly short notice. The appraisal came in within a few days and we were able to move forward immediately-- even our very experienced realtor was impressed. Hal's team was so fast, in fact, that we were ready to close before the sellers were ready to vacate. We highly recommend Hal and his team! read more

Light Mortgage!!! Look no further. My husband and I just closed on our very first home and Hal made this very intimidating process so easy. Prior to purchasing our home, my husband and I had very limited knowledge of the process of securing a loan and all that it entails . After working with Hal, it all became so much more clear. He should write a "home financing for dummies" book. Hal is able to distill very critical and often times overwhelming information into a format people who are new to this process can understand. In addition to being extremely knowledgeable, Hal is also kind. My husband and I felt listened to and never felt rushed by him. He took time to thoroughly answer our (sometimes repetitive) questions. My husband and I highly recommend Light Mortgage Company and have no doubt in our minds that we will be working with Hal again for our next home purchase. read more

Hal goes beyond the services of just any realtor. In the early stages of home buying for my wife and I, Hal was very insightful about different neighborhoods in the East Bay, along with tips to pay attention to on things like train schedules and rush hour traffic that we didn't consider for some homes we thought would fit our needs. We ended up narrowing down to a townhouse in Hayward where Hal toured with us and worked with the seller agent to align disclosures and reports for us. We ultimately ended up putting an offer and closed with contingencies in around 45 days. Throughout the process Hal kept us on schedule and we moved in May 2020 (getting everything to line up at the beginning of the pandemic was chaotic but everything came together). Fast forward to January 2021, we went back to Hal to refinance our mortgage since at the time we closed was before the rates dropped, so we wanted to take advantage of the lower rates now. Hal got us a new rate at 3%, a full percentage lower with no closing cost. Hal continued at providing all the info we needed during the refi process and made everything stress-free. If you need someone that will walk you through your home buying experience, and also be on your side during the negotiations, Hal is the guy! read more

I was introduced to Hal from a close friend of mine. He helped refinance 2 of my mortgages. Here are some highlights: 1. Super responsive and professional 2. Took the time to explain every detail 3. Very knowledgeable 4. Provided pros and cons of each option I look forward to working with Hal again when we decide to purchase another property. Highly recommended! 10 Star service! read more

Hal and his mortgage team have been wonderful throughout our entire loan process. They have been clear, concise, and responsive any time we had questions. The informational videos and the team's availability have helped make the process of being a new home owner a smooth transition. We appreciate everything they've done and will definitely be getting repeat business from us. read more

I've known Hal for over 20 years and he's absolutely the best. He really cares about each one of his clients. He sent a text reminder to me to make sure our payment was set up after a recent refinance. He's professional, timely, and responsive. I've worked with him on multiple transactions and referred my brother in law to him. Highly recommend. read more

Light Mortgage is great to work with. We wanted to refinance and quickly do this with the attractive rates. Hal and his team were so responsive and quick with what was required, this is the fastest refinance I have ever done. Within one day after providing all my personal information, Hal and his team already had a solid rate quote. Once we locked it literally took less than one week to finalize and document before signing papers. Hal also does an amazing job doing a short video about the costs involved. From experience big bank/FI refinances can take two months. This two two weeks. Without a doubt will use Light Mortgage for refinancing again. Add photos read more

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Hal is a true professional who not only knows the business but has customer service down pat. He uses video recordings to very clearly explain status and options, which I feel is a game changer. He and his team are very timely in their responses and follow-ups. These good qualities extend to the network he leverages - including the notary who brought his own table knowing that people may want to sign papers outside during the pandemic! I have zero hesitation in referring friends to Hal. Thanks Hal, for making the process so easy (and for helping us get such a good rate)! read more

Hal is a most intelligent and knowledgeable individual ... Certainly the very best to represent you in financing issues as well as purchases and sales of properties I strongly recommend him representing me ....in any area of his business. His integrity, his knowledge, his respect and regard for his client ... is without comparison! Virginia Hayes read more

I highly recommend Light Mortgage! As first time home buyers, my husband and I were new to the whole mortgage process and had so many questions. Hal was so patient, thorough, knowledgeable, and personable. I really appreciated his recorded video walkthroughs of all the forms and numbers. Hal and his team are so easy to work with and we're so glad we got to work with them. read more

We had an amazing experience with Hal! We was able to help us close within a strict timeline and had our best financial interest at heart. We'd recommend him to all our friends and colleagues. read more

Hal has been instrumental in helping us with our refis throughout the years. He found us great rates and made each process quick and painless. My favorite part? Hal's videos breaking down our loans so there's absolutely no confusion. So for our recent home purchase we knew going through Light Mortgage was a no brainer. Hal and his team got our loan approved in 7 days! Amazing! Knowledgable, transparent and responsive. Highly recommended! read more

Absolutely loved working with Hal! We were recommended to him in December by my sister who had also had a good experience working with him and by end of February we moved into our new home. He is VERY knowledgeable in what he does. Makes himself open to questions and does a good job with the explanations. I felt very comfortable and safe working with him and knew I was in good hands. I will definitely be recommending him in the future for my friends because of his expertise, amazing customer service, and great outcomes. read more

I met Hal in 2017 when we were in the market for mortgage (first time home buyer). He was very attentive and personable then and (still is) and we liked him instantly. Unfortunately, our plans to buy a place fell through so that's that for 2017....We thought 2018 was the same as before so we planned for a nice vacation instead. However, a property showed up so we reached out to Hal again (even after nearly a year Hal was the first name that popped up in my mind). He managed to win us over again with the same enthusiasm and willingness to work with you (and help). Since all the vaca plans were done (meaning all $$ gone w/o chance of backing out) we needed someone to really work with us on being thorough with funding options and precise with the dates from putting in offer to closing the transaction....He did a marvelous job to say the least. I myself am an engineer with many years of engineering lead and managerial background my appetite for detailed approach is not really easy to satisfy. Hal stuck with us and sailed us through whole home buying process with out a hiccup...answering to each and every question with a lot of patience and thoroughness. I'm glad that we chose Hal for our First home purchase and he'll always be our go to guy in the future...He made us feel like he was right next to us through out the whole process. We wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone and he deserves each and every single shiny stars indeed...Thank you Hal FYI: Even to this day we haven't met the guy in person. read more

I worked with Hal to purchase a home in 2020, right as we were entering the market turmoil following the spread of COVID 19. Hal was a guiding light and source of calm, reason and stability amidst a global crisis. He walked me through every step of our process from planning before we even did our first open house through the nitty gritty details of closing. Hal is super smart, responsive and attentive. I would not hesitate to recommend Hal and Light Mortgage. I got a tremendous rate and his expertise ensured that we had an extremely smooth process to secure financing on our home purchase. Thank you for helping us get that backyard for our dog! read more

Working with Hal has always been amazing! I usually don't leave reviews but wanted to help others if they are looking for someone to trust. We have worked with Hal on 4 separate occasions. Sold our first house, helped us buy a new home in 2017, and now has helped us Refi twice. He is definitely someone you can trust and keeps you informed at each step. I highly recommend working with him! read more

Hal was our realtor when buying our first home - and he was amazing in that role - but we didn't end up using him for our mortgage. Instead, as a millennial in the startup industry, I suggested we use Better Mortgage, a venture-backed player in the space. And while we ended up getting an incredible rate, it was only because they dropped the ball at multiple critical times and almost derailed the close that we were able to negotiate significant concessions from them. Luckily for me, Hal never held that against me (or at least I don't think he has, haha) and when there was an opportunity to refinance our mortgage, Hal took the initiative and let us know that interest rates were low and coordinated everything - all the diligence, all the phone calls, all the reminders to sign documents, all the notary appointments. I've never had to manage a complex process like this with so little effort, because Hal was taking care of us every step of the way! And now, we're paying less on our mortgage on the terms that are perfect for us and we couldn't be happier. Thanks Hal for keeping us in mind and really setting the bar high on what it means to provide client service! I hope the robots never make you obsolete. read more

I highly recommend reaching out to Hal for any of your mortgage needs. We just completed a mortgage refinance and it was such a smooth process. Hal is knowledgeable, extremely responsive and on top of every step in the refinance process. He has a great system in place with videos and keeping you informed. Not to mention he is also just a nice and friendly guy that you can trust! He'll save you money, time and be extremely attentive to any questions/needs. read more

We were looking to refinance our home, but were very busy with day to day life. So when we chose Hal to help us refinance, he made the whole process easy, straight forward and pain free. He worked around our schedule and was ultra responsive with any questions or concerns we had. Because of this great service, we were able to finalize our mortgage refinance in an extremely fast time frame. Best of all, Hal was very knowledgeable and informative about all our options which made the process even better. I would highly recommend Hal to anyone! read more

Hal Light of Light Mortgage is extraordinary. After working with him to find a lender for our Hayward, CA home in 2016 (and refinancing with his help in 2017), I would absolutely recommend him. Here's our story interspersed with more about Hal. In early 2016, my wife and I had only lived in apartments since our marriage. We had a 2-year old and a newborn. We were staying with my wife's parents to save for a downpayment, as rents were beginning to skyrocket. There were a couple home buyers in our extended family, and one retired realtor, but we knew little about the entire home buying experience. We had gotten advice from our successful realtor relative to use a mortgage broker she used to work closely with. While searching on Yelp for that person and their company, I instead came across a list Yelp titled something like, the "10 Most Recommend Mortgage Brokers in the San Ramon area". That's how we found Hal! The reviews were stellar, but I dug a little deeper. It was visiting Hal's website and having our first phone conversation that really moved us to want to work with him and not the local bank. Hal had written his story online (you should read it!) about how he saw many friends and their families hurt by some of the mortgage products and financial decisions they made, and he wanted to make a difference. Since I had not long before been in a lot of debt (from co-signing loans), I knew I needed someone like Hal to guide me and protect me from making an unwise financial move that could affect us badly for years to come. The main thing was not buying more home than we could truly afford. If I was about to go half a million dollars in debt, it was crucial that I not mess things up for my young family. So, I sent Hal a message. It was only hours later that I received a call from him! This was the kind of personal experience I knew I wouldn't receive from the bank. Hal was energetic on the phone, and a great listener. I was beginning to sense that there was more to Hal's company name "Light" than just a last name. He brightened my day at work with his friendliness, care and advice. Hal answered my initial questions about what to expect and took down some more of my contact info. He assured me he would be in touch with what info we would need to get started. I couldn't wait to tell my wife about that call! The promised emails came almost as fast as his first call! And Hal made what seemed like such a complex and foreign process almost seem effortless! A few things he needed from us were credit scores and income figures, etc. Later on during the pre-qualification stage we sent our recent pay stubs and bank account snapshots. One of the biggest surprises was learning that we didn't necessarily need to put down the traditional 20% or even 10% to secure a loan without paying unaffordable mortgage insurance (PMI). Hal eventually secured a loan for us that had lender-paid PMI and an interest rate we could later refi down from (though we had no idea what the refi process looked like either). Now, as any Bay Area home buyer knows, getting the financing is only half the battle. Finding a great realtor and a starter home in an acceptable area is where more decision making needs to be made. But Hal was always willing to take a call or answer a text as we got into this months-long process. We loved how he worked with our realtor. Having excellent cooperation and teamwork made things go smoother than we could have dreamed. There were, of course, the properties that didn't pan out (we made two offers), but that didn't deter Hal from helping us. Another thing he guided us on was including a gift letter (a promised contribution from family) that could count toward our qualifying for the mortgage. Speeding up to the end, once we found our home, we went from opening escrow to cleared to close escrow in 10 business days! About a year later, Hal walked us through the refi process and kept us posted on the rates and when would be a good time to lock those in. Once again, he was an invaluable resource. Hal was tireless on our behalf and has become a good friend. He's such a down-to-earth and friendly person. I couldn't recommend him more! Thanks, Hal!! read more

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Hal and his team were amazing! So very supportive, communicative, proactive, and dedicated, seeing me through the financing and purchasing process.They were very positive and supportive throughout. Hal went the extra mile to ensure I understood and felt ok about everything before I moved forward. This was my first time, so I had many questions and the personal (yet professional) nature of his and their working styles, made me feel I was working with friends and reassured. Highly recommend them and will be sending my network to them for their home financing needs. Go Team! -Dre read more

Hal is great, honest, responsive, and knowledgeable. It was extremely easy to work with him during the pandemic.

I took way too long to post this review but please make note! Hal Light has every attribute you could ever hope for in a world class mortgage broker. I came across his work when we sold my mother's home earlier this year. I was copied by the correspondence he was providing our realtor regarding our buyer's loan process. He was SO responsive and informative while getting a loan qualified and funded in less than 2 weeks during a Covid restricted time, that I decided he would be our broker for our home's refinance. Hal is super informative as he goes through a thorough analysis of not only how much money you will save per month, but what you will save over the life of your loan. He treats you like you're the most important client he ever had with his excellent responsiveness and in the way he makes the process effortless for you. I will never use another mortgage professional again. If you need mortgage assistance call him for the best experience you will ever have. read more

Hal and his team has been amazing! From start to finish, he's been really awesome! He really takes the time to explain things and helps you through out the process. Highly recommended! Thank you read more

I had no idea how good I had it. I worked with Hal on our first ever home purchase/loan and then with someone else a few years later. Now I'm back to working with Hal and will never work with anyone else. Only after having something to compare it to could I really appreciate Hal. This guy is a stone cold professional. What sets him apart? -Incredibly responsive -Just genuinely kind and wonderful time and time again -Always prepared. Remembers who we are, our past interactions, everything -Succinct and thorough. After every call I know next steps, timeline and goals -Transparent. I know why we're doing what we're doing, the pluses and negatives and that his recommendation is the best path forward Hal is the kind of person I wish I could work with on every business interaction. read more

Hal does amazing work and was able to help my client's close on a property when other lenders could not. His experience in the Bay Area market is priceless and we're thankful for his services. Really impressed with his speed, efficiency and communication skills. He always made sure to keep everyone updated on the current situation. Highly recommend! read more

I HIGHLY recommend Hal! I had a unique situation where I urgently needed a lender that could work fast. No one could compare to how professional, knowledgeable, and proactive Hal was. He's honest and really looks out for his client's best interest. Overall, Hal was such a pleasure to work with and I truly cannot say enough great things about him. read more

I would 100% recommend Hal to anybody looking to refinance their mortgage. A friend recommended Hal to us and I can't thank her enough. Hal was absolutely amazing. He answered any and all questions we had (we had a lot) and kept an open line of communication throughout the entire process. He looked at all the options out there and gave us his honest opinion regarding when was the best time to refinance and when it was not worth it. He wasn't out to just make a sale. He actually cared about getting us the best deal possible. We ended up closing with no closing costs all thanks to his diligent efforts to get us the best deal. I will definitely use him again in the future if we decide to refinance again. read more

This is my second time having Hal to help me! He is excellent and attentive to every single details ! Would highly recommend anyone to let him handle all the stress, troubles and process! Super fast and efficient in closing in escrow ! And Hal answered millions of my questions ! Thank you so much Hal! This is such a blessing to have you to walk with us in our loan journey twice! read more

This is our second time that we are working with Hal. Our family needed a cash-out refi to do some remodel work this time around, and Hal did a great job in walking us through the process. He gave us daily updates on the rates and helped us lock in on a rate that we were very happy with. A vital aspect of what makes any business great is the responsiveness and follow through on all interactions. Hal is, by far, the best on responding quickly with EVERY interaction whether big or small. He is very knowledgable, reliable, and he kept us on top of what we needed to get done. Hal served us very well and made us feel very important even though we may have slacked on our end a few times. This is customer sevice at its finest. We will continue to use Light Mortgage in the future. Thanks Hal! read more

Hal has helped us refinance our mortgage loan more than once. He made everything go so smoothly! He was very helpful and was always available to answer any questions that we had, even after hours. He was a pleasure to work with and I highly recommend him. I would give him 20 stars if I could! read more

It was a pleasure working with Hal and his team at Light Mortgage. They were very professional, responsive, and efficient on getting things done. Throughout the process, Hal explained everything, every step of the way, and made things very easy to understand. His videos detailing the process of the loan and and explaining all aspects of the loan process was a very nice touch. I would definitely be working with Hal again in the future and i highly recommend Hal and his team at Light Mortgage. read more

From start to finish, Hal and his team were great to work with. They were easy to communicate with and walked us through the refinance process. Shifting mortgage rates can be such a mystery, but Hal took the time to explain what is going on and how rates are determined - most mortgage brokers don't do this. I would 100% recommend Light Mortgage. read more

Hal was excellent. He's very professional and thorough. He was able to beat any rate that I had from various vendors. I was able to understand all of the complicated documents because Hal took the time to create videos explaining complex financial terms. Anyone looking to refinance or looking for a loan, I would highly recommend Hal. read more

This is way overdue, but I just want to say It was such a delight having Hal helped us with our re-fi. He is knowledgeable and explained everything we need to know about our new mortgage. He is honest and easy to work with. We would definitely reach out to him again if we further assistance. read more