The home buying process should be a happy exciting joyful process, especially when one has a good dependable job, a good credit score and adequate income. This however has not been the experience with Redfin mortgage. Mr. AA came to us through Redfin Mortgage and appeared to be knowledgeable and was very quick to response to all our questions. He went through the "Redfin incentives" for utilizing their mortgage company. The prequalification process went through seamless, and he was even able to prequalify the mortgage with just my income on the loan as my partner is retired.
Once our home was chosen and we were preparing to close, the problems began. The first issue was a cash deposit made into my account for $16,000.0. AA began to call me, while at work, to question this deposit. He asked multiple times for copies of the check. Multiple times I explained to him that we had sold multiple items in the house in preparation for the move (including an ATV) and it was a CASH deposit. This apparently was unacceptable and he then needed a copy of the bill of sale and my partner's bank statements "and that would solve all the issues." It did not. This went on for over a week and the calls became so incessant that AA was asked not to contact me any longer and instead my partner would be the point of contact. He made us feel as if we were doing something wrong.
I have worked for the US Government for over 20 years. Once AA asked for a start date, I gave him my offer letter which provided my new location and salary. Apparently, this was also unacceptable. I reached out to HR who also gave a letter and this was also unacceptable as it did not have an exact start date. We were told our only option would be to postpone the closing date or mortgage the home as a second home. He stated a second home mortgage would not change the interest, a lie we later found out. A second letter was provided with 2 start dates depending on clearing credentials, this was also unacceptable. We tried to explain (multiple times) that this is a transfer, not a new job within the system. AA would not hear of it. On Christmas Eve he went ahead and made the decision to change the mortgage terms for us to a second mortgage. When we said that was unacceptable and asked to speak to his manager, we were told "they are on vacation." Customer service 101, there is always a manager or supervisor available. We felt bullied into this second mortgage with increased APR and down payment.
On the day of closing, a week late because of an apparent incompetent title company, AA again calls to inform us that we owe more money for closing. When asked why, he states that since we are closing late, as the title company labeled the Fedex package incorrectly, and our first payment would be a month later, we would have to pay more down. When asked how much, he stated "I don't know, I have to go out and get milk."
Again, this has been an extremely painful process and we are at the point that we don't want to answer the phone because of who may be at the other end. We would NOT recommend Redfin to anyone buying a home and most definitely not Redfin mortgage. read more
