【Tom - The Best Lender We Could've Asked For!】 Working with Tom was an absolute game-changer for us. As first-time homebuyers navigating the SF BMR program, we had tons of questions and tight timelines--but Tom made everything feel smooth and manageable from day one. He is blazingly fast with response, seriously, we don't know how he does it! Whether it was a quick question or a document to review, he got back to us right away and always with precise, clear answers. His speed and efficiency made a huge difference during a very time-sensitive process. Tom is also incredibly knowledgeable. He explained every part of the loan process in a way that made sense and gave us full confidence at every step. And above all, he's just a genuinely kind and trustworthy person--we always felt like we were in good hands. If you're looking for a lender who is lightning-fast, highly skilled, and truly supportive, we can't recommend Tom enough! read more

I highly recommend Tom! He's the best lender you can imagine working with. You can feel his support every step of the home buying process. He checks in on us, proactive in getting deliverables done and even helps us plan and strategize on requirements. Thank you Tom in helping my wife and I get our first property! Every interaction and moment we experienced with you significantly contributed positively to our buying process. read more

Highly recommend Tom for anyone entering the market, especially first time home buyers. At every step of the process Tom took time to explain not only the "what" but the "why" and was always available for any questions. Even though I did not end up financing with Tom, he went above and beyond while and after we worked together. read more

I was introduced to Tom by a mutual family friend. Tom was wonderful to work with and genuinely cares about the people he works with and their unique or personal situations. He helped me a great deal with a problem around my elderly father's mortgage on our family home. He provided various options and was very transparent and extremely helpful regarding the pros and cons and the best direction to take. He is not only someone who was very well informed, but also someone I felt very comfortable knowing I was in good hands to make appropriate decisions on behalf of my dad. I can't say enough good things regarding my experience with Tom. If I ever need mortgage financing assistance in the future, I will definitely go to Tom, and I highly recommend him!!! read more

Introduced to Tom via my real estate agent. I have nothing but great things and testimonies about how incredible, passionate, and knowledgeable Tom is. He walked me understand the "complicated" home buying process every step of the way. Very easy to reach out and talk to. Answered every single questions that I had very clearly. Recommended! read more

We recently closed on our first house with Tom being our lender. We originally were working with another lender who was a family friend- we then were given Tom's info to be our new lender, due to her leaving the company mid way getting qualified. You would have thought Tom was our family friend!! Very personable and friendly. He went above and beyond through the whole process. More so, than our original lender.Whenever we needed him, he always answered & quickly would respond to texts or emails. Us first time home buyers, knew practically nothing about the process. I never felt like I was asking a stupid question and felt very comfortable throughout the whole process. I highly recommend choosing Tom as your lender, especially if you are a first time homeowner. You will be in excellent hands!! read more

I cannot say enough good things about Tom. We've worked with a few lenders now (we're on our 5th, I think), and he has far and away the best. He's endlessly patient, proactive, responsive (soo KEY when you're in the SF housing market), and feels like a true partner in this process. This is especially important for people like me who are first-time home buyers. I don't know what I don't know, and he's excellent at anticipating needs and providing you with information that you need but didn't even know you might need. Most importantly, Tom responds and shows up in such a HUMAN way. This isn't always the case when you work with lenders. We would recommend him to anyone and everyone for their mortgage needs. It doesn't get better than Tom. read more

I met Tom at an open house and we started talking about proerty taxes between one county to antoher. He offered to help me find information on some potential property tax benefits that I may qualify for. The next day I had all the information in my email. He is super responsive and helpful. FIVE STAR SERVICE. read more

Thomas was excellent in the execution of my recent refi. Not only did he lock me into a great rate, he made the entire process streamline and hassle-free. Thomas is very responsive to emails, texts and phone calls. He worked with a great team at Old Republic Title, who dispatched a mobile notary for document signing in the convenience of my own home. Thomas is well versed in all avenues of hiccups that may arise and communicates solutions quickly and effectively. If you're looking for a Loan Advisor, look no further than Thomas Barnes at Flagstar. *sidenote: Flagstar's online portal for document uploading and mortgage payment management is very user friendly. read more

Met Tom via my agents and have been really, really happy! Really focused on education, and ensuring that I really understood my options, the implications, and the time constrictions. I had a higher rate than expected (as rates have gone up) and he helped me understand locking, moving modifying and what point buy downs could and would look like. Really impressed and really happy with the work! read more

We just closed on our house and we could not have done this without Tom's help. He went above and beyond to make sure that we were getting the best rates, was available for questions whenever we had them, and overall I knew that Tom always had our best interest in mind. We even had a preplanned vacation mid closing and Tom worked with all the parties involved in the housing process to make sure we would close smoothly and be relaxed during our time away. I could not recommend Tom enough! read more

I recently worked with Tom to get approved for the San Francisco Down Payment Assistance Loan Program (DALP). He held my hand throughout the process and coached me on all things big and small. He was so kind, patient and beyond helpful. In the end, with his help, I determined it really wasn't an affordable option for me, so I didn't move forward with it, but I still hope to find a property that I can afford and use Tom as my lender. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a loan and/or going through the DALP process! read more

Tom is absolutely fantastic at what he does! I have bought and refinanced real estate in the past, but the process has never been this painless and smooth! He helped us refinanced a TIC unit into 2 condos. Throughout the entire process Tom guided us patiently and helped us with varies documents. There were no delays on his end. He helped us get the best possible interest rate and coordinated the entire refi smoothly! Thank you Tom, we will be back! read more

Tom provides an amazing customized service. He is very professional, responsive, creative and detailed oriented. I would highly recommend him for anybody who needs to explore financing options for home purchase or refi. read more

If I could I would've given Tom a 6 star rating - This is how I would start my review about Tom. Tom was referred to me by a friend of a friend and with a very recent bad experience with another loan officer, I didn't know what I would be in for. However, after the very first interaction with Tom I immediately felt at ease and knew that I was in good hands. Tom was responsive, very detail oriented, extremely patient and well organized person. He would prepare documents ahead of time in anticipation of the need of them and had me review and sign off. He handheld the process every step of the way and push things to the finish line. He's truly a pleasure to work with and someone you can true to get your loan done and done right. read more

Tom is the best. I'm a first time home buyer and he helped with getting pre-approved for BMRs It was great working with him. He answers random questions I have about my credit report. He gets back to you quickly, which is very reassuring. I would definitely recommend him. read more

Tom was tireless and relentless in getting our loan. We're self-employed and our finances are unconventional and it's easy for a bank to simply decline us. Tom worked incredibly hard to explain our complex situation to the lender, and was constantly available and helpful with all the requests and demands for papers and documentation. The right mortgage advisor really does make a big difference. Look no further. Use Tom! read more

Tom was friendly, approachable and sought to understand our unique needs to propose products that met our needs. Would recommend him for your mortgage needs. read more

Tom is very kind, patient and helpful! He did a Tremendous Jobs to help me and my family until we closed the escrow recently. We wouldn't make it without his help! He worked day and night to do Extra Miles! We cannot Thank him enough for everything he has done for us! We really appreciate you! Tom, May God Always Bless You and Your Family! read more

Tom has been phenomenal to work with! He has helped me to secure great mortgage loan for the condo I bought recently. He's very responsive and always guides you well with great answers. As it was my first home buying experience, I was new to pretty much all processes about this and Tom was such a patient teacher for me. I learned so much from him and I look forward to working with him in the near future as well for refinancing, etc! Thank you so much TOM! :) read more

As a first time homebuyer, Tom was a blessing. The process of buying a home and securing a mortgage loan pre-approval letter to purchase a BMR was clear as mud to me. After reaching out to several lenders, Tom was the clear choice. I had a tight deadline and Tom was quick to respond to my request and to set up a meeting. He thoroughly walked me through the process and gave me helpful insights. I can't stress enough that he worked tirelessly to answer my stream of questions. Through the process, I gathered that Tom is a thoughtful and sincere person as well, watching out for you every step of the way. I will happily refer friends and family to Tom if they are preparing to purchase or need to refinance their home. read more

I entered the home buying process much like a lost puppy looking for someone to bring them home. After reaching out to several lenders, Tom was the clear winner who gave me the security, attention, and professionalism I was looking for. Tom knew the ins and outs, caveats, exceptions, you-name-it of a very unique home buying process inside out. I can say without a doubt that working with Tom gave me the best chance of closing on my home successfully, which I did. I would work with him again in a heartbeat. read more

This is my third home loan with Tom. He provides a side by side comparison of various loan options and always has a way of finding the best rates for the type of loan I'm looking for --rates I could never find on my own. I uploaded my documents to the secure website and he took care of everything else. There were no surprises on the day of closing and the loan funded exactly as planned! read more

I wish I could give Tom more than five stars. Without his help, we wouldn't be able to purchase the house. He is amazing with his professionalism and patience. He pays attention to all details. He knows exactly what the underwriters want to look at. Also he is always there to answer your questions. I will definitely work with him later and recommend him to my friends, especially those who have complicated cases. read more

Our experience with Tom Barnes was extraordinary! After having years of practical experience as buyers and sellers of real estate as well as investors and landlords, we neither expected to actually like a mortgage advisor nor feel that any such advisor would ever have our backs. Tom was personable and, right when we needed him, he carried the bulk of the burden in the most complicated real estate venture in which we had ever involved ourselves. We also found us a mortgage that was superior to what anyone else could offer on the market. We cannot conceive of ever using anyone else again, and would highly recommend him to anyone anticipating heavy lifting or a lighter load... read more

To me personally, 5 stars rating for Tom is not enough.... I say 7 stars... Not only is he knowledgeable in his field, but also knows what the city looks for when applying BMR. My real estate agents introduce Tom to me as a lender for my BMR unit and the first impression that Tom give me is... WOW.... this guy knows his stuff. He makes the loaning process as smooth and easy as possible.... Applying for a loan for a BMR unit is not easy and requires tons of paperwork, both from the city side as well as the lender side, but Tom tries his best to make the process go smoothly. I will DEFINITYLY recommend Tom as a lender for both city BMR units as well as general loans. read more

Tom did an amazing job when we were buying our house a year ago and we even did not want to think twice who we should ask to help with refinancing. He is sooo patient with all our questions and tons of emails! He found such a great deal for us and we are super happy with the results. He is always above and beyond! 10 stars!!! read more

I love Tom! He helped me through the process of purchasing my first home. The CSLP was complicated but Tom was with me every step of the way and made it so much easier. Super responsive, kind, and knowledgeable; I highly recommend him! read more

I was lucky to have fantastic real estate agents (San Francisco Real Estate Solutions team--Karen Cheong, Chris Sprague, and Cherie deFer) and they steered me to Opes. Two other sets of friends who I trusted had worked with Tom, so I knew I was in good hands. Tom was a pleasure to interact with --immediately responsive, and patient, caring, and kind. This was my first time navigating the terrifying world of home financing, and Tom explained it all...getting a feel for my circumstances, my lifestyle, my risk tolerance, and what I was looking for. He helped me craft a few scenarios that I could use to shape my search. Ultimately we landed in a range that made me completely comfortable, and he made it happen quickly. He really shined when it came time to close--I was lucky enough to find a place I wanted immediately, and my first offer was accepted (I know, right?). We had a 14 day close, and Tom was phenomenal--letting me know everything I'd need to get him, and making sure all of the pieces were coordinated to hit our deadline. The whole process was a breeze (to the extent anything that requires calculators can be a breeze), and Tom is passionate about customer service. He's a great choice...my experience was just as positive as my friends' had been. read more

We reached out to Tom when we were looking for a mortgage for our first home. He was very quick to respond and set up an in-person meeting even though it was a Sunday. He conducts his business in a very personal and personable manner and he followed up with us on all of our questions as well as providing additional details and options that we weren't able to discuss during our meeting. We appreciated that despite all of the work and effort he put in he never gave us a hard sell. He is extremely responsive and doesn't leave you hanging. If you are looking for a mortgage advisor I highly recommend you go chat with Tom. read more

Tom was recommended to us by our amazing realtor (Vera Kunda), and we're so thankful that happened. Before Tom, we were working with Sofi Lending. Sofi pre-approved us, but when found the place we wanted to buy, they gave us a pre-approval sheet with a major typo in it. This nearly cost us the house, as they weren't responsive on nights or weekends. Our realtor connected us with Tom, who met us on a Sunday to talk about options. We ended up with a much better option for financing, with much more favorable rates. Tom is a sincere, thoughtful, and helpful person. He's extremely responsive, and answered every minute question we had along the way. We were so glad to have him as part of our home-buying team. read more

Tom is the best out there...hands down! He originally helped us with the purchase of our home in San Francisco in 2013, then again when we refinanced in 2015, and recently when we sold our home and purchased a new home in Berkeley. He got us the lowest rates every time and worked to find the best possible financing. He is the only person we would even consider working with. He is incredibly diligent, detailed, proactive, and responsive. So much of selling/purchasing a home is done after normal business hours and Tom always made himself available to us if we had any questions or needed pre-approval letters. He is SO knowledgeable and we trust him with zero hesitations. His patience and positive attitude make a potentially stressful experience much more manageable and exciting! We love Tom!!!! read more

Top Notch! Thats what I think of when I refer Tom Barnes Mortgage Advisor. I've been lucky enough to work with Tom for the past few months. What you'll get from this advisor, beyond the best rates out there, is outstanding and personable service. He is aware that you have a busy week, therefore he makes time to meet you, just to get the job done. Flexibility, expertise, confidence, likability factor, and more. I would definitely recommend Tom Barnes to people refinancing or buying a home in SF for the first time. Thanks Tom! read more

Tom has been our trusted family mortgage advisor for almost 8 years. He has continued guide us through home refi's, college planning and an overall voice of reason. Tom follow's up right away and is wonderful to work with. With each of our several engagements over the years, Tom always finds us THE BEST RATE'S. Tom is a true professional. read more

Tom has been an amazing resource to us twice - first when we bought our property in San Francisco in 2014, and again almost two years later when we refinanced. He was able to get us terrific rates both times, and made a complicated and annoying process as smooth and easy as it could be. He has always been informative and up front with us about all potential costs, loopholes, and issues, staying one step ahead of complicated questions from the lenders and drafting letters for us for any issues that came up. He was always available to us - nights and weekends - via cell phone, which was great. When we first purchased our home I was literally days away from having our first child, and during an incredibly exciting and stressful time he was so helpful. I can't recommend him highly enough! read more

From Agent's perspective, Tom is very knowledgable and efficient. His portfolio of various financial products is invaluable to provide his clients with flexible options even in the most challenging scenarios. On top of all, his unparalleled customer focus is guaranteed to provide with the best sales experience. read more

Tom was terrific! We just closed on a house 500 miles away which was stressful enough, but his responsiveness and understanding made the process much easier. He answered questions quickly and honestly. At our age we probably won't go through the home buying process again, but we'd gladly recommend Tom to anyone. read more

My wife and I have used Tom for a mortgage and a Refi on the same house. Tom is a true professional who takes the time to explain everything about the process and is there with you step by step. Tom is personable and friendly and is true pleasure to deal with. read more

Tom is the type of professional that you want on your side, he goes above and beyond for his clients! I was very impressed with Tom throughout the mortgage process. He works hard to represent his clients and takes the time to think several steps ahead in the process, so that it can be as painless of an experience as possible. I highly recommend working with him, thank you Tom! read more

Tom is extremely knowledgeable, easy-to-work with, and just flat out friendly. He went out of his way to explain every detail to us and make sure we were comfortable with everything. Then, even when the deal fell through, he didn't change for an instance and continued to help and advise even with no incentive! Highly recommended! -Mike read more