GUARANTEED RATE INC

Don't use this lender if you can help it! The branch manager will pass your loan application process to a person who lives in another state. They weren't knowledgable in dealing with VA loans but claimed they did. We had to go back and forth with them numerous times to get the paperwork corrected; it basically looked like they pencil whipped it. Yes, we were under a pretty tight deadline (25 days) but that is not an excuse to incorrectly complete the paperwork. In addition, they weren't consistent in the documents required for the loan application process. It wasn't until I brought up the fact that we had been divorced that then they asked for the decrees. We asked to cancel the appraisal on the home and they had acknowledged my request. I found out the next day they never cancelled it in time and my account had been charged $500. I then notified my realtor and the branch manager of this error. The branch manager Jason Hunter, assured me it was a mistake and that they would refund this amount to me. Once they found out I was no longer buying the home, they refused to give me a refund. To top it all off, Jason Hunter claimed he mistakenly replied to the wrong customer with the response that he would refund me. Really? If that is true that just means they make these kind of mistakes all the time. If you can help it, find another mortgage broker to use. You can find other ones who will offer the same rates. Do yourself a favor and stay away from this company!!!!

The best thing that I can say about Guaranteed Rate Mortgage of Tampa, is that they are nice people to talk to on the telephone, and are good at getting the loan process started. That being said, at the end of the process, I had serious concern that I may lose the house due to their incompetence. We have a credit score in the high seven hundreds. I was pre approved by GRM Tampa in early June, and signed a purchase agreement for the home in mid June. I had all the initial paperwork submitted while still in the month of June and asked GRM of Tampa for a closing date of July 18th. I was told by the branch manager how "Tight" that deadline would be. The 18th came and went, then I was told the closing would be on the 25th. The next day they told me that the 25th would not be possible and now we would be closing on the 30th, the last day of the purchase agreement. On the morning of the day that I was scheduled to meet with the Notary/Closing Agent for our closing by mail, I got a call from that agent telling me that he was told that there "Was a problem with my paperwork" do not proceed with the closing! GRM of Tampa strikes again!! By the time the "Problem" was resolved and the agent received and printed the paperwork it was 4:45PM. My credit union closed at 5PM. We had to wire transfer the down payment and closing costs. Then drive down the street to a Kinkos to complete the closing. Literally, the last possible minute of the purchase agreement. I have purchased three homes in my lifetime. This was by far the worst experience of the three. My realtor also commented on how poor their communications were.