Mike Dein

This was our 3rd home purchase, but it had been a number of years since I last needed to delve into the world of home financing. I tend to do a lot of research before I make major decisions, so not only did I read a book ahead of time about obtaining mortgages (Carolyn Warren?s Mortgage Ripoffs and Money Savers...very recommended) but I searched Angie?s List for highly rated lenders. None of the lenders on Angie?s List wanted to give me dollar numbers before I had a purchase agreement in hand, so I turned to Facebook and asked for recommendations from friends. Mike Dein's name was the first to pop up, so I contacted him and one other recommended lender, and after receiving both responses, I still wasn?t feeling confident about comprehending the numbers in front of me. Carolyn Warren (the offer of the book referenced above) offers a consultation service where she will look at the numbers provided by lenders and go over them on the phone, comparing, explaining, and making recommendations (for a fee). I decided to pay for her (unbiased) service and she did go over the numbers with me, doing an awesome job of explaining what they mean. She was impressed with Mike's competitor, but even more impressed with Mike's cost estimate...not just because of the numbers (which were very good) but because it was obvious that he wasn?t trying to falsely underestimate expenses. After her coaching, I felt good about making the decision to go with Mike. My Realtor later tried reeeally hard to get me to go with his lender, but I didn?t feel the need to even look further. The whole experience with Mike and Franklin American was great. He was very available and responsive to my questions, and explained my options well. Home financing can be a complicated world. It is nice to work with someone who you feel is on your side and not looking for ways to take advantage of your ignorance.