I’m wondering if anybody has any advice on the application fee of most mortgage brokers in the Park Slope/Brooklyn area. I’ve received a quote from a couple of brokers but am thinking of going with Trachtman and Bach. However, their application fee is almost double or more of that quoted by a couple of others. Any suggestions?


Comments

  1. Universal mortgage scammed me — they increased all of their fees right before closing and even added on some new ones I was never informed of from the start. It ended up costing me several thousand dollars more than I expected, and their rate was .12 higher than the other competing brokers! I ended up cancelling my loan and switching to Trachtman&Bach. The gave me everything in writing and all of their fees stayed the same. I worked with a guy named Heimi (sp?). Very friendly, knowledgable, and got things done.

  2. I would not use T&B, we almost did and ended up going with Universal Mortgage. The app fee was $100 less and so were many other of the itemized things that are negotiable.

  3. I would not use T&B, we almost did and ended up going with Universal Mortgage. The app fee was $100 less and so were many other of the itemized things that are negotiable.

  4. Phoffy is right.

    We went through a mortgage broker who came back at us with an above-average-rate loan from Chase Bank. It’s not like Chase is a seceret institution that only industry insiders know about or have a relationship with.

    They also wanted to tack on a huge “lock” fee and all kinds of garbage fees.

    Go straight to the bank.

  5. i used T&B and the way i figure it, you’re gonna pay that fee one place or another. there are a million ways for the mortgage broker to charge you, so don’t just look at the app fee. look at the whole quote and compare those.

  6. Everyone – even banks – will have an application fee.

    Still, shop around. The application fee shouldn’t be a major obstacle when you’re talking about hundreds of thousands or millions in interest you’re going to be paying for your morgage.

    Manhattan Mortgage cost us something like $600 and got us an OK rate locked. Nothin spectatular but decent. Bank of America was $200 and they gave us a MUCH better rate.

    We recouped the $600 we spent on Manhattan Mortgage Co. in less than 2 months of mortgage payments.

  7. Don’t pay a application fee, and don’t use a mortgage broker!!! Go straight to the bank. don’t believe the broker B.S. Try countrywide.