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expired Posted by Greenworld123 • Dec 8, 2019
expired Posted by Greenworld123 • Dec 8, 2019

Amex offer: $2,500 statement credit for home refinance Better.com

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Must have an amex to add offer to your account. Details:

Unlock even more as an
American Express® Card Member with an exclusive mortgage offer from Better.com
Better.com is making the homebuying and refinance experiences more rewarding, with a $2,500 statement credit and more, exclusively for eligible Card Members. See offer terms below.

https://www.americanexpress.com/u...-OfferHub2

EDIT information from Better.com!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello,
I work with Better,com and wanted to see if you could please add in the following information to your post on Amex/Better,com deal as it reads incorrect as it stands, especially regarding eligibility. We want to make sure the offer is stated as accurately as possible:
1) Mortgage rates of any specific customer, stated or otherwise, should not be taken as indicative of a mortgage rate available to all customers. Pricing is based on a number of factors, including the individual credit profile of a potential borrower.
2) The offer is only available to those borrowers who have been marketed to directly by American Express, and those who have not received the offer on their Amex portal or via email are not eligible.
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Community Notes
About the Poster
Must have an amex to add offer to your account. Details:

Unlock even more as an
American Express® Card Member with an exclusive mortgage offer from Better.com
Better.com is making the homebuying and refinance experiences more rewarding, with a $2,500 statement credit and more, exclusively for eligible Card Members. See offer terms below.

https://www.americanexpress.com/u...-OfferHub2

EDIT information from Better.com!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello,
I work with Better,com and wanted to see if you could please add in the following information to your post on Amex/Better,com deal as it reads incorrect as it stands, especially regarding eligibility. We want to make sure the offer is stated as accurately as possible:
1) Mortgage rates of any specific customer, stated or otherwise, should not be taken as indicative of a mortgage rate available to all customers. Pricing is based on a number of factors, including the individual credit profile of a potential borrower.
2) The offer is only available to those borrowers who have been marketed to directly by American Express, and those who have not received the offer on their Amex portal or via email are not eligible.

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9,848 Comments

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Jun 25, 2020
6,118 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
Jun 25, 2020
prvns
Jun 25, 2020
6,118 Posts
Quote from nicemann :
I used to pay my own escrow myself but as others have said you can typically get lower interest rates having the lender do it. I guess it's security for them that those items are being paid.
I am still paying escrow myself. I have a different view of investing the money and pay it later in the year.
Jun 25, 2020
1,391 Posts
Joined Jan 2004
Jun 25, 2020
seawolf
Jun 25, 2020
1,391 Posts
Quote from Aaron_1121 :
Everyone's situation is different. For some people, this may be a deal. But YMMV.

Better.com is NOT honoring the price match guarantee on their website with the AMEX offer.

If you have excellent or good credit, shop around. You can likely find superior pricing, even if you don't get the $2500 credit from Better.com
My credit is in the 800s. Better matched just fine. I'm getting the sense that there is more to this story than being provided especially since you are just copy and pasting same response without providing any additional details.

Quote from Zwitterion :
Not sure how many of you are familiar with mortgageprofessor.com. Run by a retired Wharton finance professor as largely a labor of love, they allow you to put in your particulars (no identifying information) and will then show you the rate sheets of lenders who have an arrangement to allow the site to pull the rate sheet directly. The site is updated once at approximately 10:30am. Keystone Funding is consistently the best priced. I went with them back in March and got 3% with $3400 in lender credit - since they didn't charge any origination fee at all, my total loan cost was around $1600, so the remainder just funded my escrow, and I made about $2k on the transaction (i.e. pocketing the escrow refund from my prior lender). Had I known Better was in the matching game, I would have tried, but I doubt Better would have been able to beat it. Keystone closed me in 21 days. Great folks and very communicative. Better has a "pretty" interface, but I think it's staffed by college kids.
Better beat my initial keystone offer. I have to say that keystone were very nice to deal with.

Quote from Zwitterion :
Your questions are making me cringe - please get a competent agent, and learn what you are doing. The questions you are asking aren't ones anyone can answer - how can I know what your specific economic situation such that a 15 or 30 year would make more sense. Title in NJ can be expensive, but do know that I'm betting dollars to donuts that Better is using an in-house title company and making money that way. Search for a title company of yours. READ through the Loan Estimate - it is meant to literally walk you through the numbers as well as which costs are ones that you can shop for. The added complexity in in a purchase is that you want a lender that will close on time - a chop shop like Better.com is not a place I'd go to do a purchase loan, just to make $2500.
How is better a chop shop? They are not a small outfit like keystone but don't see them being a chop shop.

Looks like OP is doing inspections so no easy way to remove the buyer's agent for this property.

Next time OP buys a property in NJ, be aware that NJ allows buyers agent to split their commission with buyer in lieu of less than full service (eg you find the listing/visits and just have them represent in transaction).

Quote from Zwitterion :
Sorry if I came off gruff. As someone who doesn't seem to know all the ropes of Better and is in need of help in this thread, I shouldn't have been so condescending. I do, however, think you really should get up to speed on the mechanics and process of buying a house. Rely on *noone* without knowing what exactly you are relying on them for. One of the better sites on this remains one that was written some time ago by a rather eccentric man name Michael Bluejay. His site on How to Buy a House [michaelbluejay.com] does a fantastic job of holding your hand through the process, pointing out tidbits of wisdom as well as pitfalls. Have a *thorough* read of that site (which still looks like it did in the 90's, but that's a part of it's charm). Some of it might be slightly outdated, but the process hasn't largely changed much. The site is written in linear form with a table of contents on the left. I think you'll really benefit from reading through this.

Again, sorry for coming off harshly.

P.S. Some quick things. Multiple pulls within usually 1 month timeframe doesn't hurt your credit beyond the initial ding. This is because it is expected that you will shop. I doubt there is any place that will give you an LE without a hard pull (though I think, ironically, Better does).

I'm surprised that your realtor's mortgage broker told you to shop. In my opinion, the *sole* value of a mortgage broker is their ability to shop their multiple relationships with lenders to get you an offer possibly better than you could have gotten on your own. They make money via a commission, so have to do their work to get a loan that, even with their own fee, is competitive.

That said, if they told you to get them LE's, go ahead and get some from these rock-bottom bulk lenders like Aimloan, LenderFi, but I bet you he/she won't be able to beat them. This is because these places operate on volume and often have no origination fee, whereas the broker has his/her commission.
Agreed that OP should shop the mortgage and not rely just on this broker. Definitely should go to mortgageprofessor for education and shop (keystone funding should be one option from mortgage professor and good baseline offer as basis for comparison).
Jun 25, 2020
633 Posts
Joined Feb 2007
Jun 25, 2020
techoin
Jun 25, 2020
633 Posts
Is anyone still waiting on amex credit beyond 8+ weeks...its 9+ weeks for me. I am refinancing the same loan again so wondering if I should push the closing date till it posts.
Jun 25, 2020
1,541 Posts
Joined Sep 2005
Jun 25, 2020
Procter
Jun 25, 2020
1,541 Posts
Quote from mastermind85 :
Well yeah, but like how would someone get 2.625/2.75 from LenderFi without having something already coming close from elsewhere to provide?.
My take is you can't. It sounds like PM in other type of deals, you at least need to see the lower rate for you to begin with. Correct me if i was wrong, my understanding is that you won't see rate change after filling the application (compared with the quote where you just input some basic info), but your estimate closing cost might change depending on the details. Looks like for Better.com and Rocketmortgage (I got same 2.5k offer from Amex but for rocket), you need to create an account and fill the app before you can see the rate?

I don't know how much the rate has been up n down, but for my case personally, I've never even seen 3% with no cost no fee (30year fixed). I'm only on year 2 with this house, and year 1 after the first refi. (northern VA, DC metro). I'm owing 630k on a ~900k valued house, so not conforming loan. Excellent credit.

Edit: If my understanding about the rate is correct (no change after filling the app vs the coarse quote), I would not bother to fill all sorts of application forms on better or owning) as I'm not seeing magic numbers here. My regular guy quoted me very similar with appraisal waiver.

One thing I want to ask your experts though, how do you determine whether paying closing cost upfront with lower rate is justifiable? I've usually heard that you shooting for no fee no cost refi as you may well see rate drop in another 6mo and want to do it again, and with upfront cost, you might lose that money. I'm not sure with my jumbo loan how much lower it can go beyond 3%. If I'm paying 4k in cost to get the 3%, I'm looking at minimum of a little over 3 years to get break even V.S no cost, same loan amount with 3.375 rate (we are talking about lender credit cover cost, not rolling over the cost into a 30year loan). Is it worthwhile to pay up the 4k?

I tried multiple websites mentioned here (lenderfi, hightech lending etc), all similar lowest is 3% with about 4-5k closing cost, I did Zillow quote and one KS bank had 3% with 700 cost, after i contacted them and filled out the app, in the end their cost crept back up to about 4k.
Last edited by Procter June 25, 2020 at 07:02 AM.
Jun 25, 2020
606 Posts
Joined Dec 2013
Jun 25, 2020
cdancer20
Jun 25, 2020
606 Posts
Quote from BhallaSingh :
Tried with a 10yr fixed, consultant said they dont provide rates for that, so looks like im SOL on this deal and will have to look at AimLoan or LenderFi
Why not take out a 15yr fixed then and make sure there are no prepayment penalties. Then just pay extra every month to pay it off in 10 years.
Jun 25, 2020
606 Posts
Joined Dec 2013
Jun 25, 2020
cdancer20
Jun 25, 2020
606 Posts
Quote from halluc1nati0n :
From DoctorOfCredit comments:


Is there any truth in that statement?
The beauty of this deal is having Better price match to another lender. The OP apparently didn't know that. Better's rates typically aren't the most competitive on their own.
Jun 25, 2020
1,191 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
Jun 25, 2020
Zwitterion
Jun 25, 2020
1,191 Posts
Quote from Procter :
My take is you can't. It sounds like PM in other type of deals, you at least need to see the lower rate for you to begin with. Correct me if i was wrong, my understanding is that you won't see rate change after filling the application (compared with the quote where you just input some basic info), but your estimate closing cost might change depending on the details. Looks like for Better.com and Rocketmortgage (I got same 2.5k offer from Amex but for rocket), you need to create an account and fill the app before you can see the rate?

I don't know how much the rate has been up n down, but for my case personally, I've never even seen 3% with no cost no fee (30year fixed). I'm only on year 2 with this house, and year 1 after the first refi. (northern VA, DC metro). I'm owing 630k on a ~900k valued house, so not conforming loan. Excellent credit.

I tried multiple websites mentioned here (lenderfi, hightech lending etc), all similar lowest is 3% with about 4-5k closing cost, I did Zillow quote and one KS bank had 3% with 700 cost, after i contacted them and filled out the app, in the end their cost crept back up to about 4k.
This has been my experience. I applied to AIMLoan and LenderFi and didn't get any numbers better than what there "automatic" quote provided. This idea of getting better rates after speaking with someone/applying is simply not correct in my experience.

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Jun 25, 2020
352 Posts
Joined Dec 2019
Jun 25, 2020
wandl
Jun 25, 2020
352 Posts
Quote from nicemann :
I know they resell them after they finish the loan. Not sure if they have to be current Mac/Mae loans. They never asked me that when I first applied for the refinance at least. Please they do new loans also not just refis.
I thought they would resell my loan (heck even Better Mortgage told me they would probably not be servicing my loan) - got notice yesterday that Better Mortgage WOULD be servicing my loan =) I closed on 6/5
Jun 25, 2020
1,004 Posts
Joined Mar 2019
Jun 25, 2020
CycloneFW
Jun 25, 2020
1,004 Posts
Quote from wandl :
I thought they would resell my loan (heck even Better Mortgage told me they would probably not be servicing my loan) - got notice yesterday that Better Mortgage WOULD be servicing my loan =) I closed on 6/5
On mine, I thought the same and was told the same. Got my notice yesterday that after my 5/13 closing, as of 7/3, my loan will be with WF. WF already set their part up though, so my first payment (due 7/1) will go straight to WF.
Jun 25, 2020
1,541 Posts
Joined Sep 2005
Jun 25, 2020
Procter
Jun 25, 2020
1,541 Posts
Just to confirm, if I did not get the direct email I'm not eligible correct? I had same offer but for doing it at Rocket Mortgage.
Jun 25, 2020
606 Posts
Joined Dec 2013
Jun 25, 2020
cdancer20
Jun 25, 2020
606 Posts
Quote from arl16 :
So my appraisal just came in and its exactly EQUAL TO the contract price. Curious how it turned out for others... does it come mostly right at the contract price or a little higher?

(I guess I am just a little concerned that perhaps I should have been paying a little less for this property... since in my opinion appraisals often are slightly over market value). Would appreciate if someone can share how their appraisal turned out...
Quote from sleekwallet :
Appraisal and title companies are just a big scam at this point
Quote from arl16 :
seriously... what's the point of appraisal if appraiser gets to see the contract price before. Doesn't make any sense lol
100% agreed. Both times that I have bought a house, the appraisal has come back exactly the contract price or $1000 over in my last case. My appraisal came back the same as purchase price 2 years ago and I KNOW the market has gone up. Not to mention that when we bought, we negotiated way down to get the price we did. But w/e as long as it came back at 80% this last time, I don't care as as much. My realtor told me in the past that they only make sure that it appraises to what they are selling at for the lender.
Jun 25, 2020
3,123 Posts
Joined Jun 2007
Jun 25, 2020
nicemann
Jun 25, 2020
3,123 Posts
Quote from cdancer20 :
100% agreed. Both times that I have bought a house, the appraisal has come back exactly the contract price or $1000 over in my last case.
Funny I thought it was only me. My last appraisal on my new build house was within $300 of my buying price. I figured the builder just paid them off. I am interested to see how it appraises for my refi 3 months later.
Jun 25, 2020
1,536 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Jun 25, 2020
daw4888
Jun 25, 2020
1,536 Posts
Quote from Zwitterion :
This has been my experience. I applied to AIMLoan and LenderFi and didn't get any numbers better than what there "automatic" quote provided. This idea of getting better rates after speaking with someone/applying is simply not correct in my experience.

I called my lenderfi assigned guy, and he was able to get me a much better quote than the website. Might be worth a try. Tell him you are shopping around and see what they can do.


I am having zero luck with Better. I have now submitted two differnt LE's, and called over 10 times to see if they could match them. First one they didnt respond until 3 days later, then said the LE was to old to match. Second one I put in Tuesday Night. Called them as soon as I put it in, and called them 4 more times yesterday. Yesterday at 4 pm they said my assigned person had my file open, looking at it, and would call me shortly to tell me what they could do.. Never got a call. Now its been over 24 hours since I got the LE from another lender, so my guess is when I call today they will tell me its expired.. and want another one. About to give up and just go with the other lender.
Last edited by daw4888 June 25, 2020 at 07:44 AM.
Jun 25, 2020
1,004 Posts
Joined Mar 2019
Jun 25, 2020
CycloneFW
Jun 25, 2020
1,004 Posts
Quote from daw4888 :
I called my lenderfi assigned guy, and he was able to get me a much better quote than the website. Might be worth a try. Tell him you are shopping around and see what they can do.


I am having zero luck with Better. I have now submitted two differnt LE's, and called over 10 times to see if they could match them. First one they didnt respond until 3 days later, then said the LE was to old to match. Second one I put in Tuesday Night. Called them as soon as I put it in, and called them 4 more times yesterday. Yesterday at 4 pm they said my assigned person had my file open, looking at it, and would call me shortly to tell me what they could do.. Never got a call. Now its been over 24 hours since I got the LE from another lender, so my guess is when I call today they will tell me its expired.. and want another one. About to give up and just go with the other lender.
As always, this things are YMMV. When I said the same, my amounts didn't change and the LenderFi charges were higher than the initial Better ones.

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Jun 25, 2020
1,536 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Jun 25, 2020
daw4888
Jun 25, 2020
1,536 Posts
Yeah, the automatic one Lenderfi gave me was the same. When I emailed, then called the guy, he went to work. He came back with a much better rate, better lender credits, waved the apprasial, and got some lower title fees. Overall it was a massive differnce from what the website would give me.

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