Please add sections to this wiki with useful information about the process, so that people don't have to ask the same questions over and over, or scan the whole thread for answers!
Notary and closing
Here is what you can expect or ask for from my experience:
1. New pen for signing wiped thoroughly
2. Pen stays with you after signing
3. Only material they will touch would be your ID
4. ID would be wiped and returned back
5. Can expect gloves to be worn
6. Signing can happen in your front yard or in your garage
7. If you have a Costco table then you can sit on either sides to maintain distancing
8. Masks might be recommended given new guidelines
9. Plus discuss with the notary!!
expiredGreenworld123 posted Dec 08, 2019 02:27 PM
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expiredGreenworld123 posted Dec 08, 2019 02:27 PM
Amex offer: $2,500 statement credit for home refinance Better.com
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So many bad reviews lately and I'm currently on the fence at the moment. is anyone having a problem with better.com?
1) Slow to respond: they have "a team" that is plain overwhelmed.
My take, schedule a call, it is on your Better.com portal as an option under MY TEAM menu on left side of page. This way you get faster answers.
2) Limitation on Pricematch: They lowered the pricematch guarantee from $1k to $100, may take into account the $2500 AMEX promo when pricematching, or can't pricematch specific rates (i.e. 2.625% 30 year).
My take, play it safe, get your best offer before pricematching Better vs pricematching multiple times
3) Takes a long time to fund/close/get $2500: They are absolutely overwhelmed....but with these historic rates, every mortgage company/broker I talk to are also overhwhelmed with refi requests. There are literally hundreds of posts saying they closed in less than 4 weeks start-to-finish and got the AMEX gift card
My take, know the timelines and be considerate. The refi process can take as long as 4-6 weeks from rate lock-in, the funding about 2 weeks, and the AMEX $2500 credit is 8-12 weeks.
4) Better Rates are not competitive: They rarely offer a great rate as a 1st offer and this is true!
My take, This is why they offer a pricematch; their initial offer has been as high as 4% 30yr fixed with points. As with point #2, field the best offer versus hoping to pricematch 2-4x with Better Mortgage
All in all, I am personally happy, as with hundreds of forumers here and Better Mortgage certainly CAN be a great deal.
June 17th - did online
over the next week, uploaded all kinds of docs
and at same time, applied at 6 other lenders
sent competing offer to Better about a week after we started, and they improved deal
locked but sent a better offer, they increased credit
sent lower cost title quote, they matched via a credit
had a lock at one other lender - LenderFi
closed on July 10th with Better.
1) Slow to respond: they have "a team" that is plain overwhelmed.
My take, schedule a call, it is on your Better.com portal as an option under MY TEAM menu on left side of page. This way you get faster answers.
2) Limitation on Pricematch: They lowered the pricematch guarantee from $1k to $100, may take into account the $2500 AMEX promo when pricematching, or can't pricematch specific rates (i.e. 2.625% 30 year).
My take, play it safe, get your best offer before pricematching Better vs pricematching multiple times
3) Takes a long time to fund/close/get $2500: They are absolutely overwhelmed....but with these historic rates, every mortgage company/broker I talk to are also overhwhelmed with refi requests. There are literally hundreds of posts saying they closed in less than 4 weeks start-to-finish and got the AMEX gift card
My take, know the timelines and be considerate. The refi process can take as long as 4-6 weeks from rate lock-in, the funding about 2 weeks, and the AMEX $2500 credit is 8-12 weeks.
4) Better Rates are not competitive: They rarely offer a great rate as a 1st offer and this is true!
My take, This is why they offer a pricematch; their initial offer has been as high as 4% 30yr fixed with points. As with point #2, field the best offer versus hoping to pricematch 2-4x with Better Mortgage
All in all, I am personally happy, as with hundreds of forumers here and Better Mortgage certainly CAN be a great deal.
I'll keep you all posted
1) Slow to respond: they have "a team" that is plain overwhelmed.
My take, schedule a call, it is on your Better.com portal as an option under MY TEAM menu on left side of page. This way you get faster answers.
2) Limitation on Pricematch: They lowered the pricematch guarantee from $1k to $100, may take into account the $2500 AMEX promo when pricematching, or can't pricematch specific rates (i.e. 2.625% 30 year).
My take, play it safe, get your best offer before pricematching Better vs pricematching multiple times
3) Takes a long time to fund/close/get $2500: They are absolutely overwhelmed....but with these historic rates, every mortgage company/broker I talk to are also overhwhelmed with refi requests. There are literally hundreds of posts saying they closed in less than 4 weeks start-to-finish and got the AMEX gift card
My take, know the timelines and be considerate. The refi process can take as long as 4-6 weeks from rate lock-in, the funding about 2 weeks, and the AMEX $2500 credit is 8-12 weeks.
4) Better Rates are not competitive: They rarely offer a great rate as a 1st offer and this is true!
My take, This is why they offer a pricematch; their initial offer has been as high as 4% 30yr fixed with points. As with point #2, field the best offer versus hoping to pricematch 2-4x with Better Mortgage
All in all, I am personally happy, as with hundreds of forumers here and Better Mortgage certainly CAN be a great deal.
Sadly the reviews are what i'd call the general public. Many of the SD members dont fall in that category and I feel are deal hunters and a bit more disciplined in finance and savings in general (hence being here in the forums
Their reviews might be rightful but we (SD members) are sharing and combining a lot of high level knowledge into a single deal to double/triple dip into the final offer on their house mortgage in a typical Hot Deals manner (Price matching, Title Company Shopping & Amex Promo).
- If you read the general comments/reviews you'll see many people complain about the number of tasks. Frankly speaking it is very well organized and if you have non-standard finances then their underwriting team will scrutinize them and you have to respond in a convincing manner.
- People have issues with not getting approved again for non-standard financials and trying to convince the underwritters that their funds are clear/clean. This may vary by lenders on what their risk threshold is.
- Paperwork needed - again same thing you have to submit what they ask. For my case it was done in about 20 minutes for all the tasks and a few digital uploads of Home Owners, Bank Statement and 2 Explanations of funds being moved (529 and cash withdrawal).
All I'll say is that Better.com has been good based on what they quote but a few members did note that their numbers changed during final closing and most if not all were able to get it corrected and might have been due to oversight or errors. In the past i've had to pull out of a closing due to the final documents not having the right numbers and the lender saying to sign and they'll correct it later (not happening).Shahhere
Thats what I did and they confirmed that Better put an order already.
Shahhere
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Any comments are welcome !
Well dont wait too long as they can certainly deny your request. Ask them to do it ASAP as that takes time to do a title search. I have always emailed Radian and introduced my Loan Officer to the Title agent in an introductory email to get things in writing and started.
I have also seen in some cases where Better has simply provided credit to match the costs of your own Title company instead of switching and starting over.
This time around I had to talk to a CS agent to get the scoop on things at Radian but she confirmed that the orders need to come from the lender directly and I was able to convince her to quote me again as I've 8+ title searches with them on file
Shahhere
Early Payoff penalty? I'd be curious to see what that document looks like....I havent seen that with anyone.
Shahhere
Any comments are welcome !
I am pretty much in the same situation. I would jump even for 2.25 if full closing costs are covered by lender credit and I think rates are nearly there though with Better's policy change, it appears I wont get the 1K or even a decent match as they will take appraisal costs info consideration.
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1. I've seen Radiant, Fidelity, and Alt Title suggested - does anyone have any other recommendations that they've had a good experience with (I'm located in Philadelphia, PA).
2. It sounds like Radiant is a great option but that the lender has to initiate the process with them - has anyone been able to accomplish this with Better?
3. For folks who have gone with Better and found their own title company, did Better end up using your company or just offering you a credit for the difference and keeping it in house?
Thanks very much for any insight you can provide. Been following this thread closely for the past week and it's been a wonderful source of information!
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