Wondering if anyone has any recent experience - good or bad - with any mortgage lenders/firms on Oahu. Seems like 'out of state' lenders (e.g., Lending Tree, Quicken, Countrywide, etc.) are limited by some legal cap to $625,000 max; I am looking for a max of $700k. I searched Google, et. al but of course I got a list of 200+ firms. Bank of Hawaii, Kailua Mortgage, Wells Fargo, etc. etc. I am approved for the $625k on a traditional 30-year loan (through Quicken Loans) but I am hoping one of the local banks can get me all the way to $700k. I am pretty certain I have narrowed my search for a house to the Mililani/Wahiawa area.

Can any of you guys recommend a firm that has a good reputation there? Just something to help narrow the list of choices...other than closing my eyes and pointing at one? :D

Just the latest in a long line of Hawaii noob questions...(lots more to follow, you have been warned...) :redspot

I've used Mid Pacific Mortgage and Hawaii Home Loans with success.

When we were shopping for a lender, the Countrywide guy didn't mention any upper cap on the loan amount.

I wish I could remember his name as he made me :mad and I swore I'd tell everyone what a complete salestard he was. I think he only worked there because Cutter Chevrolet wouldn't hire him for their pre-owned lot: When I said we thought we weren't getting the best deal they could offer at the bank across the street, he just hung up.

Their downtown branch definitely had the schlocky sales routine (the whole formula pitch and cheap clothes to complete the look) thing going on.

YMMV.

I just purchased a new house - Mortgage Masters in Aiea. Ask for Nanette Lontayao. Got a great deal, they brokered a Countrywide 30 yr fixed for me @ 5.5% (conventional 80/20 financing). 30 day lock cost me 1.5 points (walked away with 0 closing costs though as the house is new and developer covered interest rate buydown, non-recurring closing costs etc.)

I've been with Countrywide for a while now, this is my 3rd mortgage with them. They will lend you any amount:( Last time I used Andrea Walker who is their agent through Western Pacific Home Loans, the nice thing about them is their rates go down faster than other places. They service all of their own loans, I think their rates are very competitive but YMMV.

I've been with Countrywide for a while now, this is my 3rd mortgage with them. They will lend you any amount:( Last time I used Andrea Walker who is their agent through Western Pacific Home Loans, the nice thing about them is their rates go down faster than other places. They service all of their own loans, I think their rates are very competitive but YMMV. I am upset that they call me every few months and try to get me to refi, I just say no and hang up.

I just purchased a new house - Mortgage Masters in Aiea. Ask for Nanette Lontayao. Got a great deal, they brokered a Countrywide 30 yr fixed for me @ 5.5% (conventional 80/20 financing). 30 day lock cost me 1.5 points (walked away with 0 closing costs though as the house is new and developer covered interest rate buydown, non-recurring closing costs etc.)

5.5%??? :eek: Holy shite Batman...that is an awesome deal. Although that is with 20% down, which I am certain makes a difference.

Unfortunately since this is an Army reassignment, it was more of the "oh, guess what, you're going to Hawaii" kind of deal, and not something I had been preparing for for the past several years. (That's another way of saying I don't have 20% of $700k saved up for a downpayment!) ;)

5.5%??? :eek: Holy shite Batman...that is an awesome deal. Although that is with 20% down, which I am certain makes a difference.

Unfortunately since this is an Army reassignment, it was more of the "oh, guess what, you're going to Hawaii" kind of deal, and not something I had been preparing for for the past several years. (That's another way of saying I don't have 20% of $700k saved up for a downpayment!) ;)

A 80/20 is not 20% down. It is taking out 2 loans for the house. I am in the Army also and did a 80/20 for $650,000 last year.

When we moved here, tons of people said "make sure you have a spare room, we're coming to visit!"

Of course, hardly any of them have come over yet. I should have just gotten one of these to house them in: http://lonestarmotosports.com/default.asp?pid=178 :stickoutt

Guess I shoulda 'splained better...I did 80% LTV ratio, so I did in fact put 20% down out of $565K. However, you can generally keep your interest rate low if you go with 80/10/10, however your second mortgage will almost certainly be at a higher rate. But hey, then you only need 10% cash down...

Nanette is my friend's wife, but I got a better deal through Wells Fargo a few years ago.

A lot of the secondary market has shut down so its tougher to get those 80/20 deals.

OP - Are you in the military? Will you be using VA?

A lot of the secondary market has shut down so its tougher to get those 80/20 deals.

OP - Are you in the military? Will you be using VA?

Yes, I'm active-duty military...no, I won't use VA.

Guys - I appreciate all the replys, they've been very helpful. I looks like I have something lined up, so I will run with that and see how things pan out over the next couple of months. Wish me luck, hope I can get something nice without getting in over my head! :redspot

Good luck bro... just make sure you are not overpaying..

aloha

I had really good luck with Pacific Access Mortgage. Iris Toguchi made things very painless for both the initial purchase and the refinancing I did a year later. Basically all I had to do was fill out a few forms and she did the rest. When it was time to close, she had everything laid out, and I was finished in much less time than I thought possible. Here's a link.

http://pacificaccessmortgage.com/ourteam.html

I had really good luck with Pacific Access Mortgage. Iris Toguchi made things very painless for both the initial purchase and the refinancing I did a year later. Basically all I had to do was fill out a few forms and she did the rest. When it was time to close, she had everything laid out, and I was finished in much less time than I thought possible. Here's a link.

http://pacificaccessmortgage.com/ourteam.html

Thanks!