Thank you for considering John Meussner & the JM Loans team for your mortgage needs - our team is ranked #1 in customer satisfaction amongst mortgage companies in our home town, but operates in many states across the US! Wherever you are located, you'll get the same great professional experience and award-winning loan process. Our team strives to provide the fastest, easiest, and most transparent experience in the country while keeping rates and costs low for you. Below are some important things you should know when getting started on a loan application with our team.

Fighting The Bad Guys

The credit bureaus (transunion, equifax, and experian) sell your data when your credit is pulled (you can read more about that practice if you'd like by clicking here) - we have no way to stop them and as soon as you have a hard inquiry, you're likely to begin receiving calls, texts, and emails from predatory lenders - most of these lenders offer "too good to be true" products via inexperienced call center "loan officers", and their approach borders on harassment - there is actually proposed legislation in congress to make this abhorrent practice illegal, but for now, we only have one option - OPT OUT! Visit the OptOut Website and in just about a minute you can choose to opt out and protect yourself from these calls. We recommend the 5 year electronic opt out option. This step will save you from a lot of headache and protect you from the darker side of our industry.

Setting Yourself Up For Success

We aim to make your experience easy - from application to full approval, we average less than 2 weeks, so whether you're buying your first home and need a quick turn time to make a competitive offer, or you're trying to access cash FAST, we work to move faster than your timelines. Have an extended contract and don't need to rush? We still move FAST so that you spend less time chasing paperwork, and more time focusing on the things you love to do. There are some things you can do to help keep things on track:

• Get the process started early - the earlier the better. With enough time, we can max out your credit scores, have your loan fully underwritten and approved (even before you find the right house!), and can ensure you're in the best position to get the best possible loan. We recommend starting your application ~6 months prior to when you hope to buy a new home, but even if you're already under contract, we can help!
• Start your loan application using our secure digital application by clicking here. This secure application will guide you through the info we need, and also let you know which documents you'll need to start gathering. If you have any questions, you can always contact us for any help you need or areas you're unsure of.
• Document requests - after you apply, we'll likely request a few extra documents. During a normal loan application process, you'll usually see 3 occasions where we ask for documents. Initially at application, prior to us submitting your application to underwriting, and finally, sometimes a 3rd time to answer any questions or procure any documents underwriting needs before getting your loan finalized. It is imperative to provide requested items within 48 hours, or to let us know if this is not possible. Also, please note - we strive to not ask you for anything we don't absolutely need. If you have questions on "why" we need something, please do ask (we want you to understand the process!), but trust us, we don't want any more of your paperwork than we absolutely need!
• Most lenders will tell you what you CAN'T do during the loan process - while NOT doing these things might make a lenders life easier, we realize that you need to live your life and that life happens while your application is in process. That said, contact us before doing any of the following to ensure these actions won't delay or derail your loan application:
  • Changing jobs or moving from one type of income to another (eg changing from a W2 job to a self-employed or contractor role) - let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly
  • Opening new credit accounts - it's best to wait until AFTER your loan funds and records to open any new credit accounts, but if you plan to open new accounts, buy a new car, or finance anything while your loan is in process, let us know before you apply for that credit.
  • Moving money around - usually moving money around is OK, but it can create a nightmare for you to document because underwriting needs to be able to "follow" the money. The mortgage industry is subject to federal laws that require extensive sourcing of funds, so if you plan to move money around, or you're receiving any large sums of money, let us know beforehand so we can help minimize the headache of creating a paper trail
  • Major Material Changes - going through life? It happens! Whether it's a name change due to a divorce, notice of job loss, or anything else that could impact your loan application, let us know - most times we can help keep things on track for you and suggest strategies to help.

Why Us?

Our mission is simple: to be the best mortgage option for our customers, and to serve the communities we are a part of. What does being the best mean ? It means doing everything with a focus on the best overall customer experience - we offer competitive rates, a secure, digital loan process that moves your loan fast, and our staff is highly trained and experienced. We also offer a huge variety of loan products, and as an independent banker, we're not "selling you" a specific bank's products - we're working to find the right product for you from dozens of investors and lending institutions. We also have the ability to broker loans so if there's a product that works best for you outside of our investor suite, we can still offer you that product.

Our team also gives back - we contribute a portion of profits from each and every loan to 501c3 organizations around the country, often within the communities of our customers - so if we ask you if there's a cause or organization you care about, that's why! We have a soft spot for animal welfare and the fight against human trafficking so Hearts for Paws Rescue (heartsforpawsrescue.com or @heartsforpawsrescue on IG) and Operation Underground Railroad (ourrescue.org) are 2 of our favorites that we often contribute to.

If you're curious what past customers and partners have said about their experience, you can see our reviews by clicking here. Keep in mind our reviews are verified, meaning an independent 3rd party has verified each review is from someone that has actually worked with us (aka not every review is a 5 star rating from our grandma, though she would give us 5 stars, too!)

Referrals

When we need help, we often ask our friends, family, and coworkers "who do you know?". When it comes to buying a house, we know it's the same - if your friends, family, or coworkers are considering buying a home or refinancing, please pass our name along. We're extremely proud that for nearly 20 years we've operated exclusively on referrals - that means our customers have been happy enough to pass our name along to friends, family, and coworkers for home buying and refinancing help. How does referring us benefit you? Being exclusively 'by referral', we're able to avoid having a heavy marketing budget (you won't see us at halftime on the Superbowl trying to make mortgage debt 'cool', and you certainly won't see us spamming your social media timelines with ads), and we're able to use that savings to keep our fees low and rates competitive. So if you're happy with our process & services along the way, please send referrals. Otherwise, we'll need to resort to TikTok dances to reach a new audience...and trust us, no one wants to see that.

How We Protect You

Want to know what we do with your data as a customer working with the JM Loans team? We securely maintain it for the amount of time we need to to be in compliance with state laws, and we look at it from time to time to assess opportunities to ensure you always have the best loan. And that's ALL we do with your data. It is kept secure, and we do not sell your data to anyone.

Along the same lines, when you work with us, your personal info is kept secure. All of our digital platforms are encrypted with bank-level encryption or better, and you have the ability to securely upload documents through our  digital platform, or we'll offer alternative secure links to ensure the paperwork you send in is viewed only by you & our team.

MANY discount-rate mortgage lenders offer extremely low rates, but do so by skimping on security/protection (ever work with a mortgage "professional" contacting you via an @gmail address?) OR by selling your data to profit from your personal information - in today's world of data breaches and identity theft, we invest in resources to ensure your information is secure and that you're protected with the security features you should expect from your financial institutions.

And Finally...

Thank you! We know there are thousands of lenders and tens of thousands of loan officers out there. It's not lost on us that in such a commoditized industry, it's an honor when you choose to work with us, and we work hard to make sure that your trust is well placed. We'll do our best to communicate at a high level along the way, but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask! Mortgage financing can be complicated, but it's our goal to ensure you're educated on your options, and that we assist in helping you make the best financial decisions both for today and in the long run!