Customer Appreciation Archives Page 2 of 3

Success Story: Rock and Jacki Stoltzfus

January 10, 2020/0 Comments/in Uncategorized/by Courtney Coon

2008 was a tough year. Our economy was in turmoil and homeowners struggled to stay afloat. Families across the U.S. – Michigan included – witnessed a housing crunch.

Rock and Jacki Stoltzfus are no exception.

“We had a pretty tough experience with a home in 2008,” Rock said. “A home we had been in for only two years.”

“With the loss of a job that I had since 1995 and an extended illness for my wife Jacki, we eventually lost that home in 2011. Since then, we’ve rented. We didn’t want to try and purchase a home again and we weren’t even sure if we’d qualify.”

That all changed in 2019.

“I contacted our friend and realtor who quickly put us in contact with Dave and the team,” Rock said. “In just a matter of a day or two we found out we were good to go and we immediately began the process of getting pre-approved and looking for a home.”

Rock and Jacki worked with Licia Ackerberg. Things moved fast and efficiently.

“We have known Licia for years and she quickly got us on the right track,” Jacki said. “We found our new home the first weekend we looked.”

According to the couple, Dave and his team at Michigan Mortgage exceeded all expectations. They explained the process clearly and handled their unique situation with great expertise.

“Our experience with Dave and the team was fantastic,” they said. “Just the right mix of encouragement and letting us know what documents and other information was needed from us. They kept us informed every step of the way.”

“We never felt pressured and felt like their goal was to help us get what we wanted,” Rock said. “We were told ahead of time what to expect and so there were no surprises.”

The couple moved into their new home the weekend before Christmas with the help of their grown children. They celebrated Christmas together that same weekend.

“All around, this has been a great experience,” Rock and Jacki said.

We wish them a happy and healthy 2020 in their new home!

Success Story: The Villegas Family

November 7, 2019/0 Comments/in Success Story/by Courtney Coon

Things don’t always go as planned – the Villegas family knows that first hand.

The family, originally from Miami, encountered a few rough patches in 2017 and needed a fresh start. Family members encouraged them to get away from the expensive Florida city and move to Holland.

“We prepared our Miami home and decided to keep it to rent it out,” said Rey Villegas. “In April of 2018, we moved to Michigan and adjusted quickly from the big city to a small town.”

“We loved it!”

The family opted to rent for the remainder of 2018 and part of 2019 to save money before purchasing their Michigan dream home.

“We started looking for our home in May,” Rey said. “Our lease was coming to an end at our apartment and we made the promise to ourselves that we’d have a home after being in Michigan for one year.”

“We were looking for a home that was fairly new – no renovations needed – with very open space, a deck and a lake view.”

Shortly after beginning their search, they found their dream home in Riley Ridge and contacted the listing agent, Luke Bouman with At Home Realty.

“Working with Luke’s team was great,” Rey said. “We worked with Mary Van Vels and she was amazing. She was so understanding and very honest with us. They exceeded our expectations!”

The Villegas Family relied on their bank for financing. After receiving their pre-approval letter, the bank informed them that they weren’t qualified to purchase this specific home in Riley Ridge. Mary suggested they get in touch with Michigan Mortgage Loan Officer Amy Hendrickson for a second look.

“Amy gave my parent’s credit a second glance and was able to get us approved,” Rey said.

The family proceeded with financing with Amy and compared their experience to that of working with Mary – Amy went above and beyond and exceeded expectations.

“Amy was with us every step of the way,” Rey said. “We loved her attitude; she’s a very happy, positive person. We would recommend her to anyone!”

Now that the family is moved into their new Riley Ridge dream home, they’re looking forward to celebrating the four seasons in Michigan.

“We’re looking forward to summer nights by the bonfire roasting marshmallows, sitting on our deck in the winter drinking hot chocolate and hot apple cider in the fall,” Rey said.

“We are extremely happy!”

Success Story: A Holland Couple Looking for Their Forever Condo

October 10, 2019/0 Comments/in Success Story/by Courtney Coon

Good things come to those who wait. Sometimes the wait is short and sweet – sometimes the wait can last roughly two years.

A Holland couple looking for their forever condo experienced the latter.

“We wanted to purchase a condo but wanted one we felt was well built, in a nice area and within our price range,” the couple said. “Some of our must haves were storage, a sunroom, and outdoor space.”

“Many condo’s that we looked at were very nice but had little storage space.”

The couple asked to speak on the condition of anonymity because of their involvement in the local community.

The search took longer than expected, but the wait was worth it when they found the perfect place to call home.

Shortly after, the search continued. This time, though, they were searching for a reliable mortgage lender.

“We were introduced through our Realtor to Hayley after we were pre-approved through another financial institution and later told they could not finance us because the condominium by-laws would not pass their condominium underwriting,” the couple said.

“This lender told us at different points that he was almost ready to close. Needless to say, we were extremely disappointed.”

The couple relied on their Realtor, Joannie Bouman of Coldwell Banker, for a recommendation.

“Joannie told us about Hayley and was confident that she could assist us,” they said. “Hayley was given the information regarding the condominium by-laws and stated that the by-laws had a clause that would make this loan unsaleable. Hayley took our application and told us she would contact investors to look at this loan.”

Both Hayley and Joannie exceeded the couple’s expectations.

“Hayley kept us informed throughout the process and we felt encouraged,” they said. “She was so accommodating.”

“We were given a gift at closing and we felt that we should be giving her a gift.”

“Joannie was so helpful in deciding the asking price and also taking us through the process of selling our current home.”

After closing, the couple took the time to update the condo and turn their new house into a home. They moved in at the end of July and look forward to settling into their new lifestyle.

“We would highly recommend Hayley for your mortgage needs,” the couple said. “Thank you, Hayley, for a job well done!”

Success Story: LaTanya Jackson

September 12, 2019/0 Comments/in Success Story/by Courtney Coon

Credit improvement is no easy task. It takes time, effort, a pre-determined plan and a little help from a trusted advisor.

It’s hard work, but it’s worth it for those hoping to purchase their dream home.

“I began seriously working on my credit in January of 2018,” said LaTanya Jackson. “It took me a little over a year before I was ready to buy a house.”

When she was ready, her co-worker and friend, Nakia Cooper, suggested that she get in touch with Loan Officer Dave Lehner and his team at Michigan Mortgage.

“They welcomed me and my family in a way that made me feel like I was being taken care of from the very beginning,” LaTanya said. “Being a first-time homebuyer, they never made me feel bad about asking numerous questions.”

LaTanya enjoyed getting to know Dave and his team, but described her journey to homeownership as a “rollercoaster.”

“Oh boy – where do I start,” she said. “I would find a house and within 24 to 48 hours, it was off the market. Frustrated was an understatement. By the time I found ‘the one,’ I was at my wits end.”

LaTanya’s Realtor, Eric Sikkenga with Keller Williams Grand Rapids East, helped to smooth the ride.

“All I can say about my experience with him…FUN,” LaTanya said. “He did exactly what he said he would do. He got me into the home of my dreams!”

She calls that home “Heaven.”

LaTanya has yet to move in – she making a few must-have renovations beforehand – but she’s over the moon with joy.

“Even though it needs a few things, my home feels like a little piece of heaven,” she said.

We can’t imagine another move in LaTanya’s future, but if it is, Dave will be the first person she calls.

“Dave and his team exceeded my expectations,” she said. “They were so patient and understanding throughout the entire process.”

“Every email and call was given immediate attention. They made sure I was thoroughly informed about all of my options as a first-time homebuyer.”

We wish LaTanya and her family many happy memories in their new home!

Success Story: Dan Procko

August 21, 2019/0 Comments/in Success Story/by Courtney Coon

When people hear the word “mortgage” they often think about the excitement of moving on from their current home and purchasing a new and improved dream home.

But sometimes, refinancing your current mortgage – and saving a ton of money along the way – can be equally as rewarding.

Dan Procko knows that first hand.

“I purchased my home about five years ago when the market was hot and prices were much lower than they are today,” Dan said. “It was a bank foreclosure and needed some work, so shortly after the purchase I took out a home equity line of credit to make repairs and updates such as a new furnace, water heater, plumbing work, electrical and some cosmetic upgrades.”

“And now, a few years and a baby later, it’s time for another home improvement project,” he said. “I also wanted to consolidate some debt and refinance the HELOC into one mortgage payment.”

After receiving refinance incentives from his current lender, and analyzing the mortgage interest rates, Dan decided this summer was the right time to refinance.

“When the right time came, I had HomePoint Financial run a refinance scenario and, at the time, they offered me a no upfront appraisal fee incentive,” he said. “Then after running my credit and it was time to order the appraisal, they needed me to pay upfront and would not honor their incentive.”

“This prompted me to contact my realtor friend and she recommended Rob Garrison’s team at Michigan Mortgage.”

Dan reached out to Rob and his team via email. He received an immediate response that clearly laid out the steps and expectations related to refinancing.

“It was very simple,” he said. Rob and his team were quick to reply anytime Dan had questions. He was informed every step of the way.

“Michigan Mortgage was able to provide me a more competitive refinance estimate and consulted me about buying percentage points,” he said. “I felt comfortable moving forward with the credit check and ordering the appraisal.”

Dan’s comfort with Michigan Mortgage was reaffirmed when he met with the appraiser.

“First my realtor friend and now the appraiser has nothing but positive things to say about Michigan Mortgage,” he said. “The turn-around time was quick, the timeline provided was exceeded and the entire process could not have gone any smoother.”

As stated before, Dan’s refinance goal was to consolidate his existing mortgage and HELOC. When he officially closed in July, he accomplished so much more.

“I was also able to pay off a credit card, pay off my vehicle loan and have enough money to upgrade my electrical panel all while reducing my monthly bills by over $500 per month.”

A painless process, a lower interest rate and lots of money saved. What more could you ask for?

“The closing was quick and held right at the Michigan Mortgage location,” he said. “I was able to meet Rob and he introduced me to the team face-to-face, which I really appreciated in this online, email and texting world day and age.”

“I will recommend Michigan Mortgage and Rob Garrison to anyone looking to buy or refinance.”

Success Story: Ashley Moran

July 10, 2019/0 Comments/in Success Story/by Courtney Coon

Ashley Moran outgrew her Roosevelt Park home after five years of residence – it was time to move on to something new.

“There was no basement and I was running out of room for storage,” she said. “The backyard was huge; I had a hard time keeping up with the lawn work by myself.”

Her home sold without issue with the help of Nexes Realty professional Matt Johnson.

“Thankfully, my mom let me move back in for a few months until I was able to find my new home,” Ashley said. “I had been looking for a few months and May happened to be the lucky month when the right house came along!”

When she found the perfect home with lots of room for her “unhealthy shoe obsession,” she hit the ground running.

“Matt listens to his clients and finds exactly what they are looking for,” Ashley said. “I got a smaller yard, a walk-in closet and a kitchen with lots of cupboards. The house is only a few years old, so that’s a bonus!”

Unfortunately, on the lending side of the transaction, things didn’t go according to plan.

“My aunt and family friends referred me to Shawn Norden after I had some issues with another mortgage company,” Ashley said. “I called her in a panic because the mortgage company I was using was not the most trustworthy and my anxiety was through the roof.”

“Shawn had me send her my information and she had a majority of the work done on her end in 24 hours,” she said. “I was very pleased with how smoothly the process went.”

Shawn was able to relieve some of Ashley’s stresses and save her a little money along the way.

“Not only did Shawn lock me into a lower interest rate, but she saved me about $3,000 in closing costs,” Ashley said.

Now that she’s settled in, she’s taking the time to complete a few home-improvement projects and unpack her things. It’s been a busy few months, but she hopes the next few weeks will offer a little more free time to focus on her new home.

“I should start working on finishing the basement, but I don’t to spend my summer cooped up inside, so that will have to wait until later this year,” she said. “For now, I want to enjoy my beautiful deck in the backyard.”

“I’m so excited to have company over and grill out back there!”

Ashley hopes that this home is her forever home, but should she move again, Shawn and Matt will be at the top of her must-call list.

Image showing a family in front of their new home.

Success Story: Kaycie and Cody Cooper

June 6, 2019/0 Comments/in Success Story/by Courtney Coon

Life doesn’t always go as planned. Bad things happen when we least expect it and surprises may be waiting for us around every turn.

For Kaycie and Cody Cooper, it was the latter. Life’s unexpected moments led them to their dream home in Hamilton when they weren’t even looking.

“We were living in a home that was a bit snug for our family of six, but the location was perfect and we were content,” Kaycie said. “While we knew we were not in our forever home, we figured we would stay put for another 3-5 years.”

According to the Cooper family, God had other plans.

The family that lived next door to the pair’s brother, sister-in-law and their children, experienced a life-changing event and needed to sell their home. This is where the unexpected moments began.

“When my sister-in-law caught wind of the possible sale, she contacted the owners and discovered that it was, in fact, true,” Kaycie said. “We got really excited because it was everything we could have wanted in our next home.”

“Although we were not necessarily ready for this process, we decided to jump in feet first and see where it led us,” Cody said.

The next few weeks went better than expected. The Coopers were able to sell their home very quickly. After one open house, six offers came pouring in.

“Doors just kept opening,” Cody said. “We were pleasantly surprised with how perfect everything worked out.”

When it came time for the not-so-exciting part of homeownership – the loan process – Kaycie relied on her sister-in-law for a recommendation.

“My sister-in-law suggested that we reach out to Amy,” she said. “They had just bought their home a year before and spoke rave reviews about Amy and her team at Michigan Mortgage. She said the process was ‘easy’ and that was exactly what we were looking for.”

The Cooper’s had a few specific expectations. They wanted to wrap things up quickly, wanted to work with someone who would walk them through the process with ease and wanted to make sure they were fully aware of what was happening, every paper they were signing and what to expect next.

“Amy did all of that and more,” Kaycie said. “I remember the first few conversations I had with Amy and how sweet and confident she was on the phone. She even let me bother her on the weekend! To me, that spoke volumes.”

“While I didn’t want to take away her time from her family, she understood that things come up and was willing to take a few minutes to answer my questions and steer me on the road moving forward,” Kaycie continued. “Since we were buying and selling at the same time, she was knowledgeable and willing to help with the entire process”

“I knew right away that I could trust her and that was something I really valued. I was always very surprised by how quickly she worked.”

“I felt very taken care of and felt like Amy truly cared,” she said. “When you are making a life decision as big as buying your dream home, this is very important. I feel like I couldn’t have been in better hands.”

Hamilton is a special place and the Copper’s had a truly special home-buying experience thanks to Amy and her team at Michigan Mortgage.

Not only did the new home had everything the couple wished for – a master closet, individual bedrooms for each of their four children, a fireplace, a big kitchen, a mud room and a pole barn for Cody – it had something no other home could offer.

“The added bonus is that we are right next to family,” Kaycie said. “Between the four of us, we have 10 children, all under the age of 14. These cousins are extremely excited to grow up together and will always have someone to play with.”

“We feel so fortunate and blessed to have been able to purchase our dream home even when we weren’t looking.”

Image showing a happy homeowner's new house!

Success Story: Amanda and Steve Rudat

May 8, 2019/0 Comments/in Success Story/by Courtney Coon

Credit scores don’t appear overnight – it takes time, energy and commitment to grow and build your score.

Amanda and Steve Rudat know that first hand.

“2017 was a good year for us to buy, as we had been working on our credit and finally had the stability in our careers to purchase a home,” Steve said. “We were renting places and getting nothing back in return. We had the money saved up and faith that we could make the commitment.”

Katie Bultema with Greenridge Realty helped Amanda and Steve find the home that best fit their needs.

“We wanted to be able to stay in the area,” Amanda said. “It was also very important for us to make a smart purchase within our budget. We wanted a home that had space for entertaining and room for our dogs to play.”

The couple knew this home would not be their “forever” home, so they focused on properties that had good re-sale value or homes that could appeal to renters in the future.

“Katie was a pleasure to work with and we would recommend her to anyone looking for a Realtor,” Steve said.

Katie was the perfect Realtor for Amanda and Steve. When they set out to find the perfect Loan Officer, they were connected to Loan Officer Hayley Woodworth.

“The person we were last renting from in Montague had worked with Hayley and strongly recommended her,” Amanda said. “We had been friends for a long time and to hear him speak so highly of Hayley was a big interest to us.”

“After getting to meet with Hayley and speak to her, it was really a no-brainer,” she added. “It just felt like a good choice for us.”

“Hayley was everything we were hoping for,” Steve said. “Attentive, supportive and a real go-getter. I can’t think of one time where we were wondering what was going on, what our numbers would look like or if someone would call us back.”

“When you are making these kinds of purchases, it is so refreshing to have a person like Hayley in your corner. You feel like you made a friendship, not a transaction. I feel like she had our best interest at heart.”

Amanda echoed Steve’s thoughts.

“Hayley and the staff work very hard, they are pleasant to be around and make us feel special,” she said. “It feels like family and friendship based on the way the team took care of Steve and I. So responsive, so supportive and we loved that about them. Things that could wait until the next day, Hayley was taking care of at night with us on her cell phone.”

In 2017, Hayley exceeded the couple’s expectations. Earlier this year, when Amanda and Steve decided to purchase their second home, Hayley was the first lender they called.

“We called her up out of the blue and this woman got right to work on things again,” Steve said. “She remembered exactly who we were and she was so thrilled to hear that we were looking to buy again. In no time flat, Hayley had numbers for us to start looking over again so we could budget and plan for our new place.”

“As many times as we shifted gears on her, Hayley just rolled with us on it,” he continued. “We ran so many different scenarios, properties and numbers with her and it was always the same great smile, voice and service.”

“We truly believe Hayley enjoys seeing people succeed in their dreams and purchases and it shows in the way she supports her clients. We are so happy to have found her!”

Success Story: Bianca and Paul Urban

April 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Success Story/by Courtney Coon

In the mortgage business, we help our clients achieve a small portion of the “American Dream.”

Landing your dream job, home ownership, getting married, having children – memories that will last a life time.

For Bianca and Paul Urban, their dream began to take shape in 2016.

“I had been renting for about five years and Paul had purchased his first home a few years prior,” Bianca said. “We got engaged and started putting our lives together in the Spring of 2016 and together decided to put his home up for sale with the goal of purchasing a new home in early 2017.”

Bianca is a hairstylist in Holland and Paul is a truck driver out of Byron Center. Together, they decided that the Zeeland area was the perfect place to call home. Their goal was to be settled before tying the knot in 2017.

“Our Realtor is a good friend of ours – Nicole Kayser with Five Star,” Bianca said. “She set up our connection with Mark and the team at Michigan Mortgage.”

“Nicole was great! She was there to answer any questions and we are so grateful she led us to working with Mark. They made a great team and were in constant communication to help us reach our goal of home ownership.”

Bianca and Paul knew what to expect while working with Nicole, but weren’t sure about the financial side of things. This was their first big purchase as a couple, so they relied on Nicole’s recommendations.

“It was easy for us to trust Mark with Nicole’s recommendation and how personable he was,” Paul said. “His ability to help us find the best rates without having to shop around and apply at several different places was a bonus.”

“Working with Mark was honestly super easy and comfortable from the first meeting,” Bianca added. “It can feel awkward or intimidating when going over all your finances with someone and we never felt that way through this entire journey. Mark was there to answer any questions we had and was there at each step of the process.”

“He genuinely cares for his clients and wants to see them succeed.”

They found their dream home on the first day of their search, wrote an offer contingent on the sale of Paul’s home and it all worked out as planned.

“Our expectations were definitely met with our situation to sell and buy at the same time having Mark and Nicole guide us through the process,” Paul said.

“I always recommend getting in touch with Mark anytime I hear a friend of a client of mine in my chair start to think about buying or selling their home,” Bianca said. “For us, Mark has become more than a mortgage lender. He and his family are friends we are thankful to have!”

Image showing a happy homeowner at closing!

Success Story: Laura McCarthy

March 13, 2019/0 Comments/in Blog/by Courtney Coon

As part of our “Success Story” series, we’d like to introduce you to Laura McCarthy, a woman that doubted her ability to achieve the American Dream of homeownership but trusted Michigan Mortgage to guide her home. This is her story.

Homeownership is a dream for many, especially for those looking to provide a safe and stable environment for their children.

Some know the dream is in reach while others question their ability to make the large purchase at every turn. Laura McCarthy was one of those people. She thought homeownership was something she may never achieve.

“As a single mom, to be honest, I did not think I would be able to purchase a home given my past credit history,” Laura said. “I was renting and my money was going nowhere with nothing to show for it. I was hesitant and extremely nervous and thought the people at Michigan Mortgage would laugh me out of their office.”

Much to her surprise, that wasn’t the case at all. It was far from it, actually.

“Dave Lehner and I are old high school chums,” she said. “I knew he would be willing to help me and be able to tell me if my dream was a possibility. He instantly put my fears aside explaining my options and being honest in what I should do with what I could afford.”

Laura knew she was in the right place. Not only did she trust the guidance offered by Dave and his team, she worked with a Realtor that was also a friend.

“I chose to work with Amy Rudholm because of her expertise in the field, her patience, her knowledge and willingness to help me find exactly what I needed and to be sure I was making the right decision,” Laura said.

“Amy told me many times ‘it’s my job to get you exactly what you want’ and she went above and beyond in making that happen,” she continued. “We looked at many homes and she gave me her honest opinion and we kept moving forward. The home I chose was for sale by owner and Amy did not hesitate to work with the sellers and was diligent in making sure I got exactly what I wanted!”

“The inspection process was a bit overwhelming, but once again, Amy was there every step of the way and put my mind at ease.”

Dave and his team made sure to be available anytime Laura needed a little help.

“I had lots of questions every day and no one from the Michigan Mortgage office ever made me feel like I was crazy or bothering them at any time,” she said. “They answered all of my questions and kept me updated daily with emails that were encouraging.”

“Jill, Ronda and Team Lehner were amazing to work with and treated me like family.”

When we received the final clear-to-close, it was a celebration for all!

“It was smooth and quick and before I knew it, we were closing and celebrating,” Laura said. “I happened to be out of town the day I could get the keys and move in, so thanks to my family and Amy’s connections, they made it happen so that I came home to my new house ready to move in!”

Laura, Taylor and Lindsay (her two beautiful children!) have had nothing but fun in their new home. It’s the only place they want to be.

“I cannot thank Michigan Mortgage enough,” Laura said. “Top notch, stellar organization and would (already have) recommend them to anyone looking to purchase a home that needs a little extra help and guidance along the way like I did.”

Laura can’t thank Amy and Dave enough for helping make her dream home a reality.

Tag Archive for: Customer Appreciation