Equity Home Loans

How good of a company is Countrywide for refinancing and home equity loan?

I AM LOOKING TO REFINACE MY HOUSE AND TRYING TO TAKE SOME CASH OUT BUT DONT KNOW WHICH COMPANY TO GO WITH.

Public Comments

1. As a remodelor, they are great. I know one of the VP personally. Just remember, they are talking to Bank of America for a merger.
2. I refi'd with them several years ago and I financed with them many years ago. No problems either time. Good website and online resources.
3. Countrywide is the second largest lender in America, that being said your experience will only be as good as your individual loan officer. regardless of how "nice" or knowledgeable they seem . . . . like any major expenditure you should get two or three "bids" . . . . comparison shopping will get you the best deal. and get it in writing...
4. I have friends that currently work for Countrywide, and if you refinance with them on the watch for hiden fees, which includes late fees and etc. I went with Southwest Funding for my refinance and got a much lower rate, with one on one consultant. Who helped me understand everything from A to Z. If you need a contact with them, let me know.
5. I know this answer may sound a bit self serving, but here is my take (and no, I am not asking for your business, I only work in Georgia): I love it when clients bring me quotes from Countrywide. I beat the living daylights out of them every time. Their retail outlet (you went to a Countrywide store, yes?) is very expensive. They have to pay for those ads some how, right? The irony of it is that they are one of my lenders that I send loans to (a wholesaler). As a wholesale company, their rates are excellent. So I can often beat the retail quote and still provide the client with a Countrywide loan if that is their wish. Having said all that, there are many other lenders out there that are even cheaper. Do yourself a favor, go shop your loan. Get several "apples-to-apples" comparisons and then make your choice. Best of luck
6. Countrywide is good but you can also choose to get quotes from multiple lenders. We've done this with auto insurance, homeowners insurance and refinance loans. We got the quotes for the refinance loans through http://www.kstreetloans.com because we didn't have such good credit. I think it just depends on your comfort level but I think Countrywide is as good as any.
7. Countrywide is a great company - but I think their rates (retail or wholesale) are a bit higher than most. Shop several brokers and compare ALL the fees. Educate yourself. Best of luck. Joe...
8. I am in the process of trying to get away from Countrywide. They will do with you whatever they want. We left the country for 3 months and prepaid our house payment so we would not be late and they did not accept it that way. They took 2 of the payments and just put them in an escrow account. They are really hard ot get thru on customer service calls too. You wait for long periods and nobody really knows the answers. try another company.
9. Credit Unions usually have better rates than Conventional Lenders like Countrywide. But why do you want to refinance with a roller-coaster payment. Heloc payments flucuate with the market. Market goes up so does your payment. Why not just cashout and take a fixed rate. Go 30 year Interest Only best product out there and secure as a 30 year fix. Good luck.
10. I have always had a good experience on the front end with my clients and Countrywide. However, on the back end (foreclosure, short sale and loan servicing), many of my clients have severe problems getting Countrywide to be responsive.