As a buyer, I learned the hard way that your lender matters. It matters a lot, especially in this red hot market. Todd Kurio and Tamri at Capstar Lending were phenomenal. I was dealing with a difficult situation and had to get a new lender in place in a short period of time. Todd and Tamri knocked it out of the park, and helped me keep my close date. They did it at light speed and got it done in 8 days! Things you'll learn working with them: - Local Austin lender so they have the contacts to get your appraisal done FAST. My rush one was done in 4 days. - Incredibly organized with very fast processes. - You will have the same point of contacts the whole way through, so everyone is always on the same page managing your file. - You don't have to keep sending the same files or information again and again to a loan officer. - I had a lot of questions, and they were able to get back to me very quickly with answers to all my questions. - They were able to secure a great rate, plus offered a lender credit. - They're really nice people and genuinely want to help you out. If you need to jump ship with a new lender or want your offer to stand out against the other 20 bids with a strong local lender, I highly recommend reaching out to Todd. read more

These guys are awesome! I bought my third house through them after fumbling around with terrible lending brokers in the area for two previous purchases. With a shorter than usual closing window (approx 23 days after acceptance) Todd Curio and his team made it happen. They're incredibly knowledgeable and won't steer you wrong. I even got a lower rate, put less money down than I had originally expected, and I felt comfortable through the entire process. For someone who gets anxious when it comes to large sums of money leaving my hands, that's saying a lot!!! I was initially shopping the market and started with another lender in the area. The lender didn't have his facts right about certain loans products - specifically, whether I would qualify for the loan and the minimum down payment required. Um... that's pretty damn important. Todd at Capstar had his facts straight from the beginning, knew exactly what kind of loan would best suit my needs, and how best to secure financing for my particular situation (owner-occupied, multi-family) without any hiccups. I can't stress enough to new home buyers how important that is - no hiccups, no surprises. Remember, this should be the dull part of home buying, facts and numbers based and very objective. And that's exactly what it was - the exciting part was learning that I didn't need to put as much down to qualify for the loan! If y'all want a smooth transaction with low stress, and no surprises, go with these guys! Seriously. read more

My real estate agent recommended a few lenders to me. I googled them and some more, ultimately choosing Mark Abernathy with Capstar Lending because of their consistently high Yelp ratings. All his communication has been fast, responsive, thorough, and clear. He's also very accessible. I've called during the lunch hour and he picked up the phone. The sellers wanted a quick close so my agent asked Capstar Lending for speedy mortgage processing. Mark Abernathy emailed me the loan estimate with no delay. He also got me a great rate of 4.125% for a 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage and asked me to contact him off I found any rate lower. Nationwide average mortgage rates were around hovering above 3.81% at the time. The monthly payments were even much lower than I expected. Loan origination fees are comparable to other lenders. Mortgages are a painful and solemn subject matter for many of us in the bottom 99% of the socioeconomic strata. In our phone conversations, Mark always had a very positive and cheerful tone that reassures borrowers that they weren't getting screwed over or committing to a life of discomfort... I would use Capstar Lending again and recommend them to others. read more

I closed on my first house on June 30th, and I have to say thank you to Carrie W., who recommended Deborah Ginac and Capstar Lending on a Yelp talk thread about FHA friendly mortgage brokers. Deborah saved me about $28,000.00 on my mortgage ($78 a month for 30 years). Before I met Deborah, I had been working with a mortgage broker recommended by my real estate agent. The first broker had been able to offer me a 5% rate on my FHA loan. Conversations with her were always rushed, and I always ended up feeling like I was taking up her valuable time. When I had a question, she would not take the time to check that I had understood--she'd just bulldoze through her explanation and then move on to the next topic. I decided to shop around. During my first conversation with Deborah Ginac, she told me that she'd be able to do better...she could get me a 4.5% rate. She also grasped immediately what I was asking when I had a question and she explained it in a way that was easy to understand. I told her that I'd definitely take the 4.5% loan. I ended up having a conversation with the first broker, telling her that I'd found someone who offered a better rate. When I told her it was 4.5%, she said that it was a great rate, and that there was no way she could match it. Deborah Ginac showed up at my closing and she was even more impressive in person than she was on the phone. She was a whiz at explaining mortgages and markets, and she took extra time to explain a complex technical issue with my tax valuation, and to check with the title company to make sure that they had set up the payments correctly so I wouldn't get a big surprise when the bill was due. It's uncharacteristic for me to feel that I am in such good hands that I can just let go and let the other person take over, and that is exactly what I felt with Deborah Ginac. It's weird...I don't feel that with my doctor or my dentist, and it's not something I would ever have expected to feel about my mortgage broker. How could such an odd thing come to be? I'd have to say that it comes from my belief that she is a master in her field. I know what my grandma would say: That gal's as sharp as a tack. read more

Mark Abernathy is the best loan officer in the business. I just completed my home refinance with him, and I'm still amazed at how smooth the entire process was from start to finish. Everything was upfront and above board. There were no surprises at all. Not even one. My particular loan scenario had a number of unique challenges, but Mark walked me through everything. He makes himself readily available and was quick to respond to every question I had throughout the process. Mark is as honest as they come, and he runs his business with the highest level of integrity. In fact, when other lenders were (too) quick to win over my business, Mark accurately pointed me to a special type of loan that might suit me best, even though it may have resulted in him losing my business. (In the end, I didn't meet the criteria for the special loan, but Mark's focus on doing the right thing for his customers is admirable.) In addition to being a great business partner, Mark ended up finding me the best rate and also the lowest closing fees as well. I've had the opportunity to work with a few lenders now, and I can say with certainty that Mark Abernathy is now my go-to guy whenever it comes to financing or refinancing home loans. Thanks, Mark! read more

I've worked with Mark Abernathy on both my home purchases in the last three years and it's always a pleasure. He's positive and very responsive and seems very knowledgable about everything. I also had a bit of a surprise about the amount of my mortgage payment the second time around. The first estimate he gave me was at one amount. then it went down about $25, then, because of some kind of tax issue, it ended up being about $80 above that second estimate. Apparently, once I get my homestead exemption through and dispute the tax assessment that may come back down. Hopefully that's true - we'll see. I do know that since the economic collapse, banks are being a lot more stringent and careful about details and I believe this had something to do with the discrepancy. I'm sure Mark and Capstar will learn to adjust as having payments come in higher than estimates doesn't give anyone a good feeling. The first time through that didn't happen. read more

Update (2016): Just completed a refi and went back to Todd as he was able to get me a fantastic rate, and he and his assistant Tamri still provided the same excellent service I got the first time round. They also arranged for a mobile notary to come out and do the closing at the time and place of my choosing -- super convenient. 5 stars (again). Original review (2013): This review is for Todd Kurio @ Capstar. I contacted Todd (among a few other lenders) for my mortgage needs when buying a house recently. Todd was excellent. He had the most competitive fees and rates, and was always when I had questions. He always addressed my questions promptly and completely. All of his estimates where right on the mark (no surprises at closing). The thing I liked the most is that he was very laid back when I was shopping lenders, and spent a good bit of time on the phone with me at the beginning of the process, something that none of the other lenders did. Also, some of the other lenders started hitting me with pressure tactics to lock-in when the rates started to rise. Todd already had access to the best rate and did not rush me. It was a pleasure doing business with Todd. I will recommend him without hesitation to my friends and family. read more

Mark Abernathy claims he sets the rates and he will give you better than anyone else. He actually gets offended that you are shopping with other lenders. However, I put up with his condescension and misguided information in hopes that his rates would really beat the competition. They didn't. Don't waste your time and deal with an arrogant jerk. read more

My husband and I recently refinanced our home loan with Mark Abernathy at Capstar Lending. As someone who audits mortgages for a living, it was refreshing to work with an ethical and experienced professional. At our closing, Mark told us he wants to see his customers in the grocery store, or around town, and for them to be happy to see him, and to be happy with their loan. We were able to refinance to a ten year note, with a rate below 4%, and save ourselves *thousands.* I've recommended Mark to my friends and coworkers. We're very happy customers, and will use Mark and Capstar Lending in the future. read more

Mark Abernathy is the best. He came recommended by a friend, and I am happy to highly recommend him in turn. From our very first meeting, he was open, honest and approachable. He knocked out approval letters on weekends and basically made it his mission to get us in our house. He even encouraged us to seek out quotes from other lenders, but no one was able to match the exceptional rate he got us. Just a joy to work with and help us make sense of a convoluted process. read more

Dorothy was amazing throughout the entire process. She is extremely knowledgeable and made this usually nerve wracking process a breeze. I could not be happier with the level of service we received from Capstar Lending. We were actually referred by a friend and I'm so happy we made the call. Highly recommend Capstar Lending and Dorothy. read more

Capstar Lending is a phenomenal loan company. They helped our family to fund it's very first personal residence in Texas. The process was easy, fast and professional. They were recommended by our agents and we wholeheartedly recommend them to you. Give them a try. They helped us with very unique purchasing and remodeling scenario; and they can help you too. read more

Our realtor recommended Todd Kurio at Capstar, and Todd was wonderful. My wife and I qualified for way more than we were willing to spend on our first home together, and Todd was great at helpful us find a range we were comfortable with, while also factoring in Austin property taxes that will likely only continue to rise. I asked a lot of questions, and Todd always took the time to answer them carefully. He did a number of GFEs for us throughout our housing search process and explained the details of each one. Additionally, as a same-sex couple, my wife and I were a bit worried about the closing process and making sure that we had the right legal documents in place at closing. Todd worked with the title company for us to ensure we had a few extra documents at closing, and he understood the importance of getting those in place for us. We received the keys on the same day as our closing, and we couldn't have been happier with Todd! read more

We closed on our house a few weeks ago and cannot emphasize how amazing Cody and the team at Capstar has been. They are very detailed, organized, and knowledgeable. The best part was that they provided regular updates throughout the entire process, without us even asking. They made the entire process extremely seamless, and we highly recommend them! read more

Dorothy Erminger handled my mortgage back in 2003. She was incredibly helpful getting me lined up financially to qualify for a mortgage and spelled out exactly what I had to do. After my very positive experience with her then, we sent our daughter to her for my daughter's first home buying experience. Dorothy was remarkably responsive and helpful again. She has a LOT of patience and takes the time to make sure you understand the process and procedures for getting a mortgage. I highly recommend Dorothy Erminger for anyone interested in any sort of home financing. read more

I had a wonderful experience using Capstar lending. Nora and Erika got it done for us! They were fast, efficient, and professional throughout the process of purchasing our first home. I will definitely do business with them again in the future. read more

Todd Kurio has helped me with five loans over the past 13 years. He is very responsive and knowledgeable, and I recommend him highly to anyone looking to buy real estate or refinance. read more

At first, everything seemed to be smooth sailing until the week before closing. The Friday before my closing, I called to make sure everything was ready to go and I was told that my mortgage would be going up a "bit" (a bit is $25-50 in my book). Mine ended up going up more than $180 because someone did not pull the correct school tax and they just figured it out. If I had not called, nobody was going to tell me until the closing. My mortgage broker, Todd Kurio, actually had the nerve to blame ME and said that I provided them with the incorrect tax information from MLS. That's really not my job to figure out the tax rolls. That's what they are supposed to do along with the title company. You don't go blaming the buyer. NOT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE. Would I use them again? NO! Do I wish I had done more research? ABSOLUTELY! I feel as if I have been bait and switched. read more

a Realtor friend of ours suggested using Capstar Lending and to start with they were helpful. Then they exposed my personal information in email with no data encryption. Now I'll be paying for their mistakes for life as I nervously monitor my credit because they are not serious about data security. Stay away from Capstar Lending, there are more professional lenders available. read more

Todd Kurio was recommended to me by another realtor (not the one I was working with) and he was so helpful, responsive, and effective at getting the lowest price that I almost switched realtors. Todd generated a number of GFEs for me during my house search, usually within a few minutes of my phone call or email. When I finally found a house I liked, his offer was the best. Finally, Todd has helped me prep so that nothing comes up at the last minute. (I almost never carry debt, I have an independent landlord, and I have an inconsistent job history so I could be deemed a risk.) Highly recommended. read more

I have used Mark Abernathy at Capstar twice to do a home purchase and then a refinance. He is a helpful, dedicated professional and goes the extra mile for his clients. He is also very knowledgeable about the market (especially during last year's market turmoil). The best experience I've ever had with a mortgage broker. Highly recommended. read more

Great service. Very easy to work with. Excellent follow through, and all in a timely fashion. I hope we won't be buying another house any time soon, but if we needed to, I'd work with Todd Kurio again. read more

My husband and I have been using Adam Stephens as our broker for years and will for years to come. I feel very comfortable going to him for advice about all things home buying related. We used him to buy our first home, worked with him on taking advantage of refinancing and we're now working with him on our second home. His knowledge about the many options out there was integral in our decision to buy versus build. Over there years he's always been there to answer the random, pick-your-brain kind of questions we have. We trust Adam completely! read more

Todd Kurio with Capstar Lending went to every length possible to help get us the best possible mortgage loan that perfectly fit our needs. I would use him and recommend him time and again. Five star service indeed! read more

We've used Capstar to refinance a home and also when we decided to build a new home. Both times we worked with Todd Kurio (based upon a coworker's referral). We had an excellent experience each time we used Capstar. Todd and his team do a great job of communicating with you throughout the entire process and work to get the you best rates. They are patient and responsive to questions and will help you get the best rate at the best terms for your needs. Our experience was easy and relatively stress free. Todd even made sure our loan was funded immediately after closing so we could get the keys to our new house ASAP and be on our way. I've referred friends and co-workers to Capstar and wouldn't hesitate to use them for my future mortgage needs. read more

I worked with Mark Abernathy at Capstar to buy my first house and he was perfect. Of the many lenders I evaluated he was by far the easiest to talk to, the most available when I needed to reach him, and he got me the lowest rate. He was very straightforward with explaining the various mortgage loan plans and he helped me find the right loan for me, while some of the other lenders I talked to were clearly trying to push me to take the loan they were trying to sell. Highly, highly recommended. :) read more

This was my second time to use Capstar Lending in the past 3 years...both mortgages went off without a hitch and Dorothy and Erika were great to work with. They were eager to answer any questions and I appreciated their A+ communication. They were always accessible and quick to reply and coach us through any obstacles that came up. They were very professional and I appreciated how thorough and efficient they were throughout the entire process. Thank you for a great experience and helping us get into a great home for our family! read more

Todd Kurio. The only name you need to know if you are looking for a lender for a new mortgage. Todd literally worked every which angle he could to get us a fabulous rate on our first home. He was readily available and very responsive. He helped us close in a short amount of time. I truly recommend Todd to anyone. read more

Mark is absolutely incredible! I worked with him on two purchases in Austin over the past two years. I have a very complicated income and he talked with my employer and made it work. I can't stress enough his friendliness and professionalism. He also worked overtime to get my condo building FHA approved for my loan which he did not have to do. He goes above and beyond. read more

Todd Kurio has helped me with 2 house purchases and 2 refinances. I always feel like I am getting good information from the office in a timely fashion. I would recommend him to anyone in the Austin area! read more

I found Capstar lending on Yelp and these reviews are very accurate. Todd and Tamri was very helpful, knowledgeable and fast-to-response to all my questions on email/call. I was able to act quickly on the house deal because of their helps. Todd was also very pleasant to work with and helped provide information even after the business deal was done. I would definitely work with them again and highly recommend working with them. read more

I worked with Nora Slyter for the purchase of a new home in Austin, TX. She was ALWAYS accessible by phone, text, and e-mail throughout the process. She is very knowledgeable and helped us negotiate a super-low rate of 3.875%. She asked me when I wanted to close and we closed on that date exactly. The upfront closing costs that she predicted inline with what I paid. It was a pleasure to work with her and I would highly recommend her to friends and family. THANK YOU CAPSTAR LENDING! read more

This review is for Mark Abernathy. We just closed on a loan with Mark and he was fabulous. We had an absolutely drama-free and painless experience with him. When talking to our friends and others who have bought a house and also after reading a lot of reviews of people's experiences with lenders online, we were a little worried about the process and all the things that can go wrong in the process. Now that we are done I can tell you that our loan process with Mark was a breeze. We never once had to worry that something isn't going right. He really knows what he is doing and got us the best loan we could have gotten with the best experience in the process. Some specific things we like about Mark: He was very proactive in reaching out to us and letting us know where we are in the process. This ensured that we never had a chance to get worried because we were left in the dark. We got answers from Mark before we even thought about asking them. It was very reassuring for a first time home buyer. He is also very responsive when you reach out to him with questions via email or phone. He always called us back within a few hours if he wasn't available when I called. He was also firm in making sure we know we are getting the best loan terms from him before we proceed with the process. The rates went up a couple weeks before we started the loan process and I wanted to know that I'm getting the best rate from him since I had seen lower rates earlier. He counselled me to call other lenders and ask for their rates and fees to make sure we are happy with what he is offering us. We found out that he was indeed giving us the best deal and it was nice to know that he does not want to push you into agreeing to terms that you are not comfortable with. In fact it is quite the opposite with Mark. I highly recommend him. One thing I want to mention about Capstar in general. I really like how they have invested in technology to get everything done electronically. This makes it much easier and quicker when you don't need to print papers and sign with ink. read more

I have worked with Todd Kurio on 2 refinances and am currently working with him on a construction loan. He is a superstar. If he doesn't answer directly when I call, he always calls me back the same day. My finances are complicated and he has patiently helped me through a variety of snags/hurdles. I have been working with him since 2012 and I will continue to work with him on all my home mortage/refi needs. read more

Gold star for Capstar Lending! We had such a great experience working with Stephanie and Deborah. Their communication and follow-up were hands down the best! They are professional and attentive to your needs. I would definitely use them again - thanks for making the entire process seamless! read more

Capstar Lending has helped us through buying two houses in the last several years. Each time the market had changed significantly, and there were many options that were new to us. They gave us good advice and good rates compared to other companies. Our son is also buying a house and he also selected Capstar as the best company for him. read more

I worked with Todd Kurio to do a re-finance on my house. I quickly learned that not all lenders are created equal. My first experience buying a home with a different lender in Dallas was not a good one. I was nervous about doing a re-fi, but I was referred to Todd by a family member, so I gave him a call. Todd is so very knowledgeable. He was very patient and worked with me to understand all my financing options. Overall, Capstar had great rates and Todd and his team were wonderful to work with. I have already recommended Todd to family and friends. read more

We worked with Todd Kurio to refinance a home loan and finance our loan for another home purchase. Not only is Todd very knowledgeable, but he takes the time to explain the process to you. This was not our first home purchase but Todd was the first person to explain various aspects of home financing to us. Any time we had a question, Todd and his team responded quickly. I have referred Todd to various friends and will continue to do so. read more

I'm breaking my Yelp silence to write a review for Todd Kurio and Capstar Lending. In most cases, buying a house is one of the most stressful experiences in a person's life. It was no different for me, a first time home buyer. But in a world where scary inspections and contentious negotiations made life extremely difficult, Todd and his team made my mortgage process extremely simple and stress-free. Delays in the process on the contract end made my closing date extremely tight, but Todd and team worked tirelessly and late in the evening to ensure that everything went through on my timeline. I was so pleased with how easy Todd made it and would recommend him to anyone. read more

This company royally screwed me out of a home loan. After I received an "approval" from the broker, Mike Robertson, he kept coming back telling me "oops I was wrong". Mike Robertson was unresponsive and repeatedly verbally promised us we'd be fine getting a home loan. And then when I found another broker and asked him to transfer my file, he had the underwriter write negative comments about my declined loan, which ultimately inhibited me from getting approved through another lender. He was dishonest and extremely difficult to work with and the entire process with this company was horrific. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! read more