I've used Carlson Mortgage's services several times over the years - both for my original purchase and for the refinance to a 15-year loan when interest rates fell. Both times, their loan officers were able to guide me through the mortgage process (that seems to get more convoluted with each passing year!) very smoothly. Both mortgage loan officers that I've dealt with were really nice guys - honest and intelligent, very different from 'high-pressure-sales pushy banker' types that come to mind when you think of mortgage brokers. I would like to especially note how technology-friendly the company is. I filled out my loan application online, received a detailed closing worksheet and a signed rate-lock confirmation within 24 hours. I was able to sign my paperwork electronically from my work computer. They even created a secure online folder for me to upload my income and asset documents. And, as other reviewers mentioned, their mortgage rates were lower than local banks'. I bank with US Bank and Bank of America and their quotes were easily beat by Carlson (both on the underwriting and loan application fees that Carlson didn't even charge and on the interest rate which was significantly lower). read more

I would recommend Carlson Mortgage without any reservations! I had a truly amazing experience with them, when I moved to St. Louis from out of town. Early on, they helped me calculate how much house I could afford when moving to St. Louis area. The loan officer spent countless hours (even after business hours) walking me through the process and answering every stupid question that I had (yes, some questions can be stupid). They were very straightforward and I appreciated the advise and honest communication. It took me a few months to find my dream home and over this time, the loan officer even advised me on how to improve my credit. As a result, my credit went up 50 points and I received much lower interest rate and better loan terms that initially anticipated. We were even able to close a few days before my contractual closing date and save me an extra month of rent payments! My realtor commented that Carlson Mortgage was one of the best lenders that she's worked with in 20+ years. I couldn't imagine my mortgage experience without them. Thank you so much, I will definitely work with you again on future purchases or if the rates fall enough for me to benefit from a refinance!! read more

I cannot help but praise Alex Gorodinsky and his team for their attention and counsel, and for making my dream come true. I purchased a new home a few months ago and obtained my mortgage financing through Carlson Mortgage. I found them by doing a Google search and choosing the company based on their amazing online reviews. My experience with them was highly positive and definitely exceeded my expectations. The loan officer Alex was very thorough, reliable, and honest and walked me through every step involved with buying a home. He was always available to answer all of my questions and made my life incredibly easier and less stressful during the whole process. The mortgage processor Greg, who was assigned to my file, was also very caring and helpful and assisted me with all the necessary paperwork. I got a very good interest rate, my deal closed on time and I am very grateful that I found Carlson Mortgage to help me with my loan approval. Alex and Greg were very professional, pleasant and responsive. I highly recommend them! read more

I found Carlson Mortgage online when searching for local mortgage brokers. They popped up as number one on the list for Missouri and now I know why. I was working with another bank and wanted a 'second opinion'. The loan officer that I dealt with was very personable and took his time to educate me, going beyond my expectations. He analyzed the loan estimate from the other bank and his quote had a slightly lower interest rate and $800 less in fees. Unfortunately, an appraisal was already ordered by the other lender, so I was too far in the process to switch. Even then, the loan officer stayed in touch to help me navigate the process with the other lender, all the way until closing, to ensure that my home buying experience is stress-free! I will use him from now on for my future home endeavors and will refer everyone purchasing a home to them. If you are looking for professional honest loan officers, Carlson Mortgage would be the place to go! read more

As a real estate agent and investor, I work with a lot of lenders on a daily basis, but Alex has always been the most helpful and reliable of all. I recommend him to all of my buyers with 100% confidence that they will not only get the best rates in town, but also the best customer service and personal attention they could ask for. He manages every time to put my clients, and especially my first-time home buyers, at ease by patiently guiding them through the whole lending process step by step, thoroughly explaining every aspect of it. Being in the real estate field, good communication is really important to me, so working with Alex is a natural choice for me, for he makes his clients a priority at any hour of the day and I can always count on him to answer my questions promptly, diligently, and thoroughly. read more

We've worked with Carlson Mortgage on several occasions - twice for a purchase and once for a refinance. Besides having the lowest rates EVER (and we got quite a few quotes the very first time), their loan officers are always available to answer any questions that we have and do so patiently and promptly. We've never had to pay any lender fees or points and they don't outsource their processing, so there was not a processing fee involved. All of our transactions closed within 30 days and one of the refinances actually closed in about 20 days. Also, one of the purchases was done with us being out of state. We were able to sign everything electronically and do a power-of-attorney closing, without even having to fly to Missouri. They are the company that we can always trust and they have our business for life. read more

We just closed on our first house and I'm so happy that we chose Carlson Mortgage to facilitate our loan. Alex and Greg were just fantastic partners to work with from pre-approval through closing. They were very organized and communicative, staying in close touch with us and helping us keep on top of all the paperwork and deadlines. Their approach made a very complicated process into one that was low-stress and straightforward to complete. I asked a ton of questions along the way and they were super responsive and provided clear explanations, so I never felt like I was in the dark. In addition to the excellent service, we got as good of a rate with them as we could find anywhere while saving on many of the costs that other places get you on, so we had a great experience all around. Highly recommended! read more

I was looking to purchase a property in another state. I contacted this loan officer based on my friends' recommendation and after doing my due diligence. I was told that Carlson Mortgage was the cheapest and didn't charge any fees. Alex Gorodinsky informed me that they were only licensed in Missouri and weren't licensed in the state where I was looking. Even despite the fact that he wouldn't be able to do my loan and earn a commission, he gave me a very thorough overview of what's involved in the mortgage process, what questions to ask when searching for a lender in Florida and how to structure the transaction in the most beneficial way for me. I was impressed by Alex's dedication to clients and professionalism and would use him and his company in an instant if I ever need a loan in Missouri. read more

We are extremely grateful to Alex Gorodinsky for helping us get a loan. He came strongly recommended by several friends who worked with him before. I was very impressed with the level of professionalism, acessibility, responsiveness, and amazing customer service. We knew nothing about the nuances of getting financing for a condo, and Alex took a lot of time to educate us and help us choose the best option. He made a very complicated process easy, and was always available to help. I especially would like to compliment his level of expertise and knowledge of the industry. Working with Carlson Mortgage was such a welcome change from our previous experience in dealing with a large, unresponsive and impersonal provider. Alex Gorodinsky was instrumental in us closing on our dream home. read more

​My husband and I have done a few refinances in the past, but this one was, by far, the smoothest one. The team at Carlson Mortgage, led by Alex Gorodinsky, was very knowledgeable and professional. They made sure that we understood everything, responded quickly and promptly answered all questions that we had. True to its reputation, the company offered us the lowest rate that we could find on the market, didn't charge us any fees and covered all of our closing costs by​ a sizable​ lender credit, ​making it a true no-closing-cost refinance. We chose our closing date and time and Alex attended the closing to make sure that everything ​went smoothly. The service was excellent and we would recommend Carlson Mortgage to anyone who is in the market for a mortgage. read more

Alex Gorodinsky was able to offer me a significantly lower interest rate than the lender that I was using before. I did try to go back to my old lender and have them match the interest rate and was explained that it wasn't possible to offer the rate that Alex was offering since such rates didn't exist and that it would be a 'bait and switch' with a closing that would never take place. This was definitely not the case, my transaction was smooth, the interest rate was honored, the closing was timely and everything was perfect in every way. I am glad that I worked with Alex and his company because I was able to save a lot of money. I have already referred my coworker to them and he had an equally pleasant experience. read more

Alex has helped me to buy my first investment duplex. The deal was very difficult and was very close to fall apart couple of times. Alex worked hard and in cooperation with my RE agent to do their best to make it happen. He is very responsive, has never missed a deadline, very responsible, easy to get in touch with and very knowledgeable! Alex was also very patient to wait for me to become ready to buy a house. He was always available to answer to my questions for more than a year. As a result I can say that I do trust him, I do consider him a valuable member of my investment team, and last but not least, I highly recommend his services to any one who is looking for skills, knowledge and mutual trust ! read more

Do not look any further--we did the homework, made the call to Carlson Mortgage and closed on our refinance today. Alex Gorodinsky, the managing partner handled the entire process for us; From our first phone call to our hand shake after closing the entire process was almost stress free; Alex found us a great rate and negotiated a great deal for us with the lender; Although we did not meet Alex until our closing, from the first phone call through countless e mails and texts we realized we were dealing with knowledgeable and honest people. We don't remember describing any of our prior mortgage brokers with terms like "Honesty" and "Integrity"; Thanks again Alex and Carlson Mortgage! Pam and Al C. read more

Our customers have used Alex Gorodinsky at least 5 times in the past couple of years & have had super smooth closings each & every time. Being a good mortgage broker isn't just about "the rate" (although that's obviously important)--it's about being there to manage the process, help with the stress of buying a house (yes! it's stressful!) & being there to solve problems when they arise (because they always do!). I've felt comfortable knowing Alex was in charge of all of these things. Unlike large banks or huge mortgage companies, my clients aren't assigned a loan number & an 800 number to call when they needed something. A local mortgage broker is the way to go! I highly recommend Alex! read more

I called Alex when shopping around for the best interest rate offer to purchase my new home. When we spoke for the first time, I immediately got the impression that he was very professional and cared for his clients. He took the time to learn every detail about my situation and to find the right product for my needs. Alex took my phone calls on weekends and well after normal business hours to answer my questions. Furthermore, his company's interest rate was 0.25% lower than my lowest quote and he has no points or broker fees, not even a processing fee. I would not hesitate to contact Alex and his team again in the future or to refer him to a friend, should the need arise. read more

I am a real estate agent and I've referred about 20-30 people to Carlson Mortgage over the years. They are an outstanding company to work with. Alex and his team ensure that every client gets personalized attention, a low interest rate and a good explanation of the loan process. They are very responsive and always call back promptly, which is rare to find today. Even with the most difficult deals, they stay on top of everything and are a good fit for repeat seasoned buyers and for inexperienced first time home buyers alike. I also appreciate it that the loan officer always makes time to come to closing. I cannot recommend them enough! read more

I had the privilege of knowing and working with Alex and Greg when I were a first-time home buyer. They are the top-notch mortgage brokers, and they are very knowledgeable. They dedicated, and you can depend on them to find the best mortgage loan deal no matter your ages, background, and abilities. My case was a little bit complicated because my green card was expired while I was waiting for USCIS sending me a new unexpired card. Most lenders kept shaking their heads while Alex gave it a shot and he made it! You will be well taken care of by Alex and Greg, as they are extremely professional. I would highly recommend Carlson Mortage. read more

It's been fantastic working with Carlson Mortgage! From start to finish Alex and Greg were an absolute pleasure to work with. The communication was amazing. Great professional staff. Fast processing of all documents. Being informed every step of the way. The Carlson Mortgage team brings a deep knowledge of all things mortgage rates and housing market. We were always pleased to be on the phone or communicating with them over email. They went above and beyond to help us get the best loan possible. They dealt with all our questions, explained everything, and gave us the best advice. I will definitely refer them to anyone I know! read more

Carlson Mortgage is awesome! I found them online, after doing a lot of research after I didn't get a very good response from my bank and wasn't happy with the interest rate quoted. Being a first time home buyer, I had a lot of questions. Alex and Greg did a fantastic job in providing a timely preapproval letter to my realtor and in thoroughly educating me to make sure that I fully understand the mortgage process. I really felt comfortable working with them and the experience was smooth from start to finish. Not mention that I also got an incredible rate. I am a happy client and am offering a strong recommendation! read more