Ryan Mecum and his team from Guaranteed Rate were recommended by Lynn Reidl from Dreamtown Realty. I was seeking a jumbo purchase, and had numerous complexities in my financial picture (recent conversion to partner in my firm, a previous credit issue, and retaining my current home as a rental). When Ryan and I met, he asked me to communicate my needs and perceived challenges. We formulated a plan together, and the execution and service was off the charts! On top of the amazing experience in purchasing my new home, Ryan and his team assisted me with direction on other wise financial actions (and introduced me to an amazing wealth manager). Thank you to Ryan's team - Jason, Pam, Patti, and all the others who made the process seem easy. I have already referred Ryan to coworkers, and will continue to recommend him and his team to everyone I know. Thanks Ryan!! read more

Guaranteed Rate was recommend as a possible Mortgage lender by my Broker. My own bank's Mortgage Broker was slow to respond and kept forgetting who I was. From the moment I spoke with Ryan Mecum, at Guaranteed Rate, I felt I was in good hands. He was warm and friendly and outlined very clearly how his company worked. When I got off the phone I felt that I was definitely with the right lender. In the days that followed his staff monitored the many details the process involves. They patiently walked me through the documents that had to be submitted, reviewed or signed. Jason, who was assigned to my file, became my guardian angel, watching over my file with a keen eye and calling me almost daily to review what had been done and what had yet to be done. He always first greeted me warmly and then got down to business. The DocuSign system that this company uses is a streamlined program that takes you step by step through the actions that must be completed. The electronic signature moves through each page and stops where an initial or signature is required. When the key is pressed your signature or initials are recorded on the document and the paperwork is completed in a matter of minutes. One time when I was asked to submit my Social Security card I erroneously submitted my Medicare card instead. Twice more I was asked to submit my Social Security card and wondered what was wrong with their equipment until Patti wrote me a tactful email indicating my repeated error. I called her after finally sending the correct document and apologized. She was so warm and understanding that my embarrassment (I am a senior) disappeared. She also bent over backwards to assist me with passwords and security codes. Whenever I hit a wall because I was confused I always relied on my angel, Jason, who could hear my frustration and would sooth me with kind words and explanations. Once, I became alarmed at a document that seemed to be filled with financial errors. I left Jason a message of anger and suspicion. As usual he responded rapidly and in his calm and friendly manner explained in clear language without talking down to me what the figures were and what they meant. I was relieved, my stress level dropped and I was at peace with the world once again. I laughed at myself when I recounted this experience to a friend who reminded me that I had told her how Jason was always able to assist me when anxiety appeared to be stalking me around every corner. When Jason was on some days off with his family Jim, his coworker, responded to my plea for help as quickly as Jason would have done. He was delightfully personable and I felt like we had known each other for years from his friendly manner. He picked up where Jason had left off and was able to respond to my questions and concerns the same day reassuring me that my loan eligibility for my dream condo was indeed possible. Pam and Michael also assisted me with consideration and kindness with their part of the process when I ran into bumps. I never once encountered anyone there who caused me to feel awkward or slow. Much the opposite I had the impression that at their team meetings they were determined to guide me gently through what can be an overwhelming and challenging process. To summarize, the team of employees at Guaranteed Rate is, in my opinion, first rate. Under the leadership of Ryan Mecum they emulate his personalized caring and dedicated style. To a person, they share his commitment to doing a quality job, in a clear, expert and efficient manner. They understand that they may sometimes be dealing with a confused, befuddled, elderly and overwhelmed person who can easily get lost in this process. What is most clear is that they individualize their clients and want to support and champion their dreams. Thank you folks for making my dream come true. It would not have happened without your dedication and earnest efforts on my behalf. read more

My wife and I were referred to Ryan and Jim by our real estate agent. We needed a quick turnaround on a preapproval letter last summer when the market was really hot; it was a Saturday and we had just seen a place that we absolutely loved. As luck would have it these guys turned out to be fantastic throughout the whole process; from that very first Saturday through the closing on our new home (and no, it wasn't the one that we saw that Saturday... it's even better!). Ryan and the team were very helpful walking us through the whole process, especially since things had changed so much since we bought our last property. We felt appreciated as clients and respected as individuals, we weren't just another name on their lists. In fact we had such a great experience that we even used them for the refinance on our condo as we turned it into an rental \ investment property. I'll definitely recommend this group to anyone in the Chicago area! read more

We would, without hesitation, recommend Ryan Mecum and his team to anyone looking to purchase a home. Very early on in the process we had our doubts, as we had spoken with numerous lenders over a 9 month period. None of them were able to approve us for the amount we needed due to the fact that we owned another property which we intended to rent. While other brokers reviewed our financials and said "no", Ryan reviewed our financials and said, "Okay, here is where we're going to start...." He made great recommendations on actions we could take to decrease our debt to income ratio, and set us up for success from the very beginning. When it came to things beyond his realm, Ryan provided us with excellent references who were able to offer us better rates than we had found ourselves when it came to things such as auto, insurance, etc. During the purchase process he maintained a phenomenal working relationship with all parties involved, with the perfect mix of friendliness and professionalism. Ryan always kept us informed and didn't complicate things with industry jargon and fluff, but rather took the time to explain each process in a way someone outside of the industry could easily understand. Furthermore, on the rare occasion that Ryan was unavailable, his team was able to pickup right where he had left off without missing a beat. He has a can-do attitude and brings a remarkable sense of calm to situations that would otherwise be stressful. Ryan truly was able to make our dream of owning a home a reality and we cannot thank him enough! read more

If you are looking for a mortgage I could not possibly give a better recommendation than Ryan Mecum @Guaranteed Rate. He got me an outstanding rate last year and made the process very clear and painless. He also took the time to listen to my current financial situation and gave some sage advice. read more

I work with Ryan because he is the most knowledgeable lender that I have done business with. When we talk, he councils and walks me through the lending process from start to finish - clearly discussing every option and its implications - making it easy to make a decision. The most valuable thing about working with Ryan is that he puts me in touch with lending products that increase my financial flexibility, which ties in to his high level of knowledge that I mentioned in the opening remark. He is highly recommended if you are looking for a lender that will guide you through the oftentimes-complex mortgage process. read more

In my opinion, there are three things that are absolutely required for a successful mortgage transaction - honesty, accuracy, and communication. These requirements aren't just exclusive to the lender, but the borrower also needs to participate in order to create a seamless transaction with no surprises. I was led to Ryan and his team following another mortgage experience that I have no doubt would have been a disaster had I followed through with it. The only good thing that came from the first lender was the fact that I developed a pretty strong "consumer-level" knowledge of the conventional mortgage process after feeling compelled to research as much as I could to avoid disaster. After a month of getting limited (if any response) to questions and developing a complete lack of confidence in the process, it was time to find a new lender who could lead this major purchase. Enter Ryan Mecum and Guaranteed Rate. From our first conversation, I knew I was in good hands. Ryan outlined the process with his team, set the expectations and committed to a seamless closing. Throughout the application, processing, underwriting, and coordination process, every person I came in contact with (whether it was Ryan, Jason, Pam, Julia or Nicole) honored their commitments to us. When I was told a document was coming, it arrived. When I was promised a call back, it came, right on time. No matter who I was dealing with in the process, the "hand off" to the next team member was discussed ahead of time so I always knew where I was at and who was handling the next phase. Couple this with Guaranteed Rate's digital mortgage platform and TransferSafe document portal and you have a mortgage system that completely exceeds expectations. There is no limit to my recommendation of Ryan and his team. I'm confident that these folks possess the honesty, accuracy and communication skills to successfully assess any mortgage situation. If you come to the table with a baseline borrower knowledge, your experience will be even better. I can't see myself looking anywhere else the next time I want to purchase a home. read more

I rarely ever write a Yelp review but when I receive exceptional service I feel I must recognize this for others to know! Ryan Mecum's team did an amazing job on processing my loan and closing with multiple changes to the closing date which required rushes on their end. Jason Micek, Pam Pecora, Sandra Loew, Dianne, and the entire team just did a great job of communicating and executing! It's everything you want from a mortgage lender to help make this major life milestone that much easier! Thank you Ryan and team for all of your hard work!! read more

Ryan and his team are fantastic. Purchasing a home and obtaining the optimal mortgage is complex. You need a rock star team like Ryan Mecum's. The communication was excellent. I was never scrambling at the last minute to find / submit documents. There were no scary surprises because Ryan anticipated everything that could go wrong and made sure we took the necessary steps to avoid problems. I asked a lot of questions during the process and my calls / emails were ALWAYS returned/ answered promptly. I had a very bad experience with a different mortgage company and I was very leery and suspicious at the beginning of the process. Ryan and his team earned my trust and I would highly recommend working with them. They were so efficient I was able to simultaneously find a new job, plan a wedding and get married. Christine read more

Jason Micek and Ryan Mecum were terrific! Jason was available to answer my many questions and was always very friendly and comforting. I am in the finance industry (brokerage firm) so I completely understand how challenging compliance requirements can be, but the team was well organized and had all paperwork in order for a swift and clean closing. I reached out to at least 15 lenders including our own bank that we have been doing business with since 1997, and I received incorrect and/or conflicting information on almost every question. Our "retail" bank (very well-known bank) was absolutely the worst. I researched for months which mortgage company I could count on, and on a whim, I thought I would check out Guaranteed Rate. Very few mortgage companies offer a fixed rate jumbo loan at a reasonable interest, but Guaranteed Rate not only offered them, but it was a very good rate. Guaranteed Rate was by far the best in terms of products, service, and knowledge. I have already recommended you to several colleagues. My husband and I are truly appreciative of the stellar work performed by Ryan and his team. Thank you again! read more

Over and over again Ryan manages to exceed my expectations! In the past 4 years Ryan helped me and my family purchase 3 multi unit properties. So far Ryan and his team helped me with a 203k loan, a 15% down payment owner occupied property, an investment property and 2 refinances. I work in the finance industry and I can tell you that none of my files were easy. Ryan is a true expert, a mountain of knowledge, an advisor and a closer - A true "Mortgage Magician"! Over the years Ryan became more than just our mortgage expert, he became part of the family. He cares and always goes above and beyond for his clients. Thank you my friend - the Maticiucs (Owen, Wyatt, Dina and Catalin) read more

What a fantastic team! These guys really know what they are doing and can get it done without hiccups - flawless. I recommend using Ryan and Jim to a majority of our clients because they are such a breeze to work with and I can trust that they will get the deal closed and keep the client informed throughout the process. They are always a pleasure and are just an all-around great team. Thanks guys! read more

Ryan and his team at Wintrust did a great job from start to finish helping me with financial advising and closing on my first home. Ryan is a pro and gets the job done. He is professional and communicative (which is great for a first time home buyer who does not know the process). I could not recommend him more! read more

After several months of getting subpar participation from previous lenders, we were fortunate to find Ryan Mecum and his team. They were able to look at each potential real estate transaction as a unique encounter and provide different avenues to ultimately get my family and me into our home. Ingeniously looking at individual situations and meticulously following through with what is promised is their standard. There is a profound understanding of jumbo loans and we do not hesitate to recommend Ryan and his team. read more

Simply put, Ryan, Jim and their team are the best in the business. I just refinanced with them after doing my previous mortgage with them when they were at Wintrust. Their move to Guaranteed Rate gave them access to better technology and a wider array of products to offer their clients. They addressed everything I was trying to accomplish through my refi and made it very painless. There is no one else you should talk to in the Chicagoland market!!! read more

I can't say enough good things about Ryan and his team. Incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, trustworthy and down right friendly. We had a last minute unexpected denial on our 2nd mortgage and he came through and found a solution and made it happen. We closed on time! Above and beyond is the best way to describe this guy. Just plain great. read more

As you can see in the other reviews, Ryan and his team are incredible. The best way I know how to say it is that you never question whether they are on your team or just trying to make money. I purchased my first home last June and my realtor recommended I talk with Ryan. He laid out the options in any easy to understand and no pressure manner. Helping me make the right decision was much more important than the commission he could get from structuring the loan in favorable ways for his team. We did a 203k rehabilitation loan and I have no doubt that it worked so well in large part due to his team. They helped with logistical issues, provided input on what to look for with contractors, and guided me to make smart financial decisions. The end result has been a great home and an extremely satisfied customer. Since everyone has been so positive I will say the worst part of everything in my opinion - Ryan is a busy man. Everyone loves him and his team so he always has a lot going on. Yet, I never felt de-prioritized and he always got back to me in a timely manner. I am impressed at the way he juggles it all and have no other complaints. I have recommended Ryan to friends and will definitely work with him in the future. It is rare you find someone in this business who has the integrity and can-do mentality that we found here. read more

Called Ryan and he gave us the best advice while on vacation. He is a very considerate human being

Worst Mortgage experience ever, Ryan and his team provided no value and nearly lost us our new home. The executives at Rate should take a serious look at his morals and how he treats customers. He blamed and made excuses on Jr Sales people that provided multiple preapproval letters that were false and inaccurate. Once it was determined that the information was incorrect they provided another preapproval letter. I was left with no option then to stick with this company, all Ryan wanted to do was to go to litigation against the seller. He stated numerous times that Rate would be ready to close only to be incredibly late each time and on top of that they said they submitted the incorrect paper work for closing. If he tells you to "Execute" I would recommend ending service with Rate and move to another lender as quickly as possible. read more

Ryan's team was very professional and dedicated to making sure that my application and underwriting process went as smoothly as possible. As a first time homebuyer, there were a lot of things I was unaware of, but Ryan, and particularly Jason, made sure that all of my questions were answered and concerns addressed. We also applied for a first time homebuyer tax program which was a gigantic pain in the you-know-what, but Ryan's team helped me jump through the hoops (believe me, there were plenty) to ensure that I would get this important tax credit. Thanks Ryan, Eric, Jason, Pam and all! read more

We used Ryan Mecum with Guaranteed Rate for our condo mortgage and the experience was as good as it gets!! First we did a lot of research trying to get the best rate and Ryan got us the lowest rate possible. We ended up getting a jumbo mortgage. Ryan and his team were on top of everything and held our hands throughout the entire process. Most of the work is done online and could not be easier or faster. Ryan and his team were always available - day or night- for any needs, questions, or concerns. Jason was also amazing at helping us navigate the entire process. I completely endorse Ryan and his team at Guaranteed Rate. You can stop looking. Ryan and his team will provide you with the absolute lowest rate and above and beyond customer service. read more

Ryan and his team at Guaranteed Rate were extremely helpful and professional throughout the entire refinance process for the mortgage on my townhome. This was my first refinance and everything was new to me. Ryan and his team at Guaranteed Rate were patient and took the time to educate me along the way. They stayed on top of things throughout the duration of the refinancing process and made sure things were always moving forward. In the end, they saved me a ton of money and provided me with the best rate offered by anyone. It was an extremely positive experience. Without question, I would recommend Ryan and his team to any of my family or friends looking for help with their mortgage. They were absolute rock stars! read more

What can I say!? This has by far been the best experience we have ever had in securing a loan for our new home. It was a tough situation and had already spoken to other lenders but Ryan Mecum and team (Jim Huffman) got the job done!!!! My husband was going to be making a job transfer from Chicago to LA where the housing market is three times as expensive. This would require a jumbo loan for us. We were looking into new construction and jumbo loans means stricter requirements. Our situation seemed nearly impossible and we had been turned away by the builders own lenders, some of them laughing us off and not taking us seriously. They made us feel hopeless. Personally, after working with Jim and Ryan, we realized the other lenders were just inexperienced in dealing with these types of job transfer situations. Ryan's team handled things like pros. They were professional every step of the way handling all of our questions, securely managing all our documentation, and when our loan entered into the final stages, our processor Nicole worked with the builders escrow title company to ensure a smooth closing. Our builder definitely put them through it with delay after delay, no communication and being unresponsive. But the Mecum team worked relentlessly to bring it to close for us!!! The superb communication from the top to the bottom for SEVEN MONTHS while our house was being built was amazing and you simply don't see that amount of dedication and customer service anywhere today, but especially in this industry. We are enjoying our new home in sunny California and are forever grateful. We will be singing their praises and referring anyone we can think of!! read more

I cannot even put into words how amazing Ryan and his entire team was throughout the process of purchasing my home. I went to them after a lender that I had been working with for almost two months stopped responding 2 days prior to the scheduled deal closing. I spoke with John Berger for the first time on December 20, 2017 and the team worked tirelessly - even on Christmas day to have me ready to close on December 29, 2017. Every person on the team that touched my deal was extremely helpful, pleasant and displayed a sincere concern for wanting to do everything possible in order to get me into my next home. I am truly grateful for all of the hard work and long hours that they put in to make this dream a reality for me. I would recommend Guaranteed Rate to anyone that is looking for a lender and they will definitely be my first phone call whenever I get ready to purchase another home. read more

Ryan is the best!! He closed me in 3 weeks and was able to save me over $4500 on closing costs and other miscellaneous fees. I have and will continue to refer him business. read more

This team is great... Being self employed, and only a little over a month till the agreed closing date, they got everything processed right on target and got me a mortgage on a property that a bank wouldn't touch. Have your paperwork ready and they'll take care of the rest. I would definitely recommend Wintrust and would not hesitate to call them again in the future. read more

Thanks so much for your help Ryan. I really appreciate it. And it is really awesome to a truly good person like being at the top of the industry. read more

Ryan Mecum and his team are outstanding! I've gotten mortgages/refinancings multiple times before and every single time it was a nightmare. Hundreds of kilograms of documents. I would have to gather tons of documents and get them to my lender, then I would not hear from them for weeks and when I would follow up they would tell me that all the docs that I have provided have become outdated and I would need to get new docs! Obtaining a mortgage was always a pain in the ass ... UNTIL a friend of mine referred me to Ryan Mecum! Oh man, it was a breeze! I refinanced a huge 3 flat house in an effy neighborhood. It was a quite complicated refi, but Ryan's team made it a breeze. They walked me through every single step of the process, patiently answered all my dumb questions. It was very very easy and we were able to close super quick! They were able to accommodate my busy schedule and schedule the closing at my house at 8pm! (how awesome!) Plus I saved tons of money on the title agency that they recommended. They are truly the best read more

While the category is mortgage broker, what Ryan provided to our family was more like mortgage strategy and execution. Long before the papers started flying with the mortgage review process, Ryan walked us through an analysis of what our family could afford, how we might prepare ourselves for the easiest possible process, and he even introduced us to an awesome agent, lawyer, etc......He was a one-stop shop for helping us navigate this stressful and confusing first home purchase so that we felt in-control, safe, and knowledgeable about what was happening and why. Ryan picked up his phone at 8:00 am and at 8:00 pm, his responsiveness was extraordinary and that made all the difference. We have already referred several friends to Ryan and they always come back with a big thank you. Do yourself a favor, in an industry full of fly-by-nights, Ryan is an honest, sophisticated, accessible advisor who genuinely helps make this complicated process as simple as possible. read more