I know, I know, it's tough to credit all 5-star reviews, but at least in my case, it is absolutely true and I couldn't see giving any less. Jim Hoge at Seattle Mortgage Planners just did an amazing job for us in getting our house refinanced, which was an obsession for me over the past three years. I'm a lawyer, and I've been a serial refinancer, but I also had a hard-to-compare house that was essentially underwater, so I was basically a broker's worst nightmare. Nonetheless, Jim was extremely always patient with my calls and questions and great about keeping in touch on his own, and in fact was always a real pleasure to chat with. Even more importantly, he stuck with me over nearly two years of ups and downs due to the market conditions and my own situation. In the end though, he was able to get us just the right loan at just the right time, where other brokers hadn't been able to. Once the time was right, Jim got it moving efficiently and quickly and he was always calm despite some curveballs right before closing. I should also add that I came to Jim also through Internet searching and was initially skeptical that the person in the Google ads and the website pictures was actually on the other end, but he really is and knows his stuff. I chose Jim because I wanted someone who was actually local after I tried to use an online mortgage matchup service that put me with an out-of-state broker that didn't know our market. Jim knows the Seattle market extremely well, especially my own quirky neighborhood (Q.A.), and that local knowledge really made the difference in key spots. I would never hesitate to use Jim again, but for the fact I think I now have a loan good enough to keep through the full term! If I ever do need another one, though, Jim will be the first person I call. I can't recommend him enough. read more

We simply can't believe how easy and stress-free a refinance is with Jim Hoge and his team! Best loan experience ever. This is our second refinance with Jim, but it won't be our last. Jim and his team are beyond organized and helpful. It took minimal effort and time on our part to provide them what they needed to get the job done. That's what happens when you work with consummate professionals! Honestly, we cannot recommend them highly enough. read more

Jim worked with us for almost a year before we found "the house", you see, we had this idea of a budget we needed to stay within and the type of mortgage we wanted to get for months we wen't back and forth with Jim. He was writing many pre-approval letters for properties we were not destined to have. All of our paperwork was in order and we had resigned to just sit and wait, and then, as I said, we found "the house". Can we close in 27 days? Oh man, Jim is going to kill us!, yes sure, write it for 27 days if it's going to get the house...oh and by the way let's stretch our budget beyond what we initially wanted to spend, it's "the house" after all! Jim took *everything* we threw at him in stride, answering questions within minutes, long phone calls on weekends, in the evenings, anticipating tiny things the underwriters might need, working his tail off. I have to say I do no think that we could have closed on time with anyone else, I've never worked with someone so competent and knowledgeable, patient, friendly and responsive. I'm sorry that we did have to make him turn on a dime. But he'll forever have my gratitude for making "the house" happen - especially in this market! read more

Seattle Mortgage Planners handled my refinance (on an existing home) and a 2nd home purchase for me in 2012. The service they provide is the best I have experienced and I have been refinancing pretty consistently as rates go down. Jim is so customer focused. Organized and thorough, I never had to think of a thing. Unlike other brokers, he comes to you. He also watched rates and gave me a heads up when it was the best time to lock (and it was - my rates are still close to the lowest). Highly recommend. read more

My family and I have nothing but great things to say about Jim. He made our entire home buying process simple and painless! He is extremely professional and very knowledgeable in the business. Throughout the loan process, he regularly kept me updated and was always available to answer any questions. I would recommend Jim to anyone! read more

I've dealt with a handful of mortgage brokers and firms and Jim and Kevin were far and above the easiest and most professional I've dealt with. Jim is transparent and willing to work hard to gain your business even when pitted up against a very competitive offer as was our case with a new build. I couldn't recommend SMP more! read more

We chose Jim Hoge and his team via Yelp after reviewing lots of reviews, and we're super pleased that we did. This is actually the second time I've gotten a new mortgage, and this experience is by far smoother and easier despite being more complicated than my first loan. In addition to how knowledgeable and thorough Jim and his team were, a big draw for me when choosing brokers was the fact that they had a fully electronic system that made submitting/signing/tracking the majority of documents so easy. That doesn't mean they were hands off though - Jim and his team were responsive to our questions and requests even over Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays (within a couple hours). Jim also proactively drove over to our escrow signing (with cookies too) in order to ensure the final recon handled the complex terms properly--it was a good thing he did, because escrow didn't get it right, so it saved us a lot of time and headache! We highly recommend Jim and his team! read more

I feel like I can't say enough good about Jim Hoge and his team. From our first conversation with Jim I knew he would be a good fit. I feel like in the Seattle buyers market it negative, it's super competitive, everyone has a huge down payment, there are 40,000 offers on every house. It can be very daunting especially because we had never bought a house in the area and my husband had never purchased a home before at all! Jim did an excellent job of calming any concerns we had, answering our millions of questions, and giving us a lot of options to choose from when thinking about how we wanted to structure our loan. He also went the extra mile and right before we submitted our offer he reached out to the other realtor to let them know we were pre-approved and there were no concerns about the deal falling through because of financing. I am convinced that was one of the things that helped us get our home. The loan process itself was also incredibly smooth. The ability to submit all of our documentation online and email with any questions we had was incredible. It went much more quickly than I was expecting and really the paperwork side of things wasn't a big deal at all. I would highly recomment Jim and his team to first home buyers or anyone trying to "get an edge" in this competitive market. read more

We went with Jim Hoge and his team when we first bought our house four years ago - and they were so awesome that we didn't even consider anyone else when we needed to refinance. We weren't an easy case, and the paperwork involved was nothing short of miserable - but Jim and Melissa made this process as simple and human as they could and we can't thank them enough for their help. read more

Three years ago, I said Jim Hoge at Seattle Mortgage Planners is absolutely the best mortgage broker I have ever worked with. And now after working with him on numerous purchases and refinances? Jim is still the best! Jim is highly knowledgeable, the utmost professional, and extremely good communicator. Any issues that come up during a transaction? No problem. Jim handles it like a pro. And Seattle Mortgage Planners is a subsidiary of RPM Mortgage so you are going to a direct lender. The loan underwriters and Jim are in the same building. This is a huge advantage over other mortgage brokers as this makes a fast close possible and could be a deciding factor in a multi-bid situation. The in-house rates are very competitive but Jim works with other lenders as well so he has the best of both in-house and multiple lender mortgages. He just got me an unreal rate on my latest refi with an outside lender. I continue to be super impressed with Jim and have recommended to all my friends and family! read more

Had a great experience working with Jim and team over at RPM mortgage. I would highly recommend. Their team is innovative, fast, and courteous. Would absolutely work with them again. read more

We couldn't have found a better partner in Seattle's tough market. We worked with Jim for a long time until finally, being able to purchase a home. Jim and his team was the reason we were able to put in a competitive bid with confidence, and close in short time. We simply would not have been successful without Jim's professionalism, dedication, and sound advice. Please don't be fooled by just comparing rates, there is so much more that Jim offers. Not to mention, Jim is super competitive as well! read more

Jim Hoge recently helped me to complete a refinance and I was very happy with the service he provided. Getting my loan was not exactly a slam dunk but Jim made it really easy for me, while other mortgage brokers were asking me to jump through hoops to get it done. There was even more paperwork than usual involved with my loan but Jim handled it all with ease, and was always responsive to phone calls and emails. He came highly recommended to me from someone I trust who had been through many refinances, and said that Jim the one best mortage broker he had ever worked with. I was very happy I took him up on his recommendation! read more

Jim was as friendly as he looks in the picture on Yelp. Super easy to talk to, professional, honest, straightforward, patient, and prompt. I had many refinances in the past, but this was the easiest and most pleasant experience by far. Everything went smooth and quick. Thank you!!! read more

I had a very quick and easy refi with the help of Jim Hoge. I woul highly recommend his services to anyone looking for the expertise of an experienced broker!! read more

Shane and his group did an excellent job of getting us our mortgage in an efficient and professional manner. We had some very challenging items to deal with, but Shane handled them, got all the necessary documentation in a timely manner, and succeeded in closing on time. I would definitely use Shane again. read more

I have nothing but great things to say about Seattle Mortgage Planners. Extremely knowledgeable and fantastic communication skills.

Jim and his team are exceptional service providers who just happen to work in the mortgage arena. From the beginning of the application process, to the end of the journey when the loan funded, I had clear communication and lightning quick response from Jim and his staff. We were able to submit and sign the many documents needed in the process electronically which was a great benefit. The rate was highly competitive, and Jim and his team his team were super available by phone and email to take questions as they came up. I highly recommend Jim and Seattle Mortgage Planners as an outstanding company to do business with. Mark S. read more

Jim and his team are exactly why I was inclined to work with an independent agent and not directly with a lender, and that was 100% the right decision. He helped us initially purchase our house, as well as do a refinance several years later. In both cases, there were abnormal situations that we had to work around, but Jim's competence and professionalism prevailed and we closed on schedule both times. I'm pretty happy that I'll never have to worry about finding a mortgage professional again. read more

Jim Hoge was an asset, truly an agent on my side from the very beginning. My family has entrusted him in many of our purchases and I now see why! He helped me work out exactly what the best route was for me, with my specific financial parameters. From his patience at helping me with the timing of buying my first home (a short sale), he had some excellent suggestions. Also great follow through even after my purchase! I wish I knew more people buying houses right now, because I would recommend Jim Hoge in a heartbeat! In short, Jim is a great communicator, very personable, is efficient and thorough! read more

We worked with Jim Hoge to finance a home - not only was he intent on helping us complete the purchase, he was clear about what he needed from us, and was just a pleasure to work with. We wouldn't have been able to purchase the house without him - our bank offered us a much less attractive rate - and he was understanding while he continued to keep the ball rolling. Securing a mortgage isn't fun and isn't quick, but working with Jim made it a much easier, much more pleasant experience than I'd experienced before. I would definitely work with him again and I would wholeheartedly recommend him to friends and family. read more

Over the years, I've used Seattle Morgage Planners for multiple loans (both purchases and refinances). In every situation, he has impressed me with his professionalism and responsiveness. We've always closed on-time and I've been informed every step of the way. If you need a mortgage, Jim will definitely take care of you! read more

As far as teams get, somebody in human resources deserves a raise! I walked in with so many questions and left with all answered. Everybody was friendly and professional and explained everything to me in very simple terms. read more

Jim is awesome. Super knowledgeable. He tells you what he's going to do and then he does it. Great follow through. I can't recommend him enough. read more

It's hard to believe we actually closed on our dream house and Jim was THE broker that made it happened. After being dropped by Wells Fargo at near closing, we were on the verge of loosing on our dream house. I quickly searched Yelp for 'best broker' and Jim's profile came up. I gave him a frantic call on a Sunday morning (sorry Jim) and once we talked Jim was ON IT! I've rarely experienced such prompt response, constant communication & professionalism. I would recommend Jim to anyone I know. If you're like us, and don't have a person you trust with your mortgage, seriously call Jim. It was a shot in the dark for us and a good one! Thanks again Jim! read more

This is the second mortgage we've gotten through Jim Hoge. As with the first time, everything went without a hitch. We got the best market rate, quick turnaround, no blood, no sweat, no tears. Jim came to our house to take the app and had the escrow agent come to us for the signing - a busy person's dream! Jim does his homework to get you into the best product for your situation and needs and then tracks everything closely, making sure that i's are crossed and t's are dotted. On top of that, he's a nice guy. Thanks, Jim! read more

Jim is by far the best mortgage broker we have ever encountered. He made a rather complicated home purchase process very easy and was always available to quickly answer questions or deal with issues. We ended up changing our financing somewhat last-minute, and Jim rolled with the punches and made it totally seamless. Look nowhere else -- Jim is your man! read more

Have worked with Jim at SMP on two loans and give him my highest recommendation. Jim is very knowledgeable, thorough and responsive; and he goes the extra mile. How many 5 star reviews do you really need to read? No need to keep looking, contact Jim today! read more

Jim Hoge is absolutely the best mortgage broker that we have ever encountered. We don't usually write many reviews but my husband, Kevin and I feel obligated to share our wonderful experience with other borrowers who may be struggling to get financing from other lenders. We had originally applied to get financing from Bank of America and had attained their "Buyer Ready" status. To our surprise, 10 days before the close of escrow on our dream home, bank underwriter denied our application. Out of desperation, we started searching for an alternative and came across numerous 5-star reviews written about Jim and that his response rate was 100%. We called and left a message with Jim and sure enough, in less than an hour, he returned our call. After the initial conversation, we were convinced that Jim was the right person to handle our case. Jim and his wonderful transaction coordinator, Melissa got to work immediately and in less than 3 weeks, brought our escrow to close. Throughout the process, Jim and his entire team members proved to be kind, understanding, professional, efficient, and well-organized. They kept us informed of the loan progress and guided us through each steps. We are happy to say that those 5-star reviews of Jim were absolutely accurate and we were so fortunate to have found him to help us on purchasing our dream home. Jim and Melissa are extremely knowledgeable and exude professionalism. We recommend Jim and his team to anyone who is looking for a home loan. They are simply the best in the industry! We will definitely work with them again for any future home loans or refinancing. read more

We can't say enough about what a positive experience it was working with Jim Hoge for our refinance. We have 4 rental properties as well as our own primary residence, and we did a complicated transaction through Jim that involved paying off two loans and obtaining a new HELOC and primary loan. Jim's years of experience in the field were obvious as he contructed a great plan for how to do this, and was able to get rates for us that we never would have gotten through a bank directly. We have used mortgage brokers in the past, and none were as professional, patient, and communicative as Jim. He is also just an all around good-natured person to work with. Even our notary was impressed the day we went to sign papers- she said after years of signings she had never seen as "complex but elegant" a deal as ours. We recommend Jim without reservation for anyone looking to obtain a home loan or refinance. read more

Jim Hoge from Seattle Mortgage Planners guided us through a mortgage refinance on our North Seattle home. After having a few bad experiences with mortgage brokers, it was very nice working with Jim. He spent several hours of his time talking with my wife and I in person, over the phone, and over e-mail to explain all of the steps in the refinance process and why now was a good time to do it. With his help we were able to decrease our interest rate, remove our private mortgage insurance, and get some bank incentives with very little hassle on our part--after all was said and done our out-of-pocket expense was ~$500 and we now pay ~$250 less per month. The whole process took 45 days or so, but required very little time on my part, as Jim took care of pretty much all the legwork. All I had to do was sign some things, and get some bank and tax related information. I will definitely use Jim again if I ever need another mortgage! read more