Stephen made the re-fi experience as smooth as one could possibly hope for. It is a complicated proposition and he was there every step of the way! Many thanks, "J" read more

Stephen and his team at Guaranteed Rate played a big part in making the purchase of our home a reality. First, Stephen worked hard and quickly to get our pre-approval ready for offer day. He then went above and beyond to speak to the seller agent and ensure him that we would had not issues getting approve if our offer was accepted. This was crucial to our offer begin accepted so we could compete with all cash offers with super fast closes. Once our offer was accepted, Stephen and his team worked diligently and quickly to get our loan processed so we could close quickly. They were very communicative, provided clear instructions, and made sure to dot all the i's and cross all the t's to make sure we stayed on track and could close on time. There are so many more steps than I ever expected! Thankfully because of Stephen and his team, we always knew where we were in the process and what we needed to do to get across the finish line. Thank you, Stephen and team, for all you did for us to help us buy our new home!! read more

I can't recommend Stephen Barber at Guaranteed Rate highly enough! My husband and I got our second mortgage together with him this past summer. He and his team were very responsive and helpful from first contact. He walked us through the cleanup of items on our credit reports and arranged a mortgage for our purchase in Mountain Center, CA (near Palm Springs) read more

I recommend Stephen and his team at Guaranteed Rate without hesitation. Stephen worked hard and efficiently to navigate us from pre-approval to closing of our first single-family home in the Bay Area. Stephen was receptive to all our complex questions about the lending process. He spoke cordially, clearly, and directly. Right from the beginning, it was evident that we were in good hands. He was highly responsive when preparing the pre-approval letter for our formal offer and continued to be proactive at every step, thereafter. Stephen is highly experienced in navigating the real-estate market in the Bay Area. His work is well known and highly regarded. We benefitted from this first-hand when he advocated for our offer with the Seller's agent (whom he had worked with in the past) and assured the agent that we were well prepared to navigate the closing process smoothly and quickly. Leading up to closing of escrow, Stephen and his team were FAST! You could tell that the team was in sync and up-to-date the whole way through. Stephen kept us in the loop and informed of the discussions and timeline. Whenever we had questions about how to respond to specific requests, Stephen made sure we understood the pros and cons of the decisions we were making. This was helpful as a first time buyer. Thank you so much, Stephen! Home buying is always complex and stressful, but your help and support helped minimize this in every way possible. read more

Stephen was kind and extremely professional all the way through the loan application. His team patiently answered all of our detailed questions and even managed to make this process enjoyable. I could not recommend Stephen and his team more! read more

This is my second time using Guaranteed Rate to secure a mortgage, but my first time working with Stephen. Throughout the process, he was very upfront and transparent with each step, what I needed to provide, and the best way to reach the ultimate goal of securing the loan. Stephen was responsive and didn't hesitate each time I asked if he could look into negotiating a lower rate, when rates dropped. He was most helpful in getting me a lower rate for PMI. 10/10 would recommend. read more

I've had the good fortune of getting to know and work with Stephen in the Bay Area market over the past 2+ years. He is everything you want in a great mortgage professional. He is warm, friendly and engaging; and he is consistently available and attentive to all client needs and questions. He has a deep understanding of the complex Bay Area market and he and his team move quickly and competitively while always in the client's best interests. Should there ever be a challenge or obstacle, Stephen will take the time to meet with you, work with you, get creative and find a solution to help. Whether it's a first-time homebuyer or an experienced investor, I have every confidence in Stephen knowing that he will provide the most competitive line of product and exceptional level of service possible. I give Stephen my highest recommendation. read more

I've worked with Stephen and his team 3 times over the past 10 years. Super responsive, fast, practically paperless and made the whole experience very simple and stress-free. read more

Stephen made our first time home buying process seamless and ensuring. He's super responsive and has a wealth of financial industry knowledge that translates to a stress-free customer experience. On top of the peace of mind benefits, Stephen also secured an optimal loan for us and took the time to walk us through all of our loan and disclosure options to make sure we understood what can be confusing legalese. We feel lucky to work with him, and would recommend him to any friend or family member. read more

Stephen was absolutely great to work with. He helped me and my wife secure financing for our recent home purchase. He's hyper responsive, takes the time to explain the details / fine print and is very transparent / honest. Have already recommended him to family / friends looking for financing. Thanks Stephen! read more

Purchasing a home is a life event. It is one of the most rewarding steps in life and it can also be difficult. There are so many steps to go through as a buyer. It is an extremely personal experience and so much information is needed. Stephen made this process seamless and smooth. He educated us every step of the way and thoroughly explained all of the documents to us. Some mortgage brokers will tell you what you want to hear at first in order to rope you in to using them. They also really need to have a clear understanding of what you do in order to help faciliate the paper work and present it to the banks. My husband's business is difficult to understand, but Stephen got it. We had been to two other mortgage brokers that angered my husband because they said they got it, but they didn't. So we had to find a broker that did understand his business and how he earns a living. Stephen was that broker! He was able to explain why he needed certain documents from my husband, and set the expectations, that this is a process, but he made it a pleasantly manageable process for us. Thank you, Stephen! We are in our dream home now! : ) read more

If I could give more than 5 stars I would! Stephen Barber and his team at Guaranteed Rate are exceptional. I have worked with Stephen since 2003, when I purchased my first home in San Francisco, and he continues to be the one and only mortgage professional I use for all of my home financing needs. I had such great experiences working with Stephen on the mortgage and refinancing for my primary home that there was no question I would reach out to Stephen for the purchase of a vacation home in Sonoma County, which just closed in February 2018. He exceeded my expectations again! Stephen's expertise and professionalism are immediately apparent when you engage with him. He outlines exactly what needs to be done and is so helpful and responsive if you have any questions along the way. He also works efficiently to make sure that all of the required steps are completed with precision, including managing other members of his team to handle various steps. The process was very smooth and seamless, and it was completed with exacting detail. Plus, the interest rates that he's able to obtain are unsurpassed--other lenders, including my own bank, could not match the rate that Stephen secured for a 30-year fixed loan. Perhaps the most impressive aspect from my recent experience working with Stephen is that, with his assistance on the financing side, I was able to close on the vacation home purchase in 2.5 weeks from when the offer was accepted. That is insanely fast! Of course, the fantastic realtor I worked with also helped ensure that the transaction moved quickly, but often the financing piece requires a bit of time. Stephen and team were able to finalize the loan within a 2 week period. And, it all fell into place perfectly, without any hiccups. I could not have asked for a better outcome. Last but not least, Stephen cares about his clients and wants them to be happy not just with the financing, but also with the enjoyment of their homes. I have received great advice from Stephen on handling contractors for repairs, resources for buying materials for floors, bathrooms, etc. There is a reason why I put my trust in Stephen--time and again, he ensures that I have a great experience, which doesn't just end with the closing. I have and will continue to recommend Stephen to anyone who is interested in financing/refinancing a home. read more

My family and I recently closed on our lovely home and everything went extremely smooth and fast thanks to Stephens's team. Very responsive and always helpful, making you feel supported throughout the entire process. On top of that, great rates! read more

Not exactly sure where to begin with this other than to say Stephen is GREAT.....and that's not a stretch for me to say. We were looking for someone to help with a refinance and remembered Stephen from when we first purchased our condo. He tried to help us with the initial purchase but due to our not-so-stellar credit at the time, he was kindly honest and told us we could do better elsewhere. His care, concern and frankness are the reasons we came back for round two! From the initial conversation to the final closing, Stephen and his team were with us every step of the way. If he needed something, we heard about it immediately. If we had questions or concerns, he was always available to help us sort through them. Seamless and flawless are the words that best fit our refianance experience with Guaranteed Rate and more specifically Stephen. Oh, and I forgot one other word / quality that came along with working with Stephen. Humor!! No matter what issue came up or what sometimes silly question we asked, he would always respond with a completely understandable answer along with a bit of humor, which if you've ever been through the process of buying or refinancing a home, is EXACTLY what's needed at times. Thank you Stephen for keeping us sane and on track as well as making us smile!! To wrap this up, we highly recommend Stephen and his team at Guaranteed Rate for your home financing or refinancing needs! You will not find better. Gary & Tony read more

Stephen and his team are excellent. They absolutely understand the San Francisco real estate market. We have used them for over 10 years. 1st when buying a tenants in common, which was an extremely complicated deal. Then again, when we converted to condominiums and just recently when we refinanced. Each time, Stephen and team took the time to understand our goals and presented us with options. Additionally, they are customer centric (rare these days), very responsive, provide great advice and solutions. I highly recommend Stephen and Guaranteed Rate. read more

Stephen is the simply the best. He is proactive, hard working, knowledgeable and incredibly selfless. I have worked with him twice now. Both processes had significant challenges (for different reasons) and we would not have got the great results we did without Stephen. He was always working with our best interests in mind and was willing to let the business pass to competitors if that was what was best for us. Thankfully, he was able to find us the best deal and get it closed out. You will not regret giving him a call. read more

My husband and I have used Stephen 4 times for our financing needs, most recently for an investment property. Stephen and team efficiently guided us through the process and delivered under a tight closing timeframe. We look forward to working with Stephen again! read more

Stephen Barber has always been my "go-to" mortgage broker for any client that needs excellent advise and attention to detail. He is great at keeping all parties informed of the status of the borrowers application and is one of the rare people in this industry that can truly think outside the box when roadblocks crop up. His approach has always been "client-first" and I love that I can always get a hold of him if I need a question answered. I highly recommend that any buyer looking to buy a home, or homeowners considering a refinance of their existing home, talk to Stephen first. They will not be disappointed! read more

I've spent a lot of time working for small start ups, I've moved around a lot, and when my wife and I finally decided to buy a home, Stephen and his team had to spend a lot of time and energy tracking down all of the forms and information for our loan. He also did a great job informing us about the loan and the process. I'll definitely be referring other folks to Stephen! read more

Stephen and his team are awesome. Stephen has helped me obtain mortgages for a few mortgages over the years. Most recent purchase was for a second home on the Mendocino Coast. His ability to provide a very quick prequal letter allowed me to submit an attractive offer on the house. His advice, application process and the online document upload system makes it easy to get a loan submitted and approved. read more

For the very best service in mortgages, and without a doubt the most knowledgeable, talk to Stephen Barber at Guaranteed Rate. You won't be disappointed. read more

We cannot recommend Stephen Barber of Guaranteed Rate highly enough. He has helped us with 5 loans, including purchases, refinances and a TIC conversion refi. He has the highest integrity, is really smart and has an excellent command of the lending process and environment. He tells it like it is, clearly explaining the pros and cons of various loan options so that you can make the best choice. He and his great team work hard behind the scenes to deal with any glitches that may arise so that we don't have to worry. He is truly client-focused - his first goal is his client's best interest, not his own. Stephen also has a great sense of humor, which makes him easy and fun to work with, and helps ease the tensions that can arise when dealing with loan transactions. Given the importance of getting the best loan possible, it is wonderful to know that Stephen will help us do that. We have referred family, friends and colleagues to Stephen, and they have all appreciated his excellence as well. As seniors, we have worked with many loan brokers over the course of our lives, and we can say without hesitation that Stephen is the best. MF & TLT read more

Shopping for a mortgage and then actually going through the process of obtaining the best loan available can be a very stressful situation. It's one of the biggest financial decisions we make in life and you want to do it right and get the best loan. We've used Stephen Barber for several transactions over several years and we keep going back because it's always been a seamless and easy process. He's always made sure we get the best rates and terms and we've been extremely happy with both Stephen and his staff at Guaranteed Rate. His naturally calm temperament is just what is needed for what can often be a stressful time. Without a doubt we give Stephen the highest recommendation and will continue to use him in the future. Chris Miller and Joe Piazza read more

We were introduced to Stephen through a business connection: we had prior brokers, but he was able to save us almost $9K on the cost of points to push down the interest rate. We were worried about "switching horses midstream," i.e. a day after we made our offer, but he and his team worked tirelessly to get our mortgage papered and done in the lightspeed timeline of the SF market, closing in a record-setting 19 days from when we locked in the loan rates. Highly recommended! read more

I have worked with Stephen on 3 different loans and couldn't recommend him more. He has taught me an incredible amount and advised through each process (actually 3 different types of loans). I have been extremely happy with his knowledge and ability to educate/inform, his personal service in each scenario, as well as the quality of loan (rate, lender, etc.). In each and every closing process, one or multiple of the other parties involved commented on either Stephen's professionalism, ability to deliver upon what he has promised, as well as the rate of the loan he helped secure. Stephen will take great care of you. read more

Truly an amazing experience. Stephen's attention to detail was second to none; his efforts and constant availability transformed a typically strenuous time into one that was positive and stress-free from start to finish. I would recommend Stephen's services without hesitation. read more

Can't speak highly enough of Stephen. He is a true expert at what he does and goes out of his way to assist in complex situations. His knowledge of the industry and his ability to candidly assess and address potential issues is second to none. Added bonus is that he is a pleasure to deal with and very straightforward. read more

Stephen at guaranteed rate helped us with the mortgage on our first home. He guided the process seamlessly and efficiently. Made sure we were ready at each stage so that there were no delays or surprises. He and his team were fantastic. read more

Talking about money has never been a favorite subject of mine. Stephen makes the conversation easy by providing facts and options when it comes to purchasing property. His clear advise helped my husband and I purchase our first home 12 years ago. Within these 12 years, Stephen guided us on the financials of condo converting our TIC and gave us the peace of mind by supporting our decision to purchase a second home. Having a mortgage broker that we can trust has made home ownership a breeze. Thank you, Stephen! read more

Stephen was extremely helpful. We were first time home buyers, and he "held our hands" through the entire lending process. I highly recommend him. read more

My husband and I started looking for a house when we realized that our 1bd-rm apartment was too small to function with our 1 month old newborn! We weren't fully financially prepared to buy a house and most 2 bedrooms were slightly over our price range but Stephen was able to help us with creative ways and still get approved for a mortgage that allowed us to get a 2bd-rm and stay in the city...AND in a dream neighborhood!! We definitely made choices that made Stephen sweat and he advised us on how best to manage all of our financial related decisions to give us the strongest position for a mortgage. Stephen was able to get us our loan approval within 2 weeks and we were even able to close on our property 1 week early! Without Stephen, we would've likely had to look to move outside of the city and never been able to afford the off-market property we found! I would recommend Stephen for any buyers (new or old) as he is very experienced and was VERY patient with us being completely new home buyers with no previous experience. read more