Our new home is the sixth home purchase we have made together and it is by far the smoothest , quickest and most stress free real estate transaction for us! From start to finish.... every step of the way Walter and Emily Howard and their team at Fairway Independent Mortgage have been there to promptly guide us and answer any questions we have had. We appreciate their expertise and professionalism while still being able to explain and relate to us on a personal level. Everything was exactly as they stated it would be.... from interest rate, time frame to final payment amount. There were no stressful surprises that we have experienced with many of our past home purchases over the years. In the past we've experienced unfortunate situations where lenders promised certain loan related promises to get our business only to be disappointed with the reality when the loan actually closes at a very different and more expensive amount. We so appreciate being told exactly what we would get up front and not to be disappointed in the end...... when it would be too late to make a different choice. We will not hesitate to refer any of our friends and family members to Fairway for their real estate lending needs. We feel certain.... that due to Walter at Fairway being there with a "Johnny on the spot" preapproval to accompany our offer and assisting us in a quick and complete loan transaction.... was what gave us the "edge" against many competing offers that came in on our house at the same time our offer was excepted. Thank you so much to Walter and Emily Howard and their amazing team for helping us to purchase our beautiful new home in this competitive market without any delays or stress! read more

The Loan Officers and support staff on this team are the absolute best you will find, anywhere. I tried my hand at a home purchase a few years ago and due to the lender being less than competent, I lost my opportunity to buy a great home and I lost my earnest money. I vowed I would never try to buy a home on my own again. Flash forward to last year, and I found my lease ending without the option to renew. With rents skyrocketing over the last few years, I got a wild hair to look into home ownership, even though it seemed like a long shot and my funds were limited. I contacted Walter on a Friday and within 24 hours his team reviewed all my information and provided a conventional loan option that fit my exact financial needs. They also set me up with a great local agent. By the following Monday (just 3 days later) I had an approved offer on my very first home. They provided an incredibly fast closing, which got me into my new home well before my lease ended for a nice, stress free move. I've been in my new home for about six months now and I couldn't be happier. Its hard to articulate how fantastic it feels to work with people who genuinely care about doing what is in your best interest. My experience was night and day to my first attempt at home buying and way above my expectations. I recommend Walter and his team to anyone looking to purchase a home. You simply won't find a better team anywhere else. read more

We were recently referred to The Howard Team by our real estate team. We had been shopping for a new home for our aging family member and just getting beat constantly with little communication from our original agent and lender. From the moment we talked to Walter Howard we knew he was going to be the absolute best lender we had ever worked with in Washington state. We have bought several homes, and it takes a lot to amaze us but his knowledge of mortgage strategies that buyers are currently using to take the sting away from the current high interest rate environment. He helped our real estate team negotiate a seller funded 2-1 temporary rate buydown, which is something that our original lender didn't even tell us about. We are very thankful that we were referred to The Howard Team. They really saved the day for us, and we will be recommending them to all of our friends and family. They are the best mortgage lender in Washington! read more

Shanyn and I are beyond grateful for the incredible help Emily and Walter provided us in securing our dream home, especially during the Thanksgiving season! From the very beginning, they went above and beyond to make the entire mortgage process smooth and stress-free. They were both incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and responsive, always making sure we understood every step along the way. Thanks to their expertise and dedication, we were able to close on our home in time to spend the holidays in our new space. They truly made our dream of homeownership come true, and we can't thank them enough for their hard work and support. If you're looking for a team you can trust and rely on, Emily and Howard are the ones to call! read more

We are beyond grateful to our incredible team of mortgage lenders for helping us get into the home of our dreams! From start to finish, they were exceptionally quick, responsive, and always one step ahead, making the entire process feel smooth and stress-free. No matter the question or time of day, they were there to guide us with clarity and confidence. Their dedication, speed, and communication made all the difference--especially in such a competitive market. Thanks to their hard work and support, we're now settling into a home that felt out of reach just a short time ago. We truly couldn't have done it without them and would recommend them to anyone looking for a trustworthy and efficient lending team! read more

The Best in the Game. Walter and Emily are, without a doubt, amazing at their jobs. They are thorough, heart warming, and efficient at what they do. My girlfriend and I were having troubles trying to find a new home and a friend recommended we try and get a hold of Walter and Emily, and I am so thankful they did. I don't think they could've done a better job then what we got. As first time buyers, they walked us threw everything, told us all the details we would need and provided us with beyond quality service. I would recommend them to any and everyone looking to get their home loans. They couldn't have made this any easier for a new time buyer. You won't be disappointed with what you get from them. read more

I wish I could give them an outstanding star score because they deserve it. I am telling you if you don't use Walter and Emily from the Howard team to buy your next house or use them for that financing paperwork well I don't mean to be rude but you are an idiot and need to get your head examined. There is no one else in the world that will move mountains for you to make your dreams happen. I thank you both so very much for giving us everything from buying the house of our dreams to refinancing and just being there for us. I would like to thank you so very much from the bottom of our hearts! Thank you Patrick Orthouse read more

My fiance and I just purchased our first home through Walter and Emily and the experience could not have been better. They both make themselves available essentially 24/7 for their clients and are extremely quick to respond to any questions you may have. They provide guidance and recommendations to set you up for your future, however they are not by any means trying to pressure you into doing a certain type of deal if you are not comfortable with it. Their assistant Christine Shimanek was also extremely helpful throughout the entire closing process. We could not have been happier! read more

Walter and his Team have exemplified the term "above and beyond". My wife and I are first time homebuyers with a VA loan and not the best credit score. But Walter told me the truth without any fluff and kept to his word that we were going to make our deal happen. Even after my several questions, emails, texts, etc. he and his wonderful wife Emily still answered each question and even took the time to come by and present us with a wonderful gift when everything was done. I'd recommend Walter and Emily for any lending to anyone in the future. Lord knows we will be using them again. read more

I just closed on my house in Port Angeles with Fairway Independent Mortgage. The process was drawn out, not because of anything they did (I was laid off and then hired back by my Company 2 days later), however, they were always there with a quick loan approval with minimal conditions, and were always available to help with any questions, concerns, etc. I would highly recommend Walter, Emily & Melissa and their team for any loan transactions, highly efficient, competent, great customer service and very friendly. Thanks so much to all of you Diana Green read more

Oh my gosh, Walter and Emily were such a blessing!! My boyfriend and I were stuck in an apartment we hated. We wanted to buy, but we didn't have the funds for a down payment. A friend of mine referred me to the Howard team. We learned about the down payment assistance program, which is one of the main reasons we went with them. We are first time home buyers and we had no idea what to expect. Walter and Emily were so fantastic reassuring us every step of the way. I highly recommend them! They are trustworthy and will not disappoint! read more

My wife and I LOVED working with Walter and Emily from The Howard Team. We felt super comfortable talking about our needs and they were very understanding of what we wanted to take out of the whole homebuying process. They are an example of excellent customer service, and also super friendly and fast to respond to any of our questions working with us on the phone even outside business hours!!! That's a plus!!! We would recommend Walter and Emily 100% to anyone and will continue doing business with them, no questions asked! read more

If you are searching for a home loan and want a trusted team to get the job done, no matter how complicated or tight the closing deadline, the Howard Team is IT!! When they say team, it's not just a word. They truly work as A team and have networks as far as Arizona to quickly and professionally get you to a positive closing. if you are looking in Arizona, they team with an excellent agent, John Whalen, who equally performs in ways I've not experienced with over 13 home pitches in over 35 years. They are IT!!! read more

The Howard Team worked quickly to get me approved and ensured I got into my new home with no issues from start to finish! Emily was great with communicating to me what was needed and when. Not only were they professional, they were very personable as well; genuinely wanting to get to know me and understand my needs. Emily was very informative and supporting throughout the whole process to home ownership. I would gladly recommend her and her team to any of my close friends and family! read more

The Howard Team has been absolutely incredible to work with -- both during our original home purchase and again through our refinance. Their communication was always clear and timely, and they made sure every question we had was answered. What can often be a stressful process felt completely seamless and easy thanks to their professionalism and attention to detail. We're so grateful for their help and would highly recommend The Howard Team to anyone buying or refinancing a home. read more

I do not write reviews unless something is AMAZING or terrible. Let me tell you. These people are incredible. They have gone above and beyond for every single one of my clients. They communicate so well and are the friendliest of people. When other people say "no" they say "let us see what can we do." These are the poster people for above and beyond customer service. As a realtor, if I could choose to do every single transaction with them, I would! read more

Walter and Emily worked tirelessly to get us a down payment assistance program for first time home buyers and guided us through the entire experience. We were always made to feel appreciated and never left floundering, wondering where we were at during the process. We got the home we wanted in a very timely fashion without any unwarranted stress or worry. We highly recommend this family team for your home buying experience. Mike and Jen M. read more

I cannot say enough about Walter & his team! Fairway was recommended to me by our real estate agent/friend. I am so thankful to have worked with such amazing people that got the job done with the least amount of stress. I can honestly say our most recent home purchase was complicated due to owning a business but Fairway was there every step of the way! I couldn't recommend a better team to get you through the home buying process! read more

Walter Howard from Fairway mortgage has one of the best teams. They are fair and straight forward with any concerns or issues that i may have had. The process was very straightforward and I was able to get my home within a month. They do most of the heavy lifting, all I had to was sign and provide some documents that were needed. Thank you Howard and Emily read more