Char Johanson – Stearns Lending

So over the last 8 years I was being eaten alive by my Wells Fargo mortgage. (Love WF for banking, not home loans). I was given very depressing answers each time I inquired at multiple places to refinance. Char at Stearns Lending was the ONLY person to give me hope that I could pull off a refi and was extremely persistent and positive in helping me compile mountains of financial documents needed to try to fix my 6.875% awful loan. Given a few hurdles (single mom, barely enough equity, blah blah blah), Char went turbo and realized she was truly saving me from drowning. Maybe it was like when people get extraordinary powers when they see they can save someone in trouble; not sure. She was able to secure a fixed loan for me at 3.75%!!! Char’s nickname is now «The Loan Angel» even though it is not on her business card yet. I am extremely greatful for being referred to Char and being the lucky recipient of her hard work in fixing my loan. The number of hurdles she jumped to make this work is crazy. It is very clear to me that Char’s expertise, determination, and compassion are what make her different from all of the other mortgage professionals. I’m pretty sure she enjoys a good challenge because she masterminded finding me a loan that fit my difficult circumstances and communicated with me the entire way through the process. Did I mention I’m thankful? Everyday I am. Thank you Char!!!

I definitely recommend Char — she is the BEST! She is extremely knowledgable and always keeps you updated about your loan. I’ve worked with other mortgage brokers before, and Char has had the best communication of all of them (It’s so nice to not have to chase down your mortgage broker for an update)!
You can tell that Char knows her stuff, because she took the time to explain every detail of the loan, and suggested us to lock in a fantastic rate right before the rates climbed up! There was never any confusion about the process, and Char genuinely wanted to help and not just «close the deal» like so many of her competitors.
(Thank you Char! I know my loan wasn’t easy, because of my situation, but you made it happen!!)

My wife and I worked with Char recently on a cash out refinance and she is by far the best broker we have ever had the pleasure of working with.
Here are some of her strengths that we found.
1. Communication– she calls people back-​she never failed to return a call or email. We always felt well informed and listened to.
2. Organized-​there was never any question what we needed in order to proceed
3. Client Centered– Char worked above and beyond to achieve our goals, not just sell us.
4. Easy to work with– We have been refinancing loans since 2006 and there has never been an easier person to work with.
5. Honest– goes without saying how important this is and she exemplifies this trait.
Char will be the first person we ever call if/​when we attempt to improve our mortgage position or buy another house.
You will not be disappointed if you contact her.

This review will echo the other outstanding reviews Char has received, but there is a very good reason for that. I bid on at least 8 properties before my bid was accepted. In every case, Char was there for me – super-​responsive, worked well with my RE agent, got documents to whoever needed them instantly, and advised me at every turn. She is a genuine, caring person. Smart as a whip and well informed. I also notice how others in the industry regard her highly — my RE agents, the title officer, and other professionals. I’m the type to have a million questions — no problem, no lack of patience — and I would know. She also has a great sense of humor, which is more important than you might think during crazy RE transactions. It’s personal for her, and she has the rare ability to put herself in your shoes and figure out your best option. She is clearly in it for the long haul and will advise you well. I cannot say enough good about her.

I am a real estate broker practicing in the field for over 35 years. My first experience with Char was a very good one. She is diligent and packaged a complex file well. She was responsive to my every call and came to the sign off with our mutual clients. I really liked working with her.

Char was great to work with on our loan. During the process she was in constant touch with us and always with excellent advice. Not just on the loan but on many other aspects of our home purchase. She advised us to hold off on the lock and then swooped in just in time to get us locked in at the absolute lowest rate. She was a wealth of knowledge at all phases of the process; preceeding the first offer all the way through the final document signing. I’ve already referred someone to her and will continue to do so at every opportunity.

I cannot say enough about Char! She made our house-​buying experience so stress-​free! My husband and I recently purchased our home with a VA loan, which is a bit more difficult than a traditional loan, and did not feel that difficulty one bit. In fact, I believe it closed faster than most people close on their traditional loans, and that was because of Char! I recommend her to anyone who is purchasing a home!

Requested information and consultation using their simple online form and had expected, in this internet age, a very prompt response. Got nothing, it has been
weeks and I’ve heard nothing. I’m a very busy person and having an online
presence is important to me. It is lame they even have an online application.
They contacted me after 6 days and noticed they’d overlooked my inquiry and
were very apologetic and very helpful after that point.
TK

I highly recommend Char as a mortgage broker. Char is very professional, passionate and most of all is very good in communicating with all parties. May it be for a refinance situation or a purchase of a home, Char gets the job done. There is no looking further as Char will satisfy you in all aspects.

Char is a pleasure to work with. She has a solid understanding of the lending process and is able to communicate very effectively with her clients. Char took the time to explain all the necessary steps and fees involved in the lending process. She is a professional who is more than willing to spend the time to answer all your questions and provide you with excellent customer service.

I recently have been recommending Char to people I know. I have been receiving feedback from all of them that Char made the mortgage process easy and understandable. They have told me she is diligent in getting them what they need and her service is by far the best in the industry. Char is a very knowledgably about the loan process and her professionalism is by far the best I have seen in the industry.

Char helped us with a refi. Our previous experience with Wells Fargo was a disorganized nightmare. Char was quick, efficient and fun to work with. She watched the rates for us and locked in at the right time to get us the best rate possible. We were able to handle the paperwork with a minimum of stress. We highly recommend her.

With all the intricate details now a part of the Lending process, Char will confidently guide you through the both painful and beautiful process of home buying. She’s attentive, action oriented and gets the job done with eloquent professionalism. My 5 star review from someone that has been through the rigors of home buying. She’s a total pro!!!