I just worked with one of the real estate agents that Marie recommends, and am so thrilled. I found the home I wanted but it sold before I could make an offer. A few weeks later that same property came back on the market. My real estate agent (along with Marie) helped me jump on it before others put in offers. I was the first in line with an offer this time and we closed the loan yesterday! (30 days from start to finish)
Also, who would have known there are so many choices and ways to do a loan … I didn’t, even though I have worked for Marie in the past.
Marla VWe are eternally grateful for Marie and her team. They far surpassed our expectations and made our dream home a reality. Marie takes a personal interest in each client’s scenario, and really makes some magic happen! Thanks, you guys! You’re awesome!
Joseph MFor at least three years, we wanted to move from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the Bellingham, Washington, area. We drove the 2,600 miles twice in the past three years to scope out the area in advance of my June 2017 retirement from teaching. When we put our house on the market in Chattanooga, our real estate agent suggested Carol Cattle of Windermere Realty who in turn referred us to Marie Bjornson and Fairway Mortgage.
From the moment we started communicating with Marie and her team in mid-July 2017, she kept in regular contact, shepherding us through a process we were, frankly, daunted by. The level of kindness, knowledge, professionalism, and support provided by Fairway was remarkable, particularly in light of the fact that I was preparing to leave everything I had known and loved for over 60 years to make a new life near the 49th Parallel.
Marie and her fine folk worked seamlessly with our real estate agent in Bellingham, and, other than the personal anxiousness of awaiting closing and moving in, the entire process from when we left Chattanooga on October 27, 2017, in a 26-foot U-Haul truck with a Prius and 13-year-old dog in tow until we took possession of our new house on December 20 was nothing short of trouble-free. I kept bracing for, as we way in the South, “the other shoe to drop,” but Fairway kept us ahead of the curve with application deadlines, etc., that were easy to keep. The sellers of our new home requested the long closing date for personal reasons, and we were more than happy to wait for what we wanted, so the two months we rented a place with the bulk of our possessions in storage passed quickly, largely because there were no hitches in the mortgage process.
Jim DMarie Bjornson and her Fairway Mortgage Team are hard-working, accurate, and thorough. Like many I think, we came in with our own set of challenges and through Marie’s creative thinking, dedication and initiative we were able to secure a mortgage and close on-time. Buying a house and securing a mortgage is nothing less than high-anxiety. I personally had more than one melt-down during the process and Marie and her team were wonderful and patient, talking me through the steps, answering all of my questions and allying the fears that arose.There are so many national lenders and they may be fine for a re-fi, but as first-time home buyers, I think our choice to use a local mortgage broker, who also has an excellent working relationship with our realtors made the whole process a lot less stressful than it could have been with an impersonal national organization.
Having had such a positive experience with Marie and her Fairway Mortgage Team we will use them for all of our mortgage needs going forward.
Felicia JI want to let you know that I was very impressed with your thoughtfulness and your ability to offer different options based on our goals. I have been getting home loans for 43 years and I’ve never been presented with the information like you presented yesterday.
You know you are my #1 pick, but this was really amazing. Thanks so much for persisting when I thought it was just option 1, 2 or 3. Option four was perfect.
Colleen MMy husband and I were ready to take the next step in our life. We wanted to buy our first home. I knew nothing about buying a house! So I got on the phone and started to call around. Most people I talked to sounded too busy to answer my questions and just wanted me to fill out the application right away. Then I call Fairway and I spoke with Louise. She was so kind and patient with me. We set up an appointment to meet with Marie. When we met with Marie she walked us threw everything! She found out what we wanted and what we were comfortable with. All of my questions were answered even if they were silly. I would call or text her and she always replied promptly! We did hit a bump in the road through this process though and had to wait it out for just a little while. We followed Marie’s advice and did all the steps that she told us to and she got us approved!! I could hear the excitement in her voice when she called me. Marie literally is a miracle worker. The whole Fairway Mortgage team is! My husband’s credit score jumped and boom we were out looking at houses. I would text or call Marie with home information and she would give me the mortgage payment (give or take a few dollars). Then we found our dream home. I had to have it and we put in our offer! This is when we needed to get more paperwork in. Piece by piece everything was coming together. You always have someone there to walk you through it all. Everyone is so kind and they truly want to see you achieve what you set out for. They all work so hard to get you in your home. It can get frustrating and difficult at times, but everything is so worth it. My husband, our two boys and I have our beautiful first home. I get to raise my boys here and I couldn’t be more grateful.Marie, Dawn, Louise, Mike and the whole team made our dream of being home owners a reality. Through even the downs they hold your hand through it all. I’m so glad we got to work with them and if we ever decide to do it again they would be the only ones I call! If you want to own a home even if you think you can’t they will help you get to where you need to be. They are all for you!
Fairway Independent Mortgage was the best decision ever and I will always be grateful for Marie and her entire team!Thanks!
Jessica HI just closed on a difficult transaction with Marie as the lender and myself as the Seller and Buyer representative. Marie was very creative through the whole process and communicated extraordinaire. I could tell she really cared about the outcome for the client. We closed the transaction and both Seller and Buyer are more than pleased. I would recommend Marie for any financial needs, especially home purchasing.
Jim PMy wife Becky and I have now purchased 11 homes in the past 43 years. This was the Least painful purchase we have ever experienced.
We really like the way Marie anticipated issues and got ahead of the game regarding needed documentation. The result was a very smooth closing and two very happy customers.Thank you, Marie.
Richard HWhat can we say about Marie? We had no Realtor and no prior experience buying a house. We needed some “hand-holding” (understatement). Marie and her team took GREAT care of us! She worked TIRELESSLY to get us a great rate and saw us through the process from beginning to end. Do not hesitate to call her, she is a GEM!! Thank you Marie!
Kim DMarie’s best asset – besides being a top-notch lender ~ she thinks outside the box. If you have a buyer that wants to buy and a seller that wants to sell to that buyer, Marie will get it done… all legally, quickly and painlessly. She just has “that” ability to know how to review a buyer’s qualifications and then package a loan the correct way. She has taken several loan packages that were turned down and examined the faults and made them whole. She knows what the lender is looking for to make it a smooth transaction. I highly recommend Marie to my colleagues and clients Jo Anne Wyatt, Windermere
JoAnne WAs a licensed realtor and homeowner, I consulted with Marie several times in the last couple years. I heartily recommend Marie Bjornson for those interested in easy, no hassle loans. Here is a professional who gets loans approved when most others cannot. Her vast familiarity in all phases of the loan and banking industry, accompanied by her experience as a Lender and a Certified Public Accountant let you know right away that you are dealing with the best. Yet, what makes dealing with Marie Bjornson truly remarkable is her unfailing dedication to you, her client, to make the process simple and to ensure that you do not spend one dime more than necessary. I am always grateful for the kindness and care that Marie gives those I may refer to her.
Bob TMarie is an outstanding loan officer. I’ve turned to her on advice regarding investment loans, reverse mortgages and many other loan types that require a high level of expertise. She is always “in the know” and gives unconditionally to her clients. It’s rare to have someone with so much knowledge and a heart of gold. I would recommend her to anyone!
Keane NMarie Bjornson is the most awesome person to work with. Even when we felt it was a shot in the dark to ever own our own home, Marie assured us we will get there. She held our hand for over a year as we got ourselves in a home buying position. During that time Marie became more like a friend then a lender and her insights made all the difference. We plan on working with Marie again in the future for our next home-buying excursion. Fairway Mortgage in Bellingham is Fabulous!
Michelle DI tried to use Whidbey Island bank long story short, days before closing the underwriters decided not to approve me. They gave several reasons such as recent short sale and potential payment-shock. I was forced to look for a different lender and I’m so thankful to find Marie. Marie and her crew were able to foresee all the potential underwriting concerns and got this same mortgage through without any troubles. My experience with Marie is that she is hardworking, experienced and proactive. If you are buying a house and especially if you have anything “tricky” with your situation–I highly recommend Marie. Lending now days has tough requirements and it’s nice to have someone as experienced as Marie for help. Today Marie continues to be willing to help me and recently sent a friend to her who had a great experience.
Paulo MKathy, our real estate agent, recommended Marie. We were told she was the best. Our goal was to get a mortgage for a condo in Birch Bay. Marie was very creative and was able to think outside the box – she made it happen! She was able to put all the puzzle pieces together. We had a very difficult loan to deal with and she was able to get our rental home refinanced, a new car with the payments cut in half and our condo with the ocean view!
Mark MMarie went way above and beyond the call of duty, 7 days a week, working with me and my realtor to help with numerous offers until we finally got one accepted in this insane market.
Scott NMarie is friendly, professional and efficient. Her office staff complements the comfortable atmosphere she provides in her office. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting her and working with her on our Reverse Mortgage Loan (mortgage conversion).
Judyth S.