Mike Molina

I like Mike. In the months we have been working together I haven’t bought a house, it’s not for lack of trying people, it’s how the market is! But it’s time for this review to say I LIKE MIKE! He has been there all along, answering silly and not so silly questions. He’s responsive and full of insight. He plays super well with agents. But best of all, a total mensch. I like Mike. Man, I do.

We just closed a refi on our home in Walnut Creek and can’t say enough about Mike and his team. Shoot, we turned to Mike in the first place because we were so impressed by his effort on our original mortgage a few years back. Mike and his team are readily available, communicate well, are very timely and were willing to go the extra mile to help us. In fact, we ended up having to unwind some bad escrow account management by our previous lender and Mike and his crew jumped right in and got it done. I would recommend his services to anyone looking for a new mortgage without reservation.

My wife and I were first time home-​buyers in the Bay Area, looking to buy in Oakland and chose Mike Molina and CityWide Home Loans as our Mortgage Banker/​lender on a recommendation from our Realtor. Initially, we’d wanted to go with our Credit Union, but after talking with Mike and getting a feel for the competitive level of the market in Oakland, we decided to opt for Mike and Citywide as we felt it may give us the best chance of getting offers in and accepted in the most competitive time-​frame. And we were not disappointed. Mike is excellent at what he does and he has a team on hand that is obviously efficient and well geared to deal with the rapidly moving Bay Area Market.
From the very beginning, Mike worked very closely with us and our realtor as an integrated part of the team to lay out our financing options, discuss the relative benefits and downsides of each and advise us on all the specifics and various stages of the buying/​loan process. At the very beginning he stated that he could make clients such as ourselves with limited down payment options, competitive in the Oakland single family home market — as he was thorough in his approval processes and an expert at closing within short time-​frames. This was not an exaggeration! Mike actually gave us advice and assurances on offer competitiveness and his ability to maintain our edge that allowed us to reconsider an FHA based loan — opening up our options greatly. Without that advice and Mike’s ability to close on FHA to back it up, I doubt we’d have been successful in our home buying efforts.
We submitted several offers and for each one Mike and his team worked extremely efficiently to get approvals and re-​approvals together along with some excellent and competitive closing terms that put us in the running. Mike and the team were responsive, fast and consistently thorough and I never had to worry about chasing up my lender to get a response in time for an offer. You knew they were working behind the scenes to get it all done. When it came to closing after we got an offer accepted, Mike worked tirelessly to keep his promise on closing successfully within 21 days and he did just that. There was a lot of information to provide and the team needed answers and information quickly, but as long as we kept up our end of the bargain so did Mike.
Buying a home in the Bay Area is stressful, tough, and a little crazy so you need the right lender on your side to get done. I honestly don’t think we’d have got our home without team Mike Molina and he was an amazing part of our home-​buying team. I’d recommend him to everyone. Thank you again Mike!

Mike helped me with a 203k loan which is a very difficult loan to say the least! He warned me there would be delays (and there were) and what would seem like redundant paperwork (and there was), but him and his team helped me with all of it. Some of it was hard to understand since I was a first time home buyer, but Mike was always there to answer my many questions and walk me through the process. He even helped me after my loan was sold to another company to get it all straightened out. He has a lot of experience and a very good team.

Mike was referred to us by our real estate agent Jackie Gallanagh. Mike came through on a difficult financing when all the others brokers we talked to could not. This was a Live/​Work condo that other lenders did not want to finance, but Mike found a way to get it done. We appreciated how Mike kept us informed along the way, and made the process as easy as it could be. He will be the broker we will go to for our next financing project.

Mike Molina made my house happen for me. I looked for 7 months, put in many offers on all kinds of places (houses-​fixers/​move in ready, lofts) all the while the Oakland market kept heating up. My agent and Mike were in contact with me constantly, regularly, helping me to understand the process in order to get the place I wanted. Whenever there was terminology or concepts that seemed unfamiliar, Mike explained them to me in terms I understood. He was patient, empathetic and considerate. I never had any doubt he had my best interest at heart and worked tirelessly to make the loan happen at an excellent rate too! His style is so different from other mortgage lenders I have worked with and for that I am eternally grateful.

A realtor friend referred me to Mike after I went through two awful refi attempts with B of A and Wells Fargo. I’m a current customer of both these banks for 20+ years and the mortgage teams there are horrendous to work with. But that’s another review.
Working with Mike is completely different story. He sets clear expectations for what information he’ll need from you and when. He is responsive at all times. I imagine there is a team working with him, but there was never a misstep or lack of communication. There was absolutely no stress in the process. No issues whatsoever with being self employed.
Thanks to Mike and his team I’ve moved into a 30-​year loan with a great rate, I am thrilled.

Mike was referred to us by our agent, Angelo Raymundo. Mike and his team were wonderful to work with. The loan approval process can be stressful but Mike and his team made it as stress-​free as possible by going out of their way to make sure we had everything ready ahead of time that they needed. Working with everyone at Citywide was truly a pleasure. Mike came to the escrow signing even though he didn’t have to and after 10 months he still takes the time to send hand-​written cards to keep in touch. We love Mike and his team and couldn’t recommend them highly enough!

Highly recommend Mike for your home lending needs. He knows what he’s doing! Thanks to him we were able to close a VA loan in less than 30 days! Him and his staff are very professional, efficient and knowledgeable. He’s easy going and let’s you know exactly what you need to do. He was always available to answer any questions and get things done. Gets back to you in a timely fashion, via phone, email or text. It was a pleasure working with him. Thank you Again Mike Molina
Jeremy and Diana

Mike was amazing through a difficult escrow. He was resourceful, super communicative, and the ultimate problem solver. We got our dream house with a comfortable monthly thanks to Mike and his team. He was one of our biggest assets through the entire process!

Five stars aren’t enough to describe my satisfaction with Mike’s service. Mike and his associates are the best at what they do. When I first approached Mike via Unilocal and asked if he could help my wife and I he didn’t flnch and never did he say to me that what I needed couldn’t be done. My wife and I are retired and on fixed incomes and several years ago we were taken for a «ride» by a Wells Fargo mortgage broker. We had signed for a loan which did not reduce principal. The loan was maturing and soon, payments would more than double. As I said, Mike saved us, and I will forever be in his debt. I am deaf and Mike made it OK by performing the entire process via email. Mike and his staff are truly extraordinary and I would not hesitate to refer anyone to him either to get a new mortgage, or refinance a mortgage. He and his staff seem to never stop working, they were always available quickly via email with any question I might have had. Please, if you’re looking for someone to help you with your mortgage needs, contact Mike and his staff! They are truly exceptional!
Thanks Mike!

Mike was recommended to me by my realtor. I really had no idea what I was doing, and Mike was there the entire time to answer anything and everything. I really couldn’t have asked for anything more during the process. Highly recommended.

Mike Molina is truly an anomaly. I had only been in one other real estate transaction at the time my realtor had referred me to Mike. I was content and comfortable entering into an agreement with my current bank, until I learned about local mortgage brokers, and Mike.
Mike stands out and differentiates himself from other brokers and institutions by being extremely well-​informed, transparent and honest in his feedback. As a working professional myself, I was very impressed with Mike’s ability to not just sit idle and «take» business, but work with me to recommend and provide best-​case scenarios and actions on my part to make the whole process smooth.
Aside from that, working with Mike was a breath of fresh air. Never did I feel like I was treated as just another file in the filing cabinet. I personally remember Mike working on my behalf until the very late hours, and always made himself available over phone to discuss any questions I may have had. Even after the transaction was completed, Mike made it a point to drive all the way from Walnut Creek to Berkeley to be present with me at the time of contract signing at the Title company, something that would likely never happen with other working institutions. Now, even 4 months after the close of my purchase, I still get occasional e-​mails from Mike, offering his services in the event I had any questions.
By the way, Mike worked so diligently, that my contract closed in only 14 days.
I strongly recommend Mike Molina for anyone looking for a very responsible and hard-​working mortgage broker in the Bay Area. I know I’ll be calling on him when the time comes again.

Mike and his team were absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend contacting Mike if you are thinking about buying a home. They very quickly had us pre-​approved so we could start making offers, and when we finally did make an offer, having Mike as our lender gave us an edge. Their rapid response time and ability to keep things moving helped put us in our first home in a few short weeks from offer to close.
We were first time buyers, and the nightmares of this process were eliminated because of Mike and his team. We will definitely call them when it comes time for our next move.

Mike was great! He quickly took me up even though my finances were all over the place and I was un sure if I could even get a loan. He helped me put everything in order, guided me through the whole process, and was able to to get me a loan! I am all settled in to my new home thanks to Mike and his team. Great communicator and tells you exactly what he needs and explains every scenario in detail.

Looking for someone going the extra mile when you are buying a home? Then Mike Molina is your man!
I am a German resident who thought to have seen a lot in his life, but coming to the US I had to learn that I didn’t. Moving to California I had to start as a nobody. Despite my great reputation and my excellent credit score in Germany, the banks in the US treated me like a boy leaving college whose father forgot to sign up for a credit card for me at the age of 2. No bank wanted to talk to me about a home loan!
A friend recommended Mike after many disappointments and that is where Mike came into the game. He understood the situation and explained that it will not be easy, but that he is very optimistic to get the job done for us. Mike provided the whole service package and used all of his knowledge to make sure I am better positioned for a loan. He found the right product for us in our situation and when an unexpected situation started to jeopardize the purchase of our new home, he found alternatives that helped us buying the home that we wanted to have so badly.
Mike was always on top of the situation, took my calls or responded to my mails at any time of the day, any day of the week — also when I actually didn’t expect him react. He was really working hard! Even though the process was difficult at certain times given the reasons described above, Mike made it a great experience for us. I was not only learning from him during our calls, I even enjoyed every single call as Mike has been very transparent and honest.
It’s easy to serve customers with «normal» requests — and I am sure that this is what Mike would prefer — but in a complicated financing scenario a partner like Mike Molina is the one you want.
Note: Mike cannot make the blind see, but he can make the impossible possible!

Mike, what a disappointment! I really did my homework on this Mike Molina with perfect unblemished reviews. However I could not disagree more with all the great comments. First hand experience started off with a great phone call but sounded offended when I asked about his experience and background, but thought nothing of it. After sending Mike contact email, which he requested he claimed he didn’t receive it. After I checked my sent folder I discovered I did actually send them??? After a couple of left phone messages, it seemed I could not get in contact him. My realtor at the time had to get involved as I resent it. He stated his phone was not working? He stated he replied back to my email and to check my spam box? I did so and nothing from him in my spam box. Plus I previously added his address to my contact list. Not sure what to believe. So, I filled out his online applications from his initial phone call request. He stated on the original phone call the loan approval process should take 24−48hours to obtain an answer on pre approval and amount qualified after the application is turned in. No word for 5 days. Then I made more phone calls to his mobile number, left 1 message, left him 1 email msg. My realtor got involved again. Moments later Mike contacted me asking questions about my application. I provided him with more info and later that day or the next morning he finally had the pre approval info… almost a week later that is. Fine fine, at least I’m approved now I told myself. Next I would be gifting money toward my DP and I requested him to talk to the ones gifting and to send some info. 3 – 4 days go by without a response from my email. I call him up and I finally reach him for once. He stated his mistake he forgot/​missed the email and that he will get on it right away, which he did.
By now it seemed clear to me he was far too busy and that his claims to become available and timely was highly untrue. Over 2 – 3 weeks have gone by by now and I’m a little frustrated with him.
On a phone call I asked him to reexplain the confusing loan fha/​conventional loan criteria again. He sounded upset and unwilling to do so. So the phone call ended. I later emailed him informing how poorly he was doing in the not so polite manner and that the relationship wasn’t working. He returned my email that he declined to work with me further.
I wonder to this day how he received great reviews?
I am currently happier with my realtor and my current lender.
I hope mike has improved the quality of his service since and that he does well.

Too bad Unilocal only allows 5 stars! Mike and his team top with list with exceptional & efficient customer service. They get the job done, were a pleasure to work with, made it possible for me to move into my beautiful home with a short closing period, and provided plenty of support along the way. I was pre apporved by another lender, but Mike came through with a lower interest rate and a better loan that allowed me to compete with other bidders. This was the smoothest virtual transaction I have ever experienced. Team Molina kept me informed during the entire process via phone and email seven days a week to ensure all went well with my transaction.
I highly recommend Mike and his team to everyone I know because they are the BUSINESS when it comes to taking care of business.
Thank you all so much for making it possible for me to create new memories in my new home with my family, friends, and new neighbors! I never imagined buying a home could be so easy!
Team Molina ROCKS!
;)

You can’t find anyone better than Mike Molina.
He is knowledgeable with the most current information there is.
Most importantly, he answers phone calls and replies to emails!
I’ve worked with a lot of lenders, but none worked as hard as Mike.
He actually attends and sat down with our buyers sign off at the title company. WHO DOES THAT? MIKE MOLINA, who else…
Now I cant stop referring clients to Mike.

I have been a Real Estate agent since 1979. I have seen loan brokers come and go and as you may imagine I have worked with more of them than I can remember. I have never worked with anyone as «on the ball» as Mike.
Although there must be people in the back room, reviewing and underwriting the loan, neither my clients nor I ever talk with anyone except Mike. He answers our phone calls quickly if not when we place them. He returns our emails quickly and best of all he sends up updates as soon as something of interest to us occurs such as «loan submitted», «appraisal ordered or received». My buyers and I always feel that we are his number one priority and that is the only feeling that we ever wants to have.
Mike is knowledgeable and generous with his knowledge; no question is too off base for him to field graciously. He is kind and smart and is there to accommodate us. He is the first loan person to attend buyer’s signings in many years because HE wants to meet the folks he has just assisted.
Mike Molina is the best loan person I have ever worked with, and I have worked with some pretty great people. I recommend him unequivocally.