Castle & Cooke Mortgage Review: Are They the Key to Your Castle? | The Truth About Mortgage
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4 years ago
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Today we’ll take a close look at “Castle & Cooke Mortgage,” an independent mortgage lender with a sizable presence in the Southwestern United States.

They’re a retail, direct-to-consumer lender that has been around for about 15 years, yet they still mustered nearly $1.5 billion in total production last year.

The company is located just south of Salt Lake City in Draper, Utah, the state where they do most of their business.

They’re also quite active in nearby Nevada, so if you live in either state, you may have come across them. Let’s learn more.

Castle & Cooke Mortgage Fast Facts

  • Retail direct-to-consumer mortgage lender
  • Founded in 2005, headquartered in Draper, Utah
  • Offers home purchase financing and refinance loans
  • Funded nearly $1.5 billion in home loans during 2019
  • Licensed in 37 states and the District of Columbia
  • Most of their volume came from the states of Utah and Nevada

As noted, they’re quite active in the Southwestern United States, namely in Utah and Nevada. They also did a large amount of lending in Arizona, California, and Texas.

However, they are licensed in 37 states and the District of Columbia, so you can work with them if you live in most states nationwide.

At the moment, Castle & Cooke Mortgage is licensed in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI and WY.

They also have physical branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.

Last year, they did about $1.3 billion in total loan origination volume, with about two-thirds of that home purchase lending. The rest was made up of mortgage refinances.

About half of their volume consisted of conventional loans, with another third FHA loans and the rest mixed between jumbo loans, VA loans, USDA loans, and so forth.

How to Apply for a Home Loan with Castle & Cooke Mortgage

  • You can apply directly from their website or free smartphone app
  • Get started by browsing the loan officer directory on their website
  • Or you can call/visit a brick-and-mortar branch if one is located near you
  • They offer a digital home loan process from start to finish

You can apply for a home loan directly from the Castle & Cooke Mortgage website, or download their free smartphone app and get started that way as well.

First, use the branch directory on their website to find the one nearest you, then click on “Loan Officers” to see who works there.

You can read their bios, or alternatively just choose one if you’ve been referred or know who you’d like to work with.

Once on a loan officer’s personal webpage, you’ll be able to start the mortgage application or pre-qualification process.

They offer a digital mortgage loan process that allows you to complete most paperwork electronically, including the ability to eSign documents.

You can also scan and upload paperwork, link financial accounts, and receive updates as you go. whenever you need help, there’s an option to message your loan officer instantly.

Simply put, they make it easy to apply and track loan progress along the way, from start to finish.

Loan Types Offered by Castle & Cooke Mortgage

Castle & Cooke Mortgage Rates

You won’t find mortgage rates listed on the Castle & Cooke Mortgage website. This doesn’t mean they’re good, bad, or just plain average.

Many lenders choose not to publicize their mortgage rates for one reason or another, and Castle & Cooke Mortgage is one of those lenders.

So in order to get pricing and compare rates, you’ll need to get in touch with a loan officer first.

The same is true of their lender fees, which they don’t seem to disclose on their website.

If and when you obtain pricing, be sure to inquire about any fees they charge, such as an application fee or loan origination fee.

Also take the time to compare their rates and fees to other lenders to see where they stand. While pricing isn’t everything, it’s certainly a deciding factor for many homeowners.

Castle & Cooke Mortgage Reviews

On SocialSurvey, they have a 4.93 rating out of 5 based on more than 8,000 reviews from past customers. That’s an excellent rating, especially given the number of reviews.

Over at Zillow, they have a 4.98-star rating out of 5 based on nearly 300 customer reviews. That’s near perfection and a truly impressive rating.

You can also see individual loan officer reviews both on the Castle & Cooke website (on each loan officer’s webpage) and on Zillow. Be sure to fine-tune to if you want to work with the

One slight negative is the fact that they have a ‘C’ rating with the Better Business Bureau at the moment, which is based on complaint history. Hopefully that improves soon.

They also aren’t accredited with the BBB, not that it equates to a company being good or bad necessarily.

In summary, Castle & Cooke offers a good mix of home loan programs and a variety of convenient ways to apply for a mortgage.

That, coupled with their excellent customer reviews, could make them a good choice for your mortgage needs if offered in your state.

Castle & Cooke Mortgage Pros and Cons

The Pros

  • Can apply for a mortgage directly from their website
  • Also have brick-and-mortar branches in 13 states
  • Lots of loan programs to choose from including jumbos
  • Excellent customer reviews
  • Free smartphone mortgage app
  • Free mortgage calculators and mortgage glossary on-site

The Cons

  • Not licensed in all states
  • Do not disclose mortgage rates or lender fees on website
  • Currently have a ‘C’ rating with the BBB
  • May transfer your mortgage to a third-party loan servicer

(photo: James Petts)


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