One of the top-15 retail mortgage companies in the country goes by the name “American Pacific Mortgage,” or APM for short.
The NorCal-based company is big on experience, whether it’s the many years of work history their loan advisors have, or their goal in providing the best possible outcome for their customers.
They are also actively involved with hundreds of charities, and have donated more than $1.4 million via their APMCares non-profit division.
Additionally, American Pacific Mortgage has an Office of Diversity and has been named a Top Employer by Diversity Jobs, and features some of the top female originators in the country.
So it appears they’re a progressive company that also cares about social causes. Let’s learn more.
American Pacific Mortgage Fast Facts
- Independent direct-to-consumer retail mortgage lender
- Founded in 1996, headquartered in Roseville, CA
- Licensed to do business in 49 states and the District of Columbia
- Has roughly 200 branches and 1,400 loan advisors nationwide
- Funded more than $22 billion in home loans last year
- A top-15 retail mortgage company in the country by volume
- Did an almost equal mix of home purchase and refinance loans last year
- Most active in the states of California, Texas, and Washington
American Pacific Mortgage is an independent direct-to-consumer retail mortgage lender that has been around since 1996.
They are headquartered in Roseville, California, which is located just Northeast of the state capital Sacramento.
APM has nearly 200 physical branches located throughout the country, along with a team of about 1,400 loan advisors.
Many of those branches operate under DBAs, such as Advanced Mortgage Group, Aligned Mortgage, Big Valley Mortgage, Element Mortgage, Guarantee Mortgage, Old Republic Mortgage, Preferred Rate, and several others.
Last year, the company mustered over $22 billion in total production, with about 56% of it home purchase lending and the rest refinance loans.
They were most active in their home state of California, where nearly 60% of overall volume was originated.
The company also does a fair amount of lending in the states of Texas and Washington.
Some 70% of their production was made up of conventional loans, with FHA and VA loans accounting for about half each of the remainder.
How to Apply at American Pacific Mortgage
- They offer a digital mortgage application powered by ICE Mortgage Technology
- Can apply online in minutes and complete most tasks electronically
- Allows you to pause and resume where you left off and get status updates along the way
- Borrowers can link financial accounts, scan/upload files, and eSign documents on the fly
To begin, you can either visit a physical American Pacific Mortgage branch if one is located near you, or simply call a local office.
It’s also possible to apply directly from their website if you’ve been referred already and/or know who you’d like to work with.
Additionally, their website features a branch directory where you can enter your location and find both offices and loan advisors near you.
From there, it’d be wise to get a mortgage rate quote to determine how competitive they are, and also if they have the specific loan program you’re looking for.
Regardless of how you get in touch, they offer a digital mortgage application that is powered by ICE Mortgage Technology (formerly Ellie Mae).
It allows you to fill out an app electronically and pause and resume where you left off so you can complete it on your own schedule.
Borrowers can link their financials like a bank account using login credentials, scan/upload necessary files, and eSign documents on the fly.
Once submitted, you’ll receive status updates as your loan progresses to the finish line.
Those looking to buy a home can take advantage of their Keys on Time program, which provides a full pre-approval before you shop for a home.
Then you can shop around knowing your financing is in place, and perhaps stand out among other offers if in a bidding war.
In fact, if you don’t close on time and have the Keys on Time approval, APM will give you or the seller $2,000 for your trouble.
Loan Programs Offered by American Pacific Mortgage
- Home purchase financing
- Refinance loans: rate and term, cash out, and streamline
- Home renovation loans: FHA 203(k) and Fannie Mae HomeStyle
- Construction loans
- Reverse mortgages
- Conforming loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Jumbo home loans
- FHA loans
- USDA loans
- VA loans
- Specialty loans: self-employed borrowers and stated income
- Fixed-rate and adjustable-rate options available
One plus to going with American Pacific Mortgage is their wide array of available loan programs.
They appear to offer just about anything you could ask for, and lend on all property types, whether it’s your first home, a vacation home, or 1-4 unit investment property.
You can get your hands on anything from a conforming loan backed by Fannie Mae to a jumbo loan or even a reverse mortgage, along with everything in between.
APM also offers a slew of different options in both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate varieties, such as a 30-year or 15-year fixed, or a 5/1 or 7/1 ARM.
There are even programs tailored to self-employed borrowers and those with unconventional loan scenarios who might prefer to state their income or use assets to qualify.
Ultimately, you shouldn’t face too many restrictions when it comes to loan choice with APM.
American Pacific Mortgage Rates
One area that keeps us guessing a bit is their mortgage rates. They don’t feature on their homepage or elsewhere on their website, so we don’t know where they stand.
As such, you’ll need to get in touch with a loan officer to discuss loan pricing and overall eligibility.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to ask about any applicable lender fees, such as a loan origination fee or an application fee.
Once you take the time to shop around with APM and other lenders, you can determine if their pricing is in-line with or better than the competition.
As an independent mortgage company, they may best the big banks but perhaps price slightly higher than the fully-online mortgage lenders. But I can’t say with certainty.
American Pacific Mortgage Reviews
On Zillow, American Pacific Mortgage has a nearly-perfect 4.98-star rating out of 5 from roughly 3,500 customer reviews.
That’s doubly impressive given the large number of reviews and their ability to maintain such a high score.
Many of the reviews on Zillow indicated an interest rate and/or closing costs below what had been expected, which gives us a clue about their loan pricing.
You can also check out individual loan officer reviews on Zillow, so take a moment to filter if you want to see how a particular advisor has performed in the past.
On Facebook, they have a 4.5-star rating from over 100 reviews, and on Google a 4.9-star rating from over 600 reviews.
Additionally, they have a 5-star rating on Reach150 from over 700 reviews, and have been named a top mortgage lender by Scotsman Guide and a Best Military Lender by National Mortgage Professional Magazine.
Lastly, while not an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau, they do have an ‘A+’ rating based on complaint history.
In summary, American Pacific Mortgage could be a solid choice for both first-time home buyers and those looking to refinance an existing mortgage.
Their mix of technology and physical branch locations may appeal to those who prefer to know who they’re working with, as opposed to simply interacting with a website.
American Pacific Mortgage Pros and Cons
The Good
- Offer a digital mortgage application powered by ICE Mortgage Technology
- Lots of physical branches located throughout the country for those who prefer in-person consultation
- Keys on Time program offers a full mortgage approval before you shop for a home
- Tons of loan programs to choose from including reverse mortgages and specialty loans
- Excellent customer reviews from thousands of past clients
A+ BBB rating - Free smartphone app
- Free mortgage calculators and how-to guides online
The Perhaps Not
- Aren’t licensed to do business in New York
- Do not publicize mortgage rates or lender fees
- They may not service your loan after closing
(photo: David Fulmer)