Gary Boyer, aka Mortgage Monkey, is licensed through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). 

Instead of offering one set of in-house products, he shops multiple wholesale lenders. Conventional loans, refinancing, and multi-unit properties are all available. 

We found him one of the most flexible loan specialists in Portland. Since he matches clients with lenders rather than originating directly from a single source, there’s room to tailor terms more strategically.

It can be useful for self-employed borrowers, first-time buyers, or anyone with a less-than-ideal financial profile.

Making a loan isn’t exactly a relaxing matter, but Gary seems to make things easier for his clients. He’s calm, patient, and quick to reach out when something changes.

A story that really stuck with our team was from a couple who had no idea whether they even qualified to buy. Gary met with them on a weekend, gave an honest assessment, and laid out what needed to happen before homeownership was realistic.

A year later, they came back. During a bumpy process, they said he really acted as a real advocate. 

However, we’ve heard some feedback tied to his affiliate that smaller or simpler loans occasionally received minimal communication or follow-up.

While this doesn’t appear to reflect Gary personally,  a more consistently proactive communication style across all loan sizes would improve the overall client experience.

Everything moved smoothly from beginning to end

“Gary was the person who guided me through the entire process, and I’m really glad he was the one handling everything. He has this calm, patient way of explaining things that made the whole experience feel a lot less overwhelming. Anytime something came up, he reached out right away so I was never left wondering what was going on. It honestly felt like he treated my situation with the same attention he’d give a friend or family member. Everything moved smoothly from beginning to end, and a lot of that was because of how on top of things Gary was. I’d absolutely recommend working with him.”

– Marlene Zamudio, Google review

I can’t recommend The Mortgage Monkey enough! 

“I can’t recommend The Mortgage Monkey enough! Gary went above and beyond to help us through the mortgage process. His expertise, attention to detail, and friendly demeanor made everything seamless and stress-free. If you’re in need of a mortgage, Gary is the person to go to!”

– Kim Aholelei, Google review

Apartment Loan Store has been around since 1997, mostly focusing on multifamily loans. They’re a great partner for investors building or refinancing properties across different states.

They’re experts in non-recourse loans, no-tax-return options, and government-backed programs like HUD.

What makes them stand out is their 97% loan close rate. They match borrowers and properties upfront, avoid errors in submissions, and keep the process moving slowly.

We were also impressed that they hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Licensed in all 50 states, they have direct relationships with over 100 lending sources too.

Client feedback supports these strengths. One client praised Fred’s deep understanding of the mortgage industry and his proactive nature. 

Their team really anticipates challenges before they happen and provides recommendations that are carefully tailored to each client’s situation. 

However, their “pro loan matching” systems can feel strict. To maintain that high close rate, they require detailed financial and property information upfront.

For those with messy paperwork or weaker credit profiles, it may slow the process and feel demanding. 

Their guidance made the experience smooth and efficient

“Apartment Loan Store was instrumental in helping us secure HUD financing for one of our multifamily projects. They delivered the promised terms and rates on time and were extremely knowledgeable about the HUD process. Their guidance made the experience smooth and efficient. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking HUD financing or funding a multifamily development.”

– Pierre Perry, Google review

He is very knowledgable about the industry and the process

“We are owners of a 48 unit apartment building and just closed on a loan refinance.  Fred was absolutely wonderful to work with.  He is very knowledgable about the industry and the process.  He is also very professional and courteous.  Thank you to Fred and the Apartment Loan Store for exceeding our expectations on our loan amount and terms!”

– Craig Comer, Google review

Northwest Private Lending is a direct private lender that mostly works with real estate investors. 

Because they use their own capital and fund everything in-house, there are no brokers in the middle, which means fewer delays and clearer communication. They can close deals in as little as five days.

Their loan products are straightforward. They offer fix-and-flip loans up to 80% of the property’s value, bridge loans, construction and rehab loans for larger projects, and cash-out refinances.

For the latter, they skip credit score minimums. This shows they lean heavily on property value and equity rather than on credit perfection. 

From what clients said, the team guides them in a streamlined and informative way. It pretty much highlighted their hands-on support and steady updates.

We also appreciate their fee transparency. They charge three points for origination, a flat document prep fee, and one percent monthly interest. There are no extension fees for borrowers who stay compliant.

That said, there are a few limits to keep in mind. Since they are a family-run lender using their own money, they’re not a huge institution with endless funds to deploy.

In very busy markets, that could mean less room for investors handling multiple large deals at once. 

She is an absolute pleasure to work with

“Michelle was beyond helpful in our situation. Her knowledge of the industry and breakdown of what to expect was instrumental in our decision. She is a great source of information, friendly and an absolute pleasure to work with.”

– Mikayla Perry, Google review

The process was streamlined and very quick

“Eric and his team worked with my family and I to place us in a position to better ourselves with our homes refinance.  The process was streamlined and very quick, Eric guided us through every step with regular updates and his team was informative, knowledgable and helpful. We would recommend Northwest Private lending to anyone for their home refinance, or any of the services they offer.  Very professional, honest and reliable.  Highly recommend!”

– Charles Bocook, Google review

Steph Noble at Cross Country Mortgage combines the resources of a big lender with a very personal approach.

She and her team offer a wide range of mortgage options, from traditional purchase loans to more specialised products. 

Their offerings include support for first-time buyers with programs like CCM Smart Start, refinances across Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Affairs (VA), and conventional loans.

We also liked how Steph works with her clients. Instead of focusing solely on what someone can afford, she starts with monthly payment goals and builds the loan around longer-term financial plans. 

Real estate professionals also highlighted Steph’s ability to think creatively and provide practical solutions. Her team, especially Heidi and Tina, is also reportedly detail-oriented. 

Many clients also appreciate how effectively the team collaborates with realtors. 

That said, we’ve heard a few reports mentioning long response times. 

I can’t recommend this stellar lender enough!

“Steph and her team are fantastic to work with! As a realtor, I rely on my lending partners to help move the transaction forward, and I always know my clients are in good hands with Steph. She and her team are excellent at communicating where things are at in the process to all parties involved. I can’t recommend this stellar lender enough!”

– Amanda Haworth, Google review

They handled our VA loan like pros and worked super well with our realtor team!

“Steph’s team (shout out Heidi and Tina!!) were so fantastic to work with and made the mortgage process super simple. Heidi was super communicative and helped during the pre-approval process, and Tina was equally as amazing during the latter half of the process. The whole team was super communicative (even on weekends / after hours) and nothing was missed. They handled our VA loan like pros and worked super well with our realtor team!”

– Carol Fisher, Google review

Julee Felsman at Rate is a very experienced mortgage broker in Portland with over 30 years of experience. 

She specialises in different types of loans. First-time buyers can access down payment help and low down payment loans like FHA, VA, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

Self-employed people can use bank statement loans, which don’t require tax returns or pay stubs. Military families have VA loans with 0% down to help them build equity.

We see their team as a good choice for people with unique financial situations or anyone needing guidance through complicated loans. 

Clients talked about how fast and helpful her team is. One person shared that Julee worked on a Sunday to get a preapproval ready for an offer deadline, and the home closed in less than 30 days.

The main downside is cost. Some clients noted high interest rates and closing fees, sometimes over 7%. 

They were great with communication and got my loan together in record time

“Julee and the entire team at Rate were stellar, they were great with communication and got my loan together in record time (even when dealing with a difficult seller.) As a first time homebuyer, I was nervous about the entire process. But with the help of Julee and Jorah, I felt confident every step of the way that any questions I had would be answered with a level of care and professionalism that didn’t make me feel like I was being talked down to. I also really appreciated the large number of informational videos that Julee has made available about the mortgage process, it made educating myself more on my own time much easier. Thank you guys so much, you made a lifelong dream come true!”

– Faye, Google review

Outstanding experience with Julee and the team at Rate! 

“Outstanding experience with Julee and the team at Rate! Came in with a million questions and got an answer for every single one of them.  So impressed with the entire team and the ease of communication throughout the whole lending process. Julee and her team were very responsive and we never had any trouble reaching any of our contacts at very short notice.  As a first time home buyer, the process can feel complicated and overwhelming but Julee and her team explained every step.  They provided an incredible wealth of buyer education and that gave us a lot of confidence in their expertise.  We were met with a team that really cared about meeting our needs and getting us to our goal. Highly,  highly recommend Julee and her team at Rate.”

– Madar Buck, Google review