John Benno, Preferred Mortgage Inc.

I am extremely happy I chose John Benno as my mortgage broker. My parents had worked with him in the past and were very pleased with his work, and I can't agree more. I've reached out to John a couple of times over the years, and he's always been extremely helpful. For this refinance, he went above and beyond. He was very communicative the entire time, answered all our questions, and took the time to explain things in detail so there was no confusion. He explored several different routes to find the best options and interest rates for our situation, and I'm completely satisfied with the outcome. Considering how high interest rates are right now, it works perfectly for us. It's important to do your homework and reach out to different banks and lenders, but at the end of the day, John’s quality, customer service, and focus on the client’s best interest delivered more than I expected. Whether you're knowledgeable about mortgages or not, he is willing to educate you and explain everything. I would definitely go back to him again, and I would refer him to anyone in the Oakland, CA area.

If you want a real estate agent who is really in your corner and listens to your concerns, John is the person to go through. We were first-time home buyers in San Leandro, and my husband met John when we were looking at the house. What mattered to us was that he wanted to make sure we were getting the best interest rate and making smart decisions, not just focusing on the sale price. He walked us through everything step by step and took the time to explain the process since this was our first home purchase. He was always available, easy to talk to, and very honest about how everything worked. We got to know him personally, which made a big difference. Because we already trusted him, when we later thought about refinancing, it felt natural to go back to John as our mortgage broker. He was never pushy and never seemed focused on commission. He genuinely looks out for his clients. If we ever buy another home or refinance again, we would absolutely work with him and recommend him to others looking for a local mortgage broker in the East Bay area.

John Benno is a family friend of my wife, so when we started looking for houses, we reached out to him with a ton of mortgage questions. He helped us secure the original loan for our first home purchase, and about a year and a half later, he reached out to us regarding a mortgage refinance. John was incredibly helpful, providing all the information we needed about refinancing without pressuring us to go through him. He encouraged us to consider other offers, but ultimately the rate he offered was the best we found. Having John monitor rates and look out for our best interests took a lot of stress off our shoulders. John's extremely knowledgeable and was able to explain complex details in a way we could easily understand. He made himself easy to reach and handled the mortgage and refinance process so smoothly that we never felt stressed. We really appreciate having an expert to rely on when we don’t know how something works or what to do next. We’d absolutely call John again or recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable and knowledgeable mortgage broker in California.

When searching for a mortgage broker, the lawyer I was working with referred me to John Benno. It was my first time buying a home, so I had no idea what the process entailed. John was great; it felt like having a friend who had all the information. If I had any problems during the process, I would call him, and if I didn't understand something, he walked me through it. It was fantastic, actually. He's a great guy, explains everything clearly, and takes the time to make sure you understand. He went over interest rates and points, and I feel like he really educated me on how the home loan process works. He also explained how federal loans get cut and how that affects home loans. He walked me through everything so I never felt lost. He got me the lowest mortgage interest rate in Hayward that I think there is, or what he could do with the way the state of things is right now. I know if I ever need anything, I can just give him a call. He's the go-to guy. I would definitely recommend him to others in the Hayward, CA area, and if I need to refinance or buy again, John would be the person I'd want to call.

This is the third time I’ve worked with John Benno as my mortgage broker in California, and every experience has been just as smooth as the first. I bought my first home with his team, refinanced for the second, and recently purchased a second property. John is incredibly responsive, always provides clear options, and gives practical advice on next steps. The process with him is smooth. What I respect most is that he answers all the time, usually immediately, which makes everything move fast. John always finds competitive interest rates, and my friends are surprised at how good my rates are. He works around the clock, including weekends, and makes sure I fully understand the process by breaking down risks and ways to mitigate them. It’s always a great experience working with him. I’d absolutely work with John again or recommend him to anyone looking for an experienced mortgage broker in California.

We got in contact with John Benno through a referral from our realtor for our home purchase in Antioch. I hadn’t been through the home buying process for a while, so I was overwhelmed by all the paperwork, deadlines, and steps required to make sure everything was done on time. He walked us through every step in clear, simple terms, kept us updated, and made understanding the mortgage process easy. Whether we needed to sign paperwork digitally or had a quick question, John was always just a text or call away. Despite other lenders trying to compete, he locked in the best rate, which made us feel secure in our choice. What stands out most is the relationship he builds with clients. I feel comfortable reaching out to him anytime, and I know he would let us know if rates drop or if there’s a chance to save money or improve our position as homeowners. I would absolutely call John again or recommend him to anyone in California looking for a mortgage broker who makes the mortgage process simple.

John was great to work with on our home purchase in Antioch. Not only were we first time home buyers, we also had the added complication of my grandmother selling her house and all of us moving into one place, so there was a lot to figure out. I never felt rushed or like I couldn’t call him with questions. He explained everything in plain English, was quick to respond to texts, and helped make a complicated process feel simple. He even monitored the market and timed our rate lock perfectly. What stood out most was John's attention to detail. He looked into my grandmother’s Prop 19 eligibility so her tax base could transfer and made sure the title was set up properly. John also helped with finding contractors and walking us through everything we needed to know about the home buying process. I’d absolutely reach out to him again if we buy another home or need refinancing, and I would recommend him to anyone looking for a trustworthy mortgage professional in California

John Benno is a genius at what he does! I used John as my mortgage broker when I bought a home in 2009, and now again, even in retirement, he locked in a fantastic mortgage with the best possible terms and lowest interest rate. I couldn’t be more thankful for all the time, attention, and skill he put in. When I told him this was the condo I wanted, just three miles from my daughter’s house, he said he would make it happen, and he absolutely did. We’ve been friends for half a century, and for anything related to mortgages, refinancing, or home loans, he’s always the first person I call. His attitude is just so positive! He's the best person to work with and anybody that wants to reach out to him for a mortgage lender or home financing needs would not be unhappy.

I'm a real estate agent and have been referring home buyers, throughout the Contra Costa County area, to John Benno for almost 8 years. In the past, he also did a seamless refinance for me personally. John is straightforward, honest and will let you know upfront whether or not he can secure the financing you need - He's not the type to waste your time or make empty promises! As a broker, John has far more lending resources than a bank typically would so I'm always confident that he will be able to close the deal! I just know that there aren't many mortgage brokers around who are more capable or committed as John. If he can't get you approved then no one can!

John is a dog with a bone when it comes to finding a loan! At the time both my husband and I were self employed, which can be tricky when shopping for loans. Only John Benno could have pulled it off and he did, several times for us. Won't go to anyone else. He's right there in the fight with you and always has your back. #johnbennoisthebest!

If you are buying a home and need a mortgage, call John at preferred mortgage. I was a first time home buyer and he answered every question and addressed every concern I had quickly and thoughtfully. Preferred Mortgage (PM) is a broker company, meaning they serve as the go-between the loan recipient and the bank. I was hesitant as first since this creates an opportunity for additional costs for me with an added party to the loan process. However, John had two clear objectives: (1)beat any rate I could get on the market, and (2) provide the best customer service possible. Those two objectives aligned with my interests and made for a great partnership. Clearly when procuring a loan you want the best possible rate. This is definitely the way to go. Additionally, if you are in a time constraint and need a quick loan turn around (ex. I had a short contingency term) pick PM. I requested the loan on a Thursday, and the following Wednesday is was approved and done in underwriting. I can't say enough about how painless John made the experience. He answered all my called, and returned all my texts. I was informed every step of the way and assured that nothing I asked was too detailed or too dumb. I feel smarter, more informed, and confident that I made the right choice when procuring my loan through John and his team at PM.

John Benno is a fantastic Mortgage lender in San Ramon. He is the absolute go to guy if you are in the market for a home! John has been in the area helping with home lending for over 30 years and is a true expert.

My mortgage broker at Preferred Mortgage has been John Benno who has assisted me several times on homes I have purchased getting me the best option for each situation. John worked patiently with my son when he tried several times over the last year to purchase a home. When he was able to purchase a home, John worked with him so he made the best choice regarding the down payment and mortgage. I look forward to working with John in the future.