Prospective buyers or those looking to refinance can check out rates on the company's website. Clients can then cycle through three loan types of their choice (from a drop-down list of 30-, 25-, 20-,15-, and 10-year fixed or 10-, 7-, or 5-year adjustable mortgages) to get an idea of what the rates will look like. For example, the rates page shows a first-time buyer in Boca Raton, Florida purchasing a $300,000 home with 20% down and an excellent credit score could expect a rate of 4.375% and 4.486% APR on a 30-year-fixed mortgage. Then, customers can get a more in-depth look once they click on "Get Estimate."

Another feature we also really liked is that customers can also sort the rates search by 30-, 45-, or 60-day lock period, which is essentially the period of time the interest rate they’re viewing would remain the same before market fluctuations. The company notes that the actual rate, payment, and cost could change and encourages potential clients to get an official loan estimate.

The company also has a “Quick Apply” feature online, which asks similar questions about the client and the property. Then one of the company’s mortgage loan professionals follows up with the client in as little as a few minutes by phone to help them compare interest terms before choosing the best loan.

Minimum and maximum loan amounts may vary depending on credit score, loan amount or other factors. The company currently does not lend in Maryland and notes that the actual rate, payment, and costs could be higher. The company recommends clients get an official loan estimate before choosing a loan.

After using the "Quick Apply" feature, which asks series of questions that can range from property type, price, income, credit, and other factors, clients can expect a call in as little as a few minutes. We tested this out ourselves and were impressed by the responsiveness of the company. The representative also followed up in a text message as well and offered to provide a quote without doing a credit pull.

The company is also transparent about its customer reviews and links to external sites where they are rated. On the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) website, the company holds an A+ rating. On sites such as LendingTree, the company has a 4.8 out of 5 out of 203 reviews, 4.78 out of 748 reviews on Zillow, and a 4.9 out of 63 reviews on Google. The company offers customer support through social media, text and by phone.

Loans are approved on a case-by-case basis. Potential buyers or those interested in refinancing should contact a representative at ConsumerDirect to see if they’re eligible. Customers cannot select a credit score lower than a 600 on the “Quick Apply” feature or on the website's rate quote page.

The company is a division of First Bank, which has billions in assets and is in the top 5% of banks in the entire U.S. FirstBank is Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insured. It also does not appear ConsumerDirect Mortgage has any complaints on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau database.