Customer Satisfaction with Mortgage Origination Lenders Reaches Seven-Year High, While Gap in Satisfaction between Home Buyers and Refinancers Narrows

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 14 November 2013 — Overall customer satisfaction with mortgage lenders reaches a seven-year high, with satisfaction among first-time home buyers improving considerably from 2012, according to the J.D. Power 2013 U.S. Primary Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study^SM released today. 

Overall customer satisfaction improves for a third consecutive year, averaging 771 (on a 1,000-point scale) in 2013, up from 761 in 2012 and 747 in 2011. The study measures customer satisfaction in four key factors of the mortgage origination experience (in order of importance): application/approval process; loan representative; closing; and contact.

KEY FINDINGS

• Overall satisfaction is lower among home buyers than among home owners who refinance (765 vs. 775, respectively), in part due to refinance customers' familiarity with the process.
• Overall satisfaction among first-time home buyers is 772, compared with 757 among repeat buyers.
• Despite improvements, customers purchasing a home, particularly first-time home buyers, continue to experience difficulties understanding the loan options available to them. In the 2013 study, 61 percent of first-time home buyers indicate that their loan representative clearly explained their options and that these options were completely understood, compared with 74 percent of repeat home buyers and 81 percent of refinancing customers.
• The use of electronic closing documents improves customer closing satisfaction. Closing satisfaction among the 8 percent of customers who closed their mortgage using electronic documents in person averages 830, while satisfaction among the 84 percent of those who closed with paper documents in person is 772.
• The incidence of incurring additional fees at closing is higher among first-time home buyers (17%) than among repeat buyers (8%) and refinancing customers (7%).

"As refinancing volumes are on the decline, consumers contemplating purchasing a home are likely to have multiple lenders competing for their business. This can be particularly beneficial for those who are first-time home buyers," said Craig Martin, director of the financial services practice at J.D. Power. "First-time buyers often have questions and should not be afraid to ask prospective lenders about the specifics of the mortgage process and how they will be kept informed. Much of the stress with borrowing comes from a lack of information and knowledge during the process. Asking when you will be updated and how that information will be provided are two key questions that may help improve the borrowing experience." 

According to Martin, customers purchasing a home, especially for the first time, have special needs and priorities that influence their level of satisfaction. Individual mortgage firms that are able to effectively deliver on these priorities may be able to distinguish themselves from the competition.

Rankings:

Quicken Loans ranks highest (841) among primary mortgage lenders and performs well across all factors. BB&T (Branch Banking & Trust Co.) ranks second (798), also performing well across all factors. U.S. Bank ranks third (783) and performs particularly well in the application/approval process (756) and loan representative (810) factors.  

The 2013 U.S. Primary Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 3,267 customers who originated a new mortgage or refinanced within the past 12 months. The study was fielded between July 30 and August 30, 2013.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power has offices in North/South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power is a business unit of McGraw Hill Financial.

About McGraw Hill Financial

McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, J.D. Power, and McGraw Hill Construction. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 27 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com

Media Relations Contacts

Jeff Perlman; Brandware Public Relations; Woodland Hills, Calif.; 818-598-1115; jperlman@brandwarepr.com

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power. www.jdpower.com 

Follow us on Twitter @jdpower