I've driven past that Plains Commerce branch on 49th Street enough times to know the parking lot — the one that never quite seems full but always has a couple cars near the door. Steve Ennis works out of there, and if you're trying to buy a house in Sioux Falls right now, his name comes up.
What I like about talking to Steve is that he doesn't act like mortgages are simple — because they're not. The pre-approval process, the rate locks, the endless parade of documents that need signatures in three places — he'll walk you through it without pretending it's easier than it is. I've heard from people who worked with him on purchases in Whittier and out in Harrisburg, and the common thread is that he answers his phone. That sounds basic, but when you're waiting to hear if underwriting approved something and it's 4:47 on a Friday, it matters.
Plains Commerce has South Dakota roots, which means Steve understands the quirks of buying here — the way Brandon's growing faster than anyone expected, or how certain blocks near McKennan Park move before the sign even goes up. He's not going to oversell you on what you can afford, and that restraint is worth something. The 22 reviews with a perfect score aren't an accident.
The one thing that's harder with any banker at a regional institution is that turnaround times can stretch when things get busy — it's not quite the machine speed of a national lender. But I think most people would rather wait an extra day and actually talk to the same person twice.
If you're looking at houses along Minnesota Avenue or out near 85th and trying to figure out what's realistic, Steve's the kind of mortgage banker who'll tell you the truth before you fall in love with something you can't close on.
— Grace
What I like about talking to Steve is that he doesn't act like mortgages are simple — because they're not.