Brookview Experiences & HML vs Portfolio

[Franklin M.]

Has anyone had recent experience with Brookview Financial, in terms
of:
1. do they fund quickly after paying the $295 "pre-approval" fee, once a pre-approved investor submits a property that meets their approval?

2. do they refund in a timely manner the 12.5%+7.5% [6 months interests] they require to be placed in escrow, until pay off of the credit facility?
[& is this escrow requirement,
& 1% "activation fee" standard with HML's?
I don't recall anyone asking for those when we bought our eighth investment property in 2007---have things changed this much?!]

3. Any warnings [or positive reviews] about Brookview?

Lastly, for investors with excellent credit [800+],
how do portfolio lenders compare to Hard$Lenders, for purchase+rehab loans,
---e.g.
a. points
b. application or activation fees
c. pre-payment penalties, and
d. interest rates?

Or do portfolio lenders in Southern Cali & Maryland do rehab/purchase loans?

Thanks