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If this is your first time working with a CPA, don’t worry — most professionals offer a free consultation and will walk you through what to expect. You may be asked to complete an intake form, share financial documents, or set clear goals for your session.
*Note: Every CPA operates a bit differently. Don’t hesitate to ask questions before committing.*
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*Note: Every CPA is different — take time to find one who fits your goals and style.*
3 Winham St
Salinas, California 93901
Miguel Santamaria is our trusted mortgage broker, guiding us through multiple transactions with exceptional service. His expertise, dedication, and transparency set him apart, always securing the best deals. We highly recommend him to anyone seeking a reliable and knowledgeable mortgage professional.
Loans by CMS is a great company to work with! I see them involved a lot in events and definitely have great leadership and very compassionate about what they do. I was able to do a signing with Danny as a notary for his clients and he made the process very easy and smooth. Definitely trustworthy to work with for your loans!!!
My family and I had a fantastic experience working with Miguel as our mortgage broker. He truly made the entire process easy and understandable. Miguel's unwavering support and guidance were invaluable, as he was with us every step of the way. I highly recommend him for his expertise and dedication to ensuring a smooth mortgage process.
Our experience with Miguel was very smooth. He was very detailed, supportive & responsive. Before making any home offers, we would always check with him how the numbers would look. He was so fast & responsive. He was always available for any questions & searched the best deal for us. I would extremely recommend him.
There are no words that can even express my entire process and expreience with Miguel, so as you read this please magnify this expression by a million. Miguel was exceptionally patient, confident WITHOUT arrogance, professional, and knowledgable, and stayed in the most appreciated amount of communication not only with me and my agent but with the selling agent as well. Extremely friendly, personable, understanding and efficient and did it all with such a pleasant demeanor. Such an asset to the industry!! N
Danny made purchasing a home an easy process! Once we found the house my husband and I wanted, Danny made sure to work us a quote and meet all the deadlines we needed so that we could sign. He always answered my concerns in a timely manner and would follow up with anything that the loan lenders needed. I appreciate all the help and time he gave us as first time home buyers!
I just had to take a moment to express my appreciation for the rockstar job Miguel Santamaria from Loans By CMS did during our loan process! From the get-go, I was blown away by his lending industry knowledge and his ability to translate tricky concepts into plain day to day language. Miguel and his team showed great care and concern for our financial well-being, providing ongoing communication and timely delivery. My family and I are so grateful for your hard work, and I can't wait to recommend you to ev
It was thanks to the workshop that Miguel and other agents took part that really helped me and my family get started with the process towards homeownership. His guidance in explaining everything clearly was super helpful. He really goes beyond for his clients. Thank you for helping us in such a difficult time!! Highly recommend him !
Danny Calderon made the process of buying a home so easy for me and my wife. We had received a pre approval from a different lender and I took it over to Danny for a comparison. Danny got us an even better offer! I was so amazed and how quickly Danny worked on our loan. We were able to get cleared to close escrow two weeks early thanks to how fast Danny worked. I am so thankful for your company?s services. So attentive, so friendly, so professional. Thank you a million times over Danny! We are so happy to h
Recently received a loan through CMS and was assisted by Danny. He was very professional and very knowledgeable about the entire process. He made me feel very comfortable and I was sure that I found the right company to handle my loan. I will recommend Danny and his company to all my family and friends.
Thank you Miguel for being involved in our journey to becoming a homeowner. We had the pleasure of meeting you at the NHORA workshop and knew you were an amazing person to help Hispanic families achieve their dream home. You made our experience a pleasant one and would highly recommend anyone to trust you with their road to home ownership! Muchas gracias, lo apreciamos!
This is the second time Miguel Santa Cruz has helped me? refinance my home and? has been awesome with his services. I always receive answers to questions or concerns I have quickly and the process was pretty relaxed with refinancing. I feel like a true customer where customer service is top notch and readily available. Miguel Santa Cruz works around the clock to make sure I was happy and updated with the progres..Thanks for everything Miguel Santa Cruz
Had a good experience working with Miguel and his company. I would totally recommend his services thanks to him and his team I am now officially a home owner!
Danny was so wonderful to work with. This is the second loan he has done for us and if we do any more, it will be with him. KI loved doing most everything online. Saves valuable time. If you're trying who to go with, pick Danny at CMS, he's the best.
This is the third time Danny has help us with our loan needs. Every time has been a very positive experience. Danny's knowledge saved us lots of money by getting us the lowest interest rates. Danny was attentive and quick to respond to our questions. We will definitely recommend his services to friends and family. Thanks Danny!
We refinanced our home for the first time. CMS was our fourth quote and they offered the best rate at the time. Danny, who managed our refinance, was a problem solver, responded promptly, had a positive attitude, and had our best interest in mind. He made the process easy and stress-free. Thank you, Danny!
It was an absolute pleasure working with Danny at CMS! Danny made our home buying process seamless and stress-free. Danny was always a phone call or text message away throughout the entire process. Danny was informative, professional, and sharp! Thank you, Loans By CMS! 10/10 would recommend!
We refinanced our home, and the process was so easy. It was all done in less than 2 weeks. We got the best rate thanks to Danny. He personally walked us through the whole process. Thank you very much. We saved a lot of money, and knocked 10 years off our mortgage.
Mr. Santamaria and his team worked diligently to ensure we got the best deal and interest rate to close on our transaction. The big banks were not able to help us due to our situation but Miguel made it happened when other didn't. I highly recommend them, we are truly grateful; for their hard work.
This is my second time working with Danny, and couldn't be happier with his help, knowledge, and professionalism. He is very responsive to any questions and doubts that I had. I now refinanced my loan with his help, and I was amazed how quickly he closed my refi loan. He's always available or makes the time to help you. Whenever I had any concern, he made me feel calm. He made the refinancing process easy, hassle-free, and very quick. Even after closing my loan, he's always there to answer any questions/dou
Danny Calderon at CMS is the best in the business! He goes out of his way to provide multiple options for your loans and outlines all the steps from start to close with no surprises. His operation is streamlined and he's tech savvy where you can provide documents and complete the application in a matter of minutes. I've worked with him for the past 8 years and will continue to recommend him to my network.
Miguel Santamaria is one of the BEST Mortage Loan Officers I have ever worked with! He is very thorough and will work hard to make sure everything works out and your happy. I have high expectations and a strong work ethic and he meets all my requirements. I would undoubtedly work with him again when I'm in the market for another loan. Believe me when I tell you, you will not regret working with him the best I've ever worked with. Miguel is really great at what he does.
I just refinance my home loan and worked with Danny. He took his time to explain to me everything in detail. He is a very professional and knowledgeable person. Thank you Danny for making this process easier than I thought it would be. If I had to do it again I would come back to you. I have been recommending you to my colleagues.
Danny is very professional, very attentive, wouldn't hesitate in answering any questions we had. The process from beginning to end was easy and fast. My family and myself are very thankful for his work, I 100% recommend him.
My family and I are very grateful for Loans by CMS they were very professional, they answered all of our questions and would get back to us in a timely manner. We are very satisfied with their services. Thank You Danny Calderon for making the process so easy.
Danny was very professional and genuinely made us feel comfortable about the whole process. He had answers for all our questions and if he didn't have it he got it and kept us updated on everything that was going on. Truly made the whole process easy and comfortable.
Danny was very helpful. He was friendly, professional and always answering all our questions. Our process was fast and he keep us updated on every single thing that was going on with our loan. I highly his services.
Thank you Miguel Santamaria for you're help with helping us buy a house.
Great experience working with Miguel at Loans by CMS in Salinas, CA. He was responsive, honest, professional, and so helpful.
Miguel and Team offer an array of options and deliver the best in customer service! Highly recommend
I would like to express my total satisfaction with the Loans By CMS team, Miguel Santamaria did a phenomenal job helping me with my purchase. Thank you!
I am a repeat customer with this establishment. Danny is thorough, quick, and transparent every step of the process.
Very helpful and knowledgeable makes you feel like family highly recommend.
(Translated by Google) Excellent service, we have worked with Miguel Santamar?a on two occasions, he is very professional and is always willing to look for our best options, adapting to any change in plan or budget. Very friendly and he is also bilingual! (Original) Exelente atenci?n, hemos trabajado con Miguel Santamar?a en dos ocasiones, es muy profesional y siempre est? dispuesto a buscar nuestras mejores opciones adapt?ndose a cualquier cambio de plan o presupuesto. Muy amable y adem?s es biling?e!.
(Translated by Google) Many thanks to the entire CMS team. With their help and professionalism, I was able to obtain the loan I desired. Especially to Mr. Miguel Santamaria, who was always attentive and guided us step by step through the process. He was always willing to help and answer calls and questions from the heart. Thank you very much, Miguel, and continue helping families in need. We recommend you with more than 5 stars. (Original) Muchisimas grasias a todo el equipo de CMS con su ayuda y profesion
(Translated by Google) Excellent service and help we received from Loan By CMS, thank you Daniel Calderon for explaining everything very clearly. (Original) Excelente servicio y ayuda que recibimos por parte de Loan By CMS, gracias Daniel Calderon por explicar todo muy claro.
(Translated by Google) Super recommended Monica and Miguel, thanks to them my family and I fulfilled our dream of having our own house ???? (Original) S?per recomendados Monica Y Miguel gracias a ellos mi familia y yo cumplimos nuestro sue?o de tener nuestra propia casa ????
(Translated by Google) Good job, very friendly and good service, I definitely recommend them ?? (Original) Buen trabajo , muy amables y una buena atencion, sin duda se los recomiendo ??
(Translated by Google) Excellent service, good attention and kindness, thank you for your support. (Original) Excelente servicio, buena atenci?n y amabilidad, gracias por su apoyo.
(Translated by Google) Very good communication and quick attention. (Original) Muy buena comunicaci?n y atenci?n r?pida.
(Translated by Google) Thank you very much, Miguel, for your efficiency, professionalism, and speed. (Original) Muchas gracias Miguel por tu eficacia, profesionalismo, y tu rapidez..
Look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, which ensures they’ve passed rigorous exams and meet state requirements. Check for relevant experience in your industry, additional certifications like CFA or CMA, and membership in professional organizations like the AICPA. Verify their credentials through state licensing boards.
Use online directories like the AICPA, CPAverify, or state CPA societies. Search platforms like Yelp or Google for local CPAs with reviews. Ask for referrals from business associates, friends, or financial advisors. Local chambers of commerce can also provide recommendations.
A CPA is a licensed professional who has passed the CPA exam and met state requirements for education and experience. An accountant may lack this certification and could have varying levels of expertise. For complex tasks like tax audits or financial reporting, a CPA is typically more qualified.
Ask about their experience with your specific financial needs, such as tax preparation, small business accounting, or estate planning. Review their website or LinkedIn for case studies or client testimonials. Inquire about their client base to ensure they handle similar financial situations.
Yes, reviews provide insight into a CPA’s reliability, communication, and performance. Check platforms like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau for client feedback. Look for patterns in reviews, but verify their authenticity, as some may be biased or outdated.
Visit your state’s Board of Accountancy website or use CPAverify.org to check a CPA’s license status. Confirm their license is active and check for any disciplinary actions or complaints. This ensures they’re in good standing and meet professional standards.
Ask about their experience with your financial needs, fee structure, availability, and communication style. Inquire how they handle tax filings, audits, or financial planning. Ask for references or examples of similar work to assess their expertise and fit.
Fees vary based on location, services, and complexity. Basic tax preparation may cost $150-$500, while business accounting or audits can range from $1,000 to $10,000+. Request a detailed fee structure upfront and compare quotes from multiple CPAs.
Yes, many CPAs offer remote services through secure online platforms for document sharing and virtual consultations. Ensure they use encrypted tools for data security. Remote CPAs can be effective if they understand your local tax laws or business regulations.
During consultations, evaluate their ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly. Ask sample questions about taxes or financial strategies and note their responsiveness and clarity. Good communication ensures you understand their advice and fosters a productive relationship.
Beware of CPAs who guarantee specific tax refunds, lack a valid license, or have disciplinary actions on record. Avoid those with poor communication, vague fee structures, or negative reviews highlighting unethical behavior. Always verify their credentials independently.
Large firms offer more resources and specialized teams but may charge higher fees. Solo practitioners often provide personalized service and lower costs but may have limited availability. Choose based on your needs, budget, and preference for personalized attention.
For individuals, annual meetings for tax preparation may suffice. Businesses may need quarterly or monthly check-ins for bookkeeping, tax planning, or financial reporting. Discuss your needs upfront to establish a meeting schedule that aligns with your financial goals.
Yes, many CPAs handle both, but confirm their expertise in both areas. Ask about their experience managing personal taxes and business accounting simultaneously. Ensure they can balance both without compromising attention to your specific financial needs.
Discuss concerns directly with your CPA to resolve issues. If unresolved, check your contract for termination terms. Seek a new CPA by researching reviews, credentials, and referrals. Request your financial records to ensure a smooth transition to a new professional.