BEST OF

10 Best Atlanta Mortgage Lenders of 2021

Atlanta mortgage lenders serve a massive real estate market. NerdWallet has narrowed the field to the best lenders for borrowers of varying needs.

By NerdWallet  

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Atlanta mortgage lenders cater to a massive real estate market that's home to the employees of more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies, including Home Depot, UPS, Coca-Cola and Delta Air Lines. In a city with diverse and growing employment, national mortgage makers, regional players and online lenders vie for the business of a broad array of home buyers. NerdWallet has researched the offerings of the leading mortgage providers by loan volume in Atlanta and picked the best in different borrower categories. We dug even deeper and found top local lenders as well.

» MORE: Find out about Georgia first-time home buyer programs

Best Atlanta Mortgage Lenders

New American Funding
Learn more

at New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at New American Funding

Why we like it

Good for: First-time home buyers and other borrowers looking for a broad array of loan choices.

Pros

  • Offers a wide variety of purchase and refinance mortgages with an emphasis on helping underserved communities.

  • Its home equity line of credit can be used for an owner-occupied or second home.

  • Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.

Cons

  • Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.

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Quicken Loans
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at Quicken Loans

Quicken Loans: NMLS#3030

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Quicken Loans

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at Quicken Loans

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who appreciate convenience online and on the go for a fully digital home loan experience with consistently acclaimed customer service.

Pros

  • Caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan online and talk to a human only as necessary.

  • Estimates the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.

  • Streamlines the online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, including the ability to edit your preapproval letter.

Cons

  • Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.

  • Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.

  • Lender fees are on the high side and the fees aren't offset by particularly low mortgage rates, according to the latest data.

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Fairway Independent Mortgage
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at Fairway Independent Mortgage

Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Fairway Independent Mortgage

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at Fairway Independent Mortgage

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who want access to a wide variety of mortgages, including renovation loans and ITIN loans.

Pros

  • Offers a robust suite of loan products, including ITIN loans for borrowers without Social Security numbers, renovation loans, government-backed mortgages and loans for self-employed borrowers.

  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.

Cons

  • Mortgage rates for different types of loans aren't posted online.

  • Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.

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loanDepot
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loanDepot: NMLS#174457

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
loanDepot

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%
Read review

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who want an easy online application and a variety of loan types to explore.

Pros

  • Has branches across the country for customers who prefer face-to-face service.

  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.

  • Mortgage interest rates tend to be on the lower end, according to the latest federal data.

Cons

  • Mortgage rates aren't available online; you'll need to contact a loan officer.

  • Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.

Read Full Review
SunTrust (Truist)
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SunTrust (Truist): NMLS#2915

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
SunTrust (Truist)

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
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Why we like it

Good for: first-time home buyers, doctors and other borrowers interested in low-down-payment mortgage options.

Pros

  • Offers a wide variety of loan options, including special programs for doctors.

  • Offers a complete suite of online mortgage application tools and loan tracking.

  • Sample rates and fees are easy to find on the website.

Cons

  • Customized rates aren't available online without starting an application.

  • Branches are limited mostly to the Southeast.

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Navy Federal
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Navy Federal: NMLS#399807

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Navy Federal

National / regional

National

Min. down payment

0%
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Why we like it

Good for: military members and their families looking for low-down-payment mortgages.

Pros

  • Offers a wide range of affordable mortgage products, including 0% down payment loans, designed for military members.

  • Offers HELOCs and home equity loans.

  • Offers low rates compared with most lenders, according to the latest federal data.

Cons

  • Website does not provide customized mortgage rates based on credit score or other factors before you apply.

  • Credit union membership is limited to veterans and current military members, their families, and certain federal employees, retirees and contractors.

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Caliber
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Caliber: NMLS#15622

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Caliber

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
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Why we like it

Good for: first-time home buyers, veterans and those who may have credit challenges to overcome.

Pros

  • Offers extensive educational resources for military borrowers.

  • Participates in some down payment assistance and first-time home buyer programs.

Cons

  • No mortgage rates displayed online.

  • Doesn’t offer home equity loans or lines of credit.

Read Full Review
Guild Mortgage
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Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Guild Mortgage

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Read review

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who value customer service, and first-time home buyers and others who may need the flexibility of a low-down-payment loan program.

Pros

  • Offers a wide variety of loan products, including home improvement loans and mortgages for manufactured homes.

  • Has retail branches in most states.

  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.

Cons

  • Does not offer home equity loan products.

  • Origination fees tend to be higher, according to the latest federal data.

Read Full Review
Bank of America
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Bank of America: NMLS#399802

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Bank of America

Min. credit score

660

Min. down payment

5%

National / regional

National
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National / regional

National

Why we like it

Good for: first-time home buyers looking for low- or no-down-payment options and homeowners interested in a home equity line of credit.

Pros

  • Offers down payment and closing cost assistance programs.

  • May give existing customers a discount on mortgage lender origination fees and HELOC interest rates.

  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.

Cons

  • Doesn't offer renovation loans that roll costs into a mortgage.

Read Full Review
Flagstar
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Flagstar: NMLS#417490

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Flagstar

Min. credit score

620

National / regional

National
Read review

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who want a wide range of choices — not only among mortgage products, but also in the channel they prefer, whether a branch, online or on the phone.

Pros

  • Offers a wide range of loan types and products, including FHA, VA and USDA.

  • Borrowers can apply and track loan status online.

  • Offers customized online rate quotes with monthly payment estimates, including mortgage insurance, when applicable.

Cons

  • Home equity loans are geographically limited.

  • Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.

Read Full Review

» MORE: See the best Georgia mortgage lenders

Local mortgage lenders in Atlanta

If you want to include a local lender or two in your search for the best mortgage, these Atlanta lenders are among the highest-volume mortgage underwriters in the city, though they have not been reviewed by NerdWallet.

Fidelity Bank Mortgage

  • Established in 1974 and claims to be the largest community bank in metro Atlanta.

  • Services home loans after closing, rather than selling them off to a third party to collect.

  • Offers a first-time home buyer grant for down payment and closing-cost assistance.

BankSouth Mortgage

  • Based in Buckhead, with branches throughout Georgia.

  • A mobile app allows you to apply for a mortgage, scan documents and track your loan status.

  • Offers conventional loans, as well as all government-backed mortgages and construction/renovation loans.

Homestar Financial

  • A Georgia-born lender with about 80 branch offices in the Southeast.

  • A wide variety of loan offerings, including 203(k) renovation loans, jumbos and government-backed mortgages, in addition to conventional loans.

  • Jumbo loans available for up to $5 million on nearly all property types, including first and second homes.

Southeast Mortgage

  • Claims to be the largest nonbank lender in Georgia.

  • Processing, underwriting and document preparation are all based in Atlanta.

  • Seven offices across Georgia, with four in Atlanta and another eight offices in surrounding states.

More from NerdWallet

Last updated on January 26, 2021

Methodology

NerdWallet's star ratings for mortgage lenders are awarded based on our evaluation of the products and services each lender offers to consumers who are actively shopping for the best mortgage. The five key areas we evaluated include the variety of loan types and products offered, online conveniences, online mortgage rate information, and the rate spread and origination fee lenders reported in the latest available Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. To ensure consistency, our ratings are reviewed by multiple people on the NerdWallet Mortgages team.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Atlanta Mortgage Lenders of 2021