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.
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.
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.
Summary of Best Atlanta Mortgage Lenders of 2021
| Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Minimum Credit Score | Minimum Down Payment | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for mobile experience | 620 | 3% | at Quicken Loans | |
Best for first-time home buyers | 620 | 3% | Read review | |
Best for a wide selection of loan products | 620 | 3% | at Fairway Independent Mortgage | |
Best for in-person service | 620 | 3% | Read review | |
Best for customer service | 620 | 5% | at loanDepot | |
Best for borrowers with nontraditional credit | 620 | 3% | at New American Funding | |
Best for military-connected borrowers | N/A | 0% | Read review | |
Best for first-time home buyers | 620 | 3% | Read review | |
Best for borrowers needing down payment assistance | 620 | 3% | Read review | |
Best for refinancing | 620 | 3% | Read review |
at Quicken Loans
at Quicken Loans
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Pros
- Quicken Loans couples a fully online application with available mortgage advisors for those who want a human touch.
- Instantly verifies employment and income for many working Americans.
- Offers custom fixed-rate loan terms that are between eight and 30 years.
- Provides a wide variety of loan types, including renovation loans and all government-backed mortgage products.
Cons
- Quicken Loans doesn't offer home equity loans or HELOCs.
- Quicken's lender fees can be stout and they don't offset those fees with particularly low mortgage rates.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Pros
- Offers a wide variety of loan options, including special programs for doctors, entrepreneurs and other professionals.
- 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.
at Fairway Independent Mortgage
at Fairway Independent Mortgage
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Pros
- Offers a robust suite of loan products, including a variety of renovation loans.
- Has a digital application that can be completed in 10 minutes.
- Works with some state housing finance agencies to offer mortgages with down payment and closing cost assistance.
Cons
- Mortgage rates aren't posted online.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Pros
- Allows borrowers to apply entirely online.
- Offers down payment and closing cost assistance programs.
- May give existing customers a discount on mortgage lender origination fees.
Cons
- Does not offer renovation loans.
at loanDepot
at loanDepot
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
5%
Pros
- Offers digital income, asset and employment verification.
- Offers multiple renovation loan options.
- Has over 200 affiliated loan stores nationwide for customers who prefer face-to-face service.
Cons
- Mortgage rates aren't available online; you'll need to contact a loan officer.
- Does not offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
at New American Funding
at New American Funding
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Pros
- Uses manual underwriting to evaluate creditworthiness.
- Offers full online mortgage application, rate quotes, document upload and loan tracking.
Cons
- Mortgage rates offered to borrowers are higher than the government-reported median of all lenders.
National / Regional
National
Min. Down Payment
0%
Pros
- Offers a wide range of affordable mortgage products designed for military members.
- Has an online application for preapproval.
- Offers low rates compared with most lenders.
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.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Pros
- Offers extensive educational resources for military borrowers.
- Provides digital tools for a streamlined application process.
- Participates in some state 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.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Pros
- Offers multiple online conveniences, including a full mortgage application, e-signatures and digital loan process tracking.
- Offers a wide variety of loan products, including home improvement and manufactured home loans.
Cons
- Does not offer home equity loan products.
- Average interest rates and fees are higher than other lenders.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Pros
- Offers a wide range of loan types and products, including FHA, VA and USDA.
- Has a full suite of online conveniences.
- Does well with rate transparency, and monthly payment estimates add mortgage insurance, when applicable.
Cons
- Home equity lending is geographically limited.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
- Quicken Loans: Best for mobile experience
- SunTrust (Truist): Best for first-time home buyers
- Fairway Independent Mortgage: Best for a wide selection of loan products
- Bank of America: Best for in-person service
- loanDepot: Best for customer service
- New American Funding: Best for borrowers with nontraditional credit
- Navy Federal: Best for military-connected borrowers
- Caliber: Best for first-time home buyers
- Guild Mortgage: Best for borrowers needing down payment assistance
- Flagstar: Best for refinancing
