11 Best Conventional Mortgage Lenders of 2023
See NerdWallet's top picks for the best conventional mortgage lenders, many of which offer 97% mortgage financing.
Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.
For home buyers with strong credit, solid income and at least a 3% down payment, a conventional mortgage may be the perfect fit. But which lender should you choose?
To help you shop, NerdWallet has picked some of the best conventional mortgage lenders in a variety of categories.
Best Conventional Mortgage Lenders
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620 | 3% | |||
620 | 3% | |||
620 | 3% | |||
620 | 3% | |||
620 | 5% | |||
 New American Funding: NMLS#6606 Top 3 most visited 🏆 Learn moreat New American Fundingat New American Funding | 580 | 3% | Top 3 most visited 🏆 Learn moreat New American Fundingat New American Funding |
Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611
620
3%
- Offers a one-day mortgage approval process.
- Offers a generous selection of loans, including government-backed, interest-only, ITIN, jumbo, and renovation loans.
- Advertises a HELOC that can be funded in as few as five business days.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
- Origination fees are higher than average, according to the latest federal data.
- HELOC has a relatively short draw period, which may not provide flexibility for someone who wants the option of accessing home equity over a longer period.
- Offers government-backed loans and some harder-to-find products, such as construction loans and specialty mortgages for pilots.
- Offers low rates and fees compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Displays customized rates, with fee estimates, without requiring contact information.
- HELOCs and construction-to-permanent loans are available only in the Kansas City metro area.
- Offers a one-day mortgage that lets eligible borrowers apply, lock in a rate and get a loan commitment within 24 hours.
- Average interest rates are on the low end compared to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers a HELOC that can be used for a primary, second or investment home.
- Doesn't offer harder-to-find loans, such as construction loans, renovation loans, or USDA mortgages.
- Finding descriptions of all of the loan offerings on the website requires some digging, and the lender does not have a mobile app.
- Average lender fees are on the high end compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers several low-down-payment loan options, including FHA, VA, USDA and the PNC Community Loan.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
- Mortgage rates are lower than the industry average, according to the latest federal data.
- Jumbo loans available with 5% down payment.
- Doesn't offer renovation mortgages or home equity loans.
- In-person service is not available in every state.
- You’ll have to create an account or supply personal data to get answers by phone.
San Diego County Credit Union: NMLS#580585
5%
Regional
- Offers purchase, refinance and jumbo mortgages, plus loans for second homes and home equity products.
- Provides customized rate and fee quotes without requiring contact information.
- Interest rates are notably low, according to the latest federal data.
- No FHA, VA or USDA mortgages.
- Loans are available in California only.
- Mobile app has low ratings.
New American Funding: NMLS#6606
580
3%
- 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.
- Has a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
- Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end.
- Personalized mortgage rates are not available on the website without providing contact information.
- Offers multiple low-down-payment loans.
- Accepts history of bankruptcy, foreclosure and late payments with flexible loan program.
- Considers borrowers with low credit scores and high debt-to-income ratios.
- Fined $5.25 million for misleading customers about pandemic-era payment relief.
- Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
- Lender fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
- Multiple loans for those who are renovating or building a home, including loans with interest-only payments during construction.
- Offers home equity loans and lines of credit.
- Offers down payment assistance and loans for underserved borrowers, including ITIN loans and loans with flexible qualifications in certain communities.
- Interest rates are on the low side relative to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Borrowers can enter their information (including their desired loan amount, down payment and zip code) into the lender’s Mortgage Quote Comparison tool and receive a customized rate quote.
- Home equity loans are not available in all locations served by Flagstar.
- In 2022, the lender was fined for violating laws regarding properties in flood zones.
- Borrowers can apply entirely online. The lender is also very transparent about what borrowers can expect from the process, including nontraditional customers.
- Borrowers do not need to become members of the credit union until they’ve reached the closing process, meaning that interested home buyers can apply and get rate offers without committing to membership.
- Offers customized rate quotes, including a detailed breakdown of estimated closing costs.
- Does not offer VA, FHA or USDA loans.
- Membership is contingent on belonging to or joining a partner organization, or living in an eligible Chicago-area community.
Golden 1 Credit Union: NMLS#669333
N/A
3%
- Has a preferred real estate agent program that can save a borrower money on closing costs.
- Offers some flexibility on guidelines for loan qualification.
- Customized sample rates are available online without contacting the lender.
- Does not offer VA or USDA loans.
- Products mostly available only to California residents.
- Doesn’t offer home equity loans, only HELOCs.
Navy Federal: NMLS#399807
National
0%
- Offers unique loan options aimed at military borrowers, such as a proprietary loan called Military Choice that works as an alternative to VA loans.
- 24/7 customer service supports borrowers stationed overseas.
- Offers home equity loans and lines of credit.
- Borrowers must join the credit union before applying for a mortgage.
- The lender does not offer renovation or construction loans.
- When we tried their customer service line, we sometimes waited longer than 10 minutes before being connected with a representative who could answer our questions.
Qualifying for a conventional mortgage
Conventional mortgages typically conform to loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and aren’t guaranteed or insured by the federal government.
Qualifying for a conventional loan is generally harder than qualifying for FHA and other government home loans. In addition to a solid income and money for a down payment, you'll likely need a strong credit history.
More from NerdWallet
Last updated on February 3, 2023
Methodology
The star ratings on this page reflect each lender's overall star ratings. Read more about how we determine those ratings.
The lenders on this page are chosen using this methodology:
NerdWallet reviewed more than 50 mortgage lenders, including the majority of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders by annual loan volume (measured among lenders with at least 1% market share), lenders with significant online search volume and those that specialize in serving various audiences across the country.
For inclusion on this roundup, lenders must offer conventional mortgage and refinance loans. The highest scoring lenders according to our overall methodology are featured here.
NerdWallet solicits information from reviewed lenders on a recurring basis throughout the year. All lender-provided information is verified through lender websites and interviews. We also utilized 2021 HMDA data for origination volume, origination fee, average interest rate and share-of-product data.
NerdWallet's Best Conventional Mortgage Lenders of 2023
- Guaranteed Rate: Best for FHA lending
- NBKC: Best for overall lending experience
- Better: Best for refinancing
- PNC: Best for first-time home buyers
- San Diego County Credit Union: Best for rate transparency
- New American Funding: Best for nontraditional credit histories
- Carrington: Best for borrowers with weaker credit histories
- Flagstar: Best for first-time home buyers
- Alliant: Best for variety of loan types
- Golden 1 Credit Union: Best for rate transparency
- Navy Federal: Best for credit union lending
Frequently asked questions
- How much down payment is needed for a conventional mortgage?
Some lenders offer conventional mortgages with a down payment of as little as 3%. You’ll typically need to put down at least 20% to avoid private mortgage insurance, however.
- What credit score is required for a conventional mortgage?
The credit score needed to buy a house with a conventional loan varies by lender, but 620 is typically the minimum. You’ll need a score of around 740 to get the best rates.
- What's the difference between conventional and FHA mortgages?
Unlike conventional mortgages, FHA loans are guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration. FHA mortgages have more relaxed income and credit score requirements than conventional mortgages, but they typically require a 3.5% down payment and mandatory mortgage insurance for the life of the loan. Compare FHA vs. conventional home loans to see which one fits your needs.
- What should I look for in a conventional mortgage lender?
The best conventional mortgage lenders offer the right combination of competitive rates, attractive loan terms and low closing costs. Finding a lender that excels at customer service and your preferred style of communication is also essential.
