BEST OF

10 Best Denver Mortgage Lenders of 2021

Looking for a Denver mortgage lender? Compare our picks to find mortgage companies offering loan options for a variety of borrower needs.

NerdWallet
Dec 1, 2021

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Buying a house in Denver raises some "Mile High" questions. Should you live in Jefferson Park so Broncos games are just a hop, skip and a jump away, or Stapleton so getting to Denver International Airport is a breeze? Should you buy new construction or an existing house? And most importantly, which Denver mortgage lender should you choose?

NerdWallet compared Denver’s leading mortgage lenders — big national brands along with smaller hometown options — to identify the best ones for a variety of borrower preferences. These Denver mortgage lenders in the table have been reviewed by NerdWallet and are among the city’s highest-volume mortgage companies, according to the latest available data.

» MORE: Five tips for finding the right mortgage lender

Best Denver Mortgage Lenders

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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Guaranteed Rate
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at Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Guaranteed Rate

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at Guaranteed Rate

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers seeking conventional or government-backed loans, and a totally online experience.

Pros

  • Offers the ability to securely upload and digitally sign loan documents.

  • Displays detailed sample rates for many of its loan products.

Cons

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

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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-down-payment options and existing customers who may get a discount on fees.

Pros

  • Offers down payment and closing cost assistance programs.

  • May give existing customers a discount on mortgage lender origination fees.

  • Offers home equity line of credit, or HELOC.

Cons

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

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Chase
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at Chase

Chase: NMLS#399798

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Chase

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at Chase

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who want a name-brand bank with offices in more than half the states that charges lower rates and fees than many other lenders.

Pros

  • Allows electronic submission and tracking of loan documents.

  • Carries a wide variety of mortgage types and products.

  • Generally offers competitive rates, according to the latest data.

Cons

  • Doesn't offer home improvement loans, such as FHA 203(k) and HomeStyle.

  • You have to speak with a home loan adviser to complete the application.

  • Home equity lines of credit (HELOC) are currently unavailable.

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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 and the convenience of a comprehensive mobile application process.

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.

  • Origination fees are on the high side and are not offset by low rates, according to the latest data.

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loanDepot
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loanDepot: NMLS#174457

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
loanDepot

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%
Read review

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers looking to refinance or who want to start the application process online.

Pros

  • Offers digital income, asset and employment verification.

  • Offers multiple renovation loan options.

  • Has affiliated loan stores 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.

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Guild Mortgage
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Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274

4.0

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 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.

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

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Flagstar
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Flagstar: NMLS#417490

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Flagstar

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
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.

  • Has a full suite of online conveniences.

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

Cons

  • Home equity loans are geographically limited.

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Caliber
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Caliber: NMLS#15622

3.0

NerdWallet rating 
Caliber

Min. credit score

580

Min. down payment

0%
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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.

  • 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.

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USAA
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USAA: NMLS#8722

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
USAA

Min. credit score

640

Min. down payment

0%
Read review

Why we like it

USAA specializes in VA loans and offers a variety of online conveniences, but its website doesn’t offer customized rate quotes.

Pros

  • VA loans are the bulk of USAA’s business, so it knows the ins and outs of eligibility.

  • Lots of experience assisting first-time home buyers.

  • You can submit loan documents online.

Cons

  • Doesn’t offer FHA or USDA loans, or second mortgages.

  • Limited mortgage rate information is on the USAA website, none of it customized. You'll have to call.

Read Full Review

» MORE: See more Colorado mortgage lenders

Local mortgage lenders in Denver

The following lenders have not been reviewed by NerdWallet. However, these companies originated a significant number of mortgages in Denver and are popular among the city’s home loan shoppers.

Check them out if you want to include some local options in your search for a mortgage lender.

American Financing

  • Employs salary-based mortgage consultants.

  • Offers Colorado first-time home buyer (CHFA) loans and down payment assistance.

  • Has a bank statement loan program for self-employed borrowers.

  • Has only one branch located in Aurora, Colorado.

Cherry Creek Mortgage

  • In business since 1986.

  • Offers specialty loans for first-time home buyers, Native Americans and union members.

  • Finances new construction and renovations.

  • Has more than 20 branch locations in Colorado.

FirstBank

  • Does not require personal information for customized rate quotes online.

  • Offers first-time home buyer loans with low closing costs and down payment assistance.

  • Offers construction and lot loans.

  • Has many branch locations throughout Colorado.

Elevations Credit Union

  • Offers a wide variety of loans, including FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo.

  • Has a no-closing-cost option for conforming loans.

  • Displays interest rates online for all its mortgage products, but they’re not customized.

  • Has more than a dozen branch locations in Colorado.

More from NerdWallet

Last updated on December 1, 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 Denver Mortgage Lenders of 2021