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4 Best Interest-Only Mortgage Lenders of 2021

An interest-only mortgage is a niche product that can be difficult to find these days. See NerdWallet's picks for some of the best interest-only mortgage lenders in 2021.

NerdWalletJanuary 2, 2021
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An interest-only mortgage can be hard to find these days. It is a niche product, best suited for borrowers with strong cash flow and good credit and often for home buyers looking for a short-term loan — typically from five to seven years.

Many interest-only mortgages are also jumbo loans, for higher-priced properties that don't meet conventional loan standards.

NerdWallet has gathered some of the best mortgage lenders for people seeking interest-only mortgages to help you find the one that's right for your needs.

Summary of Best Interest-Only Mortgage Lenders of 2021

Guaranteed Rate

at Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Guaranteed Rate

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%

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.

Read Full Review
New American Funding

at New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%

at New American Funding

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who need to be evaluated on the basis of nontraditional credit and those interested in various down payment assistance programs.

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.

Read Full Review
Wintrust Mortgage
Read review

Wintrust Mortgage: NMLS#449042

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Wintrust Mortgage

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%

Read review

Why we like it

Wintrust Mortgage offers a variety of loan products, including home equity lines of credit and even home-improvement loans, and provides a number of online conveniences, such as loan process updates. But you won’t find rates posted online.

Pros

  • Online application and progress tracking are available.

  • Offers specialty loans, such as construction, renovation and reverse mortgages.

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

Cons

  • Mortgage rates are available only by contacting a loan officer.

  • Physical locations aren't available in all states.

Read Full Review
HomeBridge
Read review

HomeBridge: NMLS#6521

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
HomeBridge

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%

Read review

Why we like it

Good for borrowers who want a loan officer's help, in person or on the phone, when deciding among the wide range of available mortgage options — including loans to buy and renovate.

Pros

  • Offers a full array of mortgage products, including government and renovation loans.

  • Has loans for most purposes, including purchase, refinance and jumbo mortgages.

  • Online portal keeps borrowers up-to-date on the loan application's progress.

Cons

  • Doesn't post interest rates on its site.

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

Read Full Review

Last updated on January 2, 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 Interest-Only Mortgage Lenders of 2021