7 Best Kentucky Housing Corporation Lenders of 2020

The Kentucky Housing Corporation offers down payment assistance and mortgage tax credit programs. See our top picks for KHC-approved lenders.

Summary of Best Kentucky Housing Corporation Lenders of 2020

Lender	Best For	Minimum Credit Score	Minimum Down Payment	Learn More
BB&T NerdWallet rating Read review	online experience	620	3%	Read review
Guaranteed Rate NerdWallet rating Read review	online experience	620	3%	Read review
Caliber NerdWallet rating Read review	veterans	620	3%	Read review
Fairway Independent Mortgage NerdWallet rating Learn More at Fairway	buying a fixer-upper	620	3%	Learn More at Fairway
loanDepot NerdWallet rating Read review	buying a fixer-upper	620	3.5%	Read review
Churchill NerdWallet rating Read review	borrowers with limited credit history	620	3%	Read review
PrimeLending NerdWallet rating Read review	borrowers with limited credit history	620	3%	Read review

Read review

BB&T: NMLS#399803

4.0

NerdWallet rating

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

Read review

Why we like it

Ideal for borrowers in the Southeast who want online tools with the option of face-to-face service. BB&T, now part of Truist Financial Corp., offers a full menu of home loans.

Pros

Offers a variety of low-down-payment mortgage options
Offers construction loans to build a home or make significant renovations to an existing home.
Flexible borrowing and payment options for home equity loans and lines of credit.
Full suite of online capabilities.

Cons

Branches limited mostly to the Southeast.

Read Full Review

Read review

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

4.5

NerdWallet rating

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

Read review

Why we like it

Ideal for borrowers who are looking to apply for a mortgage and manage the process through online tools, whether buying or refinancing. Guaranteed Rate offers FHA, VA and USDA loans for borrowers who are well-qualified.

Pros

Works with most borrowers as long as they have good credit scores and incomes.
Provides a user-friendly digital platform that’s thorough in covering all types of borrowing scenarios.
Has a 95% customer satisfaction rate, according to company data.

Cons

Charges some fees, such as a $1,290 lender fee that includes a $150 application fee.
Offers many products, which might confuse or overwhelm borrowers.
Several click-throughs required for personalized rates.

Read Full Review

Read review

Caliber: NMLS#15622

4.0

NerdWallet rating

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

Read review

Why we like it

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

Pros

Participates in some state down payment assistance programs.
Offers educational resources for military borrowers.
Provides digital tools for a streamlined application process.

Cons

No mortgage rates displayed online.
Must work with a loan officer for pre-qualification and preapproval.

Read Full Review

Learn More

at Fairway

Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289

4.0

NerdWallet rating

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

Learn More

at Fairway

Why we like it

Ideal for borrowers who want lots of options and a quick turn time. Fairway Independent Mortgage offers a full selection of home loans along with a comprehensive mobile app for a fast and easy application process.

Pros

A robust suite of loan products.
Licensed in all 50 states.
Close in as little as 10 days using the Fairway app.

Cons

Limited branch locations.
Mortgage rates not posted on website.

Read Full Review

Read review

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

4.0

NerdWallet rating

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3.5%

Read review

Why we like it

Ideal for borrowers looking to get a mortgage with help from a loan officer. Digital back-office operations are said to add efficiency to the loan process.

Pros

Offers digital income, asset and employment verification.
Has over 150 affiliated loan stores nationwide for customers who prefer face-to-face service.
One of the nation’s most active lenders of FHA and VA loans.

Cons

Published mortgage rates include up to three points of prepaid interest and fees.
Does not offer home equity loans or lines of credit.

Read Full Review

Read review

Churchill: NMLS#1591

3.5

NerdWallet rating

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

Read review

Why we like it

Ideal for borrowers who worry about taking on debt. Churchill advocates "debt-free homeownership" and helps customers achieve that goal. A well-known advocate: financial guru Dave Ramsey.

Pros

Offers loans to customers without credit scores, using alternative data.
Helps customers find relevant state housing and rural/farm programs.
Offers annual mortgage reviews to help borrowers stay on track toward the goal of living debt-free.

Cons

Not available everywhere: serves 44 states and D.C.
Some borrowers, particularly in expensive urban areas, may be put off by the debt-free homeownership strategy.
Does not offer home equity loans or HELOCs, but will "broker them out."

Read Full Review

Read review

PrimeLending: NMLS#13649

4.0

NerdWallet rating

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

Read review

Why we like it

Ideal for borrowers with past credit issues and those looking for down payment and closing cost assistance programs.

Pros

Low rate of consumer complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Offers a "float-down" interest rate lock.
Offers a proprietary closing-cost assistance program.

Cons

No online mortgage rates.
Charges an origination fee.
Doesn't offer home equity products.

Read Full Review

More KHC-approved lenders

These lenders also participate in KHC programs and are among the highest-volume mortgage providers in Kentucky; however, they haven’t been reviewed by NerdWallet.

Century Mortgage

Allows you to submit a preapproval request online.
Doesn’t list rates or loan types on its website.
Has several locations in Kentucky.

Commonwealth Bank and Trust

You must speak with a loan officer to apply.
Doesn’t publish loan options or mortgage rates on its website.
Has over a dozen locations in the Louisville area.

Fifth Third Bank

Provides online appointment scheduling with loan officers.
Doesn’t appear to have a digital application.
Has nearly 20 branch locations in and around Lexington.

Stockton Mortgage

Lets you start the preapproval process online.
Offers a wide variety of mortgage products.
Has over a dozen branch locations in Kentucky.

More from NerdWallet

See more top mortgage lenders

Calculate your KY mortgage payment

Browse Kentucky mortgage rates

Last updated on January 2, 2020

Methodology

NerdWallet's selection of mortgage lenders for inclusion here was made based on our evaluation of the products and services that lenders offer to consumers who are actively shopping for the best mortgage. The six key areas we evaluated include the loan types and loan products offered, online capabilities, online mortgage rate information, customer service and the number of complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a percentage of loans issued. We also awarded lenders up to one bonus star for a unique program or borrower focus that set them apart from other lenders. To ensure consistency, our ratings are reviewed by multiple people on the NerdWallet Mortgages team.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Kentucky Housing Corporation Lenders of 2020

BB&T: Best for online experience
Guaranteed Rate: Best for online experience
Caliber: Best for veterans
Fairway Independent Mortgage: Best for buying a fixer-upper
loanDepot: Best for buying a fixer-upper
Churchill: Best for borrowers with limited credit history
PrimeLending: Best for borrowers with limited credit history