Best of
Best Las Vegas Mortgage Lenders of 2019
NerdWalletJuly 2, 2019
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Finding the right Las Vegas mortgage lender takes more than luck. We researched the market and recommend checking out these high-volume lenders.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Ideal for first-time home buyers, veterans and those who may have credit challenges to overcome.
Pros
- Participates in some 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.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Ideal for borrowers with a relatively high credit score who may need down payment assistance or help from a state housing agency.
Pros
- Works with loan programs offered by state and local housing agencies.
- Specializes in mortgages for first-time home buyers.
- Almost half of its loans are low-down-payment government mortgages.
- Considers alternative credit, such as history of payments on rent and utilities.
Cons
- With a concentration of offices in the West and South, Guild has little presence in the Northeast and Midwest.
- Jumbo borrowers may find that banks are more competitive when it comes to large-amount loans.
at loanDepot
at loanDepot
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3.5%
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.
National / Regional
National
Min. Down Payment
0%
Ideal for military members and their families. Navy Federal Credit Union offers a wide range of mortgage products, an online application and considers alternative credit data for certain loan types.
Pros
- Wide range of affordable mortgage products designed for military members.
- Willing to look at nontraditional credit data, such as rent payments, as part of its credit evaluation for certain products.
- Lower minimum loan amounts than many other lenders.
- Online application for preapproval with quick decision.
- $1,000 mortgage rate match program.
- Operates nationwide.
Cons
- Charges application and underwriting fees.
- Origination charge on a typical conventional loan is 1% of the loan amount.
at New American
at New American
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Ideal for borrowers who need to be evaluated on the basis of nontraditional credit. New American Funding offers FHA and VA loans, works with down payment assistance programs, and seeks borrowers whose credit histories don't fit the mold of traditional banking.
Pros
- Uses manual underwriting to evaluate creditworthiness.
- Offers full online mortgage application, rate quotes, document upload and loan tracking.
Cons
- Services not available in all 50 states.
at Vylla
at Vylla
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Ideal for first-time home buyers or credit-challenged borrowers who may have trouble qualifying for a mortgage.
Pros
- Low minimum credit score.
- Online application, loan tracking and document upload.
- Free rate locks.
Cons
- No online preapproval.
- No presence in Massachusetts or North Dakota.
at Rocket Mortgage
at Rocket Mortgage
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Ideal for anyone who appreciates smartphone app service, support and time savings. A fully digital home loan experience with a large variety of mortgage products.
Pros
- The site caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan without talking to a human unless it’s absolutely necessary.
- With your authorization, accesses asset statements from 98% of U.S. financial institutions.
- Tells you the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.
- Rocket Mortgage’s document and asset retrieval capabilities can save you a bunch of time and hassle.
Cons
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or HELOCs.
- If you’re a “look me in the eye” type of customer, you’re out of luck.
- Doesn’t consider alternative credit data. It just looks at credit scores and debt-to-income ratios, the way most mortgage lenders always have.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
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 meet robust guidelines.
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 which includes a $150 application fee.
- Offers many products, which might confuse or overwhelm borrowers.
- Several click-throughs required for personalized rates.
National / Regional
National
Max LTV
89%
Ideal for current Flagstar customers. Flagstar offers rate discounts for existing customers with high credit scores who withdraw at least $25,000 at closing.
Pros
- Multiple draw methods.
- Line amounts from $10,000 to $1,000,000.
- No prepayment penalty on home equity loans.
Cons
- Below average customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power.
- Branch locations in only about half of U.S. states.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Ideal for borrowers who prefer a traditional bank. Bank of America offers a wide array of mortgages and online account management tools. It also has first-time home buyer loans with low down payments and no mandatory mortgage insurance.
Pros
- Allows borrowers to apply entirely online.
- Offers down payment and closing cost assistance programs.
- Accepts alternative credit data for some loan types.
- May give existing customers a discount on mortgage lender origination fees.
Cons
- Charges an application fee of $1,170, on average.
- Has a high volume of consumer complaints, even for a big national bank.
Summary of Best Las Vegas Mortgage Lenders of 2019
| Lender | Best For | Minimum Credit Score | Minimum Down Payment | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Caliber | first-time home buyers | 620 | 3% | Read review |
 Guild Mortgage | first-time home buyers | 620 | 3% | Read review |
loanDepot at loanDepot | FHA loans | 620 | 3.5% | at loanDepot |
 Navy Federal | veterans | N/A | 0% | Read review |
New American Funding at New American | borrowers with low credit score | 620 | 3% | at New American |
Vylla at Vylla | borrowers with low credit score | 620 | 3% | at Vylla |
Rocket Mortgage at Rocket Mortgage | online convenience | 620 | 3% | at Rocket Mortgage |
 Guaranteed Rate | online convenience | 620 | 3% | Read review |
 Flagstar | home equity borrowers | N/A | N/A | Read review |
 Bank of America | home equity borrowers | 620 | 3% | Read review |
| Lender | Best For | Minimum Credit Score | Minimum Down Payment | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Caliber | first-time home buyers | 620 | 3% | Read review |
Guild Mortgage | first-time home buyers | 620 | 3% | Read review |
loanDepot at loanDepot | FHA loans | 620 | 3.5% | at loanDepot |
Navy Federal | veterans | N/A | 0% | Read review |
New American Funding at New American | borrowers with low credit score | 620 | 3% | at New American |
Vylla at Vylla | borrowers with low credit score | 620 | 3% | at Vylla |
Rocket Mortgage at Rocket Mortgage | online convenience | 620 | 3% | at Rocket Mortgage |
Guaranteed Rate | online convenience | 620 | 3% | Read review |
Flagstar | home equity borrowers | N/A | N/A | Read review |
Bank of America | home equity borrowers | 620 | 3% | Read review |
» MORE: See more Nevada mortgage lenders
Local mortgage lenders in Las Vegas
Looking for more lenders to check out? The following companies haven’t been reviewed by NerdWallet, but they do a lot of business in Las Vegas, with top market share.
WestStar Credit Union
- Membership is available to gaming industry employees and their families.
- Top FHA mortgage lender in Las Vegas.
- Has five Las Vegas-area locations.
- Offers home equity line of credit up to 90% of home value.
All Western Mortgage
- Helps borrowers compare rates and products from multiple lenders.
- Provides online affordability, amortization, monthly payments and refinance calculators.
- Offers an online short application to get a preapproval letter.
Finance of America
- Has a full menu of loan products.
- Offers FHA 203(k) loans for combining a home purchase or a refinance with repairs.
- Offers “fix and flip” loans for investors.
- Offers new construction loans.
Evergreen Home Loans
- Has a full range of loan products, including jumbo loans.
- Offers a one-time close loan for lot purchase and construction.
- Offers FHA 203(k) home renovation loans.
More from NerdWallet:
Last updated on July 2, 2019
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 Las Vegas Mortgage Lenders of 2019
- Caliber: Best for first-time home buyers
- Guild Mortgage: Best for first-time home buyers
- loanDepot: Best for FHA loans
- Navy Federal: Best for veterans
- New American Funding: Best for borrowers with low credit score
- Vylla: Best for borrowers with low credit score
- Rocket Mortgage: Best for online convenience
- Guaranteed Rate: Best for online convenience
- Flagstar: Best for home equity borrowers
- Bank of America: Best for home equity borrowers
