BEST OF

Best Lenders for FHA Loans in August 2022

FHA loans offer several benefits including lower down payments and more lenient requirements. Compare some of the top FHA lenders to find the right fit for your needs.

NerdWallet
Aug 1, 2022

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You might think all Federal Housing Administration lenders are the same. But when you’re looking for an FHA loan, it’s always smart to shop at least three lenders. Their mortgage rates and fees can differ substantially, plus lenders' requirements for approval for an FHA loan vary.

NerdWallet has picked some of the best FHA lenders in a variety of categories so you can quickly determine which one is right for you.

» MORE: Compare FHA mortgage rates

Best Lenders for FHA Loans in August 2022 From Our Partners

Veterans United
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at Veterans United

Veterans United: NMLS#1907

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Veterans United

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3.5%
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at Veterans United

Why we like it

Good for: veterans, active-duty service members and eligible reservists looking for VA or non-VA loans.

Pros

  • Offers 24/7 customer service over the phone.

  • Has online application and pre-qualification.

  • Offers a free credit counseling service.

  • Employs advisors from each branch of the armed forces.

Cons

  • Doesn’t offer home equity loans or HELOCs.

  • Veterans United has physical branch offices in only 17 states.

  • Information on FHA, USDA and conventional loans is harder to find on its website.

Read Full Review
Rocket Mortgage, LLC
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at Rocket Mortgage, LLC

Rocket Mortgage, LLC: NMLS#3030

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Rocket Mortgage, LLC

Min. credit score

580

Min. down payment

3.5%
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at Rocket Mortgage, LLC

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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NASB
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at NASB

NASB: NMLS#400039

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
NASB

Min. credit score

580

Min. down payment

3.5%
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at NASB

Why we like it

NASB couples competitive mortgage rates and reasonable fees with a good assortment of loan options.

Pros

  • Devotes much of its business to serving military families with VA loans.

  • Considers nontraditional income sources, in some cases.

  • Offers competitive rates and origination fees.

Cons

  • Does not offer home improvement mortgages.

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

Read Full Review
Pennymac
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at Pennymac

Pennymac: NMLS#35953

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Pennymac

Min. credit score

580

Min. down payment

3.5%
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at Pennymac

Why we like it

Pennymac excels in online capabilities and makes it easy to shop rates online. Average origination fees are higher than other lenders, and home equity lines of credit and jumbo mortgages were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pros

  • Offers a full range of online capabilities, including e-signatures and online loan process tracking.

  • Displays custom rate quotes based on home value, down payment or equity, ZIP code and credit score range.

Cons

  • Origination fees are on the higher end, according to the latest federal data.

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

Read Full Review
Bethpage Federal Credit Union
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at Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Bethpage Federal Credit Union: NMLS#449104

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Min. credit score

580

Min. down payment

3.5%
Learn more

at Bethpage Federal Credit Union

Why we like it

Bethpage has a good selection of loan options but no USDA mortgages or renovation loans. And while it offers multiple online conveniences, you have to contact the lender for customized rates.

Pros

  • Offers a full array of online conveniences, including loan process updates.

  • Offers financing for cooperatives, a type of home that’s common on the East Coast.

  • Sample mortgage rates available for a variety of loan products.

Cons

  • In-person service available only on Long Island, New York.

  • USDA and renovation loans are not available.

  • Customized rates not available online.

Read Full Review
NBKC
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at NBKC

NBKC: NMLS#409631

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
NBKC

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3.5%
Learn more

at NBKC

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers with solid credit who want to pay low rates and get an online experience with phone support. VA loans are an emphasis.

Pros

  • Offers low rates compared with other lenders, according to the latest data.

  • Extends full online capabilities, from application to loan tracking.

  • Displays customized rates, with fee estimates, without requiring contact information.

Cons

  • Equity lines and construction loans are available only in the Kansas City metro area.

  • Doesn’t offer renovation loans.

Read Full Review
BNC National Bank
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at BNC National Bank

BNC National Bank: NMLS#418467

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
BNC National Bank

Min. credit score

580

Min. down payment

3.5%
Learn more

at BNC National Bank

Why we like it

BNC National Bank offers a robust variety of loans, but you have to reach out to a loan officer to get customized interest rates.

Pros

  • Wide variety of loan types and products.

  • Improved online capabilities, and robust iOS and Android apps.

  • Considers alternative credit data, like cell phone payments.

Cons

  • Limited number of physical mortgage offices.

  • Limited rate information is available without starting an application or speaking with a loan officer.

Read Full Review
New American Funding
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at New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding

Min. credit score

500

Min. down payment

3.5%
Learn more

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 origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.

Read Full Review
PNC
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at PNC

PNC: NMLS#446303

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
PNC

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3.5%
Learn more

at PNC

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers with low-to-moderate incomes or limited down payments. PNC offers several low-down-payment loans, including one with no mortgage insurance.

Pros

  • Posts current mortgage rates on its website.

  • Has an online application for mortgage preapproval and a digital tool to track application progress.

  • Offers several affordable loan options, including FHA, VA, USDA and the PNC Community Loan.

Cons

  • Doesn't offer renovation mortgages.

  • In-person service is not available in every state.

Read Full Review

More of NerdWallet's best lenders for FHA loans

Carrington Mortgage Services

Best for nontraditional credit histories

Mr. Cooper

Best for nontraditional credit histories

Caliber Home Loans

Best for FHA loan options

Citibank

Best for FHA loan options

Wells Fargo

Best for first-time homebuyers

Qualifying for an FHA loan

To qualify for an FHA loan, you'll need a credit score of at least 500 with a 10% down payment. To determine if you’re eligible for the lowest FHA down payment — just 3.5% — underwriters will look for a score of 580 or higher. You’ll also need to have a debt-to-income ratio of 50% or less.

In addition to money for your down payment, you'll also need funds to cover FHA closing costs and an upfront mortgage insurance premium, which for FHA borrowers is 1.75% of the loan amount. Both the upfront insurance premium and the closing costs can be rolled into the total amount of the mortgage.

Bear in mind that these are the FHA's qualification guidelines; individual lenders usually impose additional rules which can be stricter. That's just one reason it's worth comparing several lenders. You can start with the lenders we have here, but you can also look at the Department of Housing and Urban Development's searchable list of approved FHA lenders.

Are FHA loans only for first-time home buyers?

No, you do not need to be a first-time home buyer to use an FHA loan. Lower credit score minimums and down payments certainly make FHA loans attractive to first-time home buyers, but current homeowners are eligible, too. In fiscal year 2020, about 83% of FHA purchase loans were made to first-time home buyers — which means 17% went to borrowers who were already homeowners.

» MORE: How to qualify for first-time home buyer benefits

Can you get an FHA loan if you have student loans?

Yes, you can get an FHA loan if you have student loan debt, though you'll still have to meet FHA debt-to-income requirements. FHA student loan guidelines state that lenders must include all student loans when calculating a borrower's debt-to-income ratio. If your payments are currently deferred, your lender will consider your "monthly obligation" to be 1% of your total student loan balance.

» MORE: How student loans impact getting a mortgage

More from NerdWallet

Last updated on August 1, 2022

Methodology

The star ratings on this page reflect each lender's performance in NerdWallet’s FHA loans category. We scored the category and chose lenders for this page using the following methodology:

NerdWallet reviewed nearly 60 mortgage lenders, including the majority of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders by annual loan volume (lenders had to have at least a 1% market share), lenders with significant online search volume and those that specialize in serving various audiences across the country.

All reviewed mortgage lenders that offer FHA loans were evaluated based on (1) the portion of their business dedicated to FHA lending, (2) their FHA origination fees, (3) the range of FHA loans offered, (4) their rate transparency and (5) the ease of their online application. The highest scoring lenders appear on this page.

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 2020 HMDA data for origination volume, origination fee, rate spread and share-of-product data.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Lenders for FHA Loans in August 2022

Frequently asked questions