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9 Best Washington, D.C., Mortgage Lenders of 2021

Browse some of the top mortgage lenders in Washington, D.C., so you can choose the one that’s right for your needs.

Last updated on January 21, 2021
NerdWallet
Written by 
Amanda Derengowski
Edited by 
Senior Editor & Content Strategist
Fact Checked
NerdWallet
Written by 
Amanda Derengowski
Edited by 
Senior Editor & Content Strategist
Fact Checked

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

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NerdWallet's mortgage content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in home lending. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Newsweek and many other national, regional and local publications. They have been cited in publications including The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast as well as local TV and radio.

9 Best Washington, D.C., Mortgage Lenders of 2021

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Lender
NerdWallet Rating
Min. credit score
Min. down payment
Learn more
Rocket Mortgage, LLC

Rocket Mortgage, LLC: NMLS#3030

See Offers
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
4.5
/5
Home loans overall
Best for online experience

620

1%

See Offers
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
PNC Bank

PNC Bank: NMLS#446303

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on NerdWallet
4.5
/5
Refinancing
Best for refinancing

620

3%

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on NerdWallet
Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

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on NerdWallet
4.0
/5
Refinancing
Best for refinancing

620

N/A

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on NerdWallet
Carrington

Carrington: NMLS#2600

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on NerdWallet
4.5
/5
FHA loans
Best for FHA loans

500

3.5%

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on NerdWallet
Caliber

Caliber: NMLS#15622

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on NerdWallet
3.5
/5
VA loans
Best for VA loans

580

0%

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on NerdWallet
Navy Federal

Navy Federal: NMLS#399807

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on NerdWallet
5.0
/5
VA loans
Best for VA loans

N/A

0%

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on NerdWallet
SunTrust (Truist)

SunTrust (Truist): NMLS#2915

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on NerdWallet
4.5
/5
Home loans overall
Best for online experience

620

3%

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on NerdWallet
Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo: NMLS#399801

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on NerdWallet
4.5
/5
Jumbo loans
Best for jumbo loans

700

20%

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on NerdWallet
Citibank

Citibank: NMLS#412915

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on NerdWallet
5.0
/5
Jumbo loans
Best for jumbo loans

N/A

N/A

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on NerdWallet
Rocket Mortgage, LLC: Best for online experience
NMLS#3030
4.5
Home loans overall
Min. credit score
620
Min. down payment
1%
Learn more
on Rocket Mortgage, LLC's website
on Rocket Mortgage, LLC's website
  • Why we like itRocket Mortgage is the largest mortgage lender by volume, standing out for its range of affordable borrowing options, down payment assistance and closing cost credits.
    Pros
    • Reported average time to close is 15 days faster than industry average.
    • FHA and VA loans make up 40% of Rocket Mortgage’s total loan volume.
    • Borrowers can apply via mobile app.
    Cons
    • Origination fees are on the higher end, according to the latest federal data.
    • No construction or renovation loans.
    • Physical branches are only available in Detroit, Cleveland, and Phoenix.
    Read full review
PNC Bank: Best for refinancing
NMLS#446303
4.5
Refinancing
Min. credit score
620
National / regional
National
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on NerdWallet
  • Why we like itPNC Bank has a variety of appealing mortgage options, including jumbo refinance loans. It's simple to browse rates and apply online.
    Pros
    • Customizable mortgage rates are posted online.
    • Offers FHA and VA refinances.
    Cons
    • Average mortgage rates are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
    • In-person service is not available in every state.
    Read full review
Bank of America: Best for refinancing
NMLS#399802
4.0
Refinancing
Min. credit score
620
National / regional
National
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on NerdWallet
  • Why we like itGood for: first-time home buyers looking for low- or no-down-payment options and homeowners interested in a home equity line of credit.
    Pros
    • Offers down payment and closing cost assistance programs.
    • May give existing customers a discount on mortgage lender origination fees and HELOC interest rates.
    • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
    Cons
    • Doesn't offer renovation loans that roll costs into a mortgage.
    Read full review
Carrington: Best for FHA loans
NMLS#2600
4.5
FHA loans
Min. credit score
500
Min. down payment
3.5%
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on NerdWallet
  • Why we like itCarrington Mortgage dedicates a large portion of its business to FHA loans and is experienced working with self-employed borrowers and those with heavy debt.
    Pros
    • Considers borrowers with bad credit, foreclosure or bankruptcy.
    • Accepts self-employed borrowers.
    • FHA interest rates are on the low side, according to the latest federal data.
    Cons
    • FHA origination fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
    • Doesn’t post interest rates online.
    • No online chat for customer service.
    Read full review
Caliber: Best for VA loans
NMLS#15622
Min. credit score
580
Min. down payment
0%
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on NerdWallet
  • Why we like itGood for: first-time home buyers, veterans and those who may have credit challenges to overcome.
    Pros
    • Offers extensive educational resources for military borrowers.
    • Participates in some 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.
    Read full review
Navy Federal: Best for VA loans
NMLS#399807
Min. down payment
0%
National / regional
National
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on NerdWallet
  • Why we like itNavy Federal Credit Union stands out for having exceptionally low VA interest rates and fees.
    Pros
    • Best-scoring VA lender for interest rates and fees.
    • Offers VA refinancing.
    • Specializes in working with military borrowers.
    Cons
    • Does not offer VA renovation loans.
    Read full review
SunTrust (Truist): Best for online experience
NMLS#2915
4.5
Home loans overall
Min. credit score
620
Min. down payment
3%
Compare More Lenders
on NerdWallet
  • Why we like itGood for: first-time home buyers, doctors and other borrowers interested in low-down-payment mortgage options.
    Pros
    • Offers a wide variety of loan options, including special programs for doctors.
    • Offers a complete suite of online mortgage application tools and loan tracking.
    • Sample rates and fees are easy to find on the website.
    Cons
    • Customized rates aren't available online without starting an application.
    • Branches are limited mostly to the Southeast.
    Read full review
Wells Fargo: Best for jumbo loans
NMLS#399801
4.5
Jumbo loans
Min. credit score
700
Min. down payment
20%
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on NerdWallet
  • Why we like itWells Fargo originated more jumbo loans than any other lender in 2023, and current Wells Fargo customers may be able to take advantage of interest rate discounts.
    Pros
    • Borrowers with at least $250,000 worth of assets in Wells Fargo accounts can receive an interest rate discount.
    • In 2023, 20% of Wells Fargo purchase loans were jumbo.
    • Has underwriters that specialize in jumbo loans.
    Cons
    • Home lending business is broadly focused on existing bank customers.
    • Scandals and government actions in recent years have damaged consumer trust.
    • Requires a minimum down payment of 20%.
    Read full review
Citibank: Best for jumbo loans
NMLS#412915
5.0
Jumbo loans
Min. down payment
N/A
National / regional
National
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on NerdWallet
  • Why we like itCiti offers banking customers reductions on already competitive interest rates, and almost 50% of the mortgages it originated in 2023 were jumbo loans.
    Pros
    • Offers closing cost credit and interest rate reductions for current Citibank customers.
    • Low average mortgage rates relative to other lenders, according to the latest data.
    • Originated the highest percentage of jumbo loans in 2023 of all NerdWallet-reviewed lenders.
    Cons
    • Must contact the lender in order to get a personalized rate quote.
    • Preapproval and mortgage applications require a phone call to complete.
    Read full review

Last updated on January 21, 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 Washington, D.C., Mortgage Lenders of 2021

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