BEST OF
12 Best Mortgage Lenders of May 2021
Before buying a home or refinancing a mortgage, shop around to find the best mortgage lender for your circumstances.
When you buy a home or refinance your mortgage, it's a big financial decision, so it makes sense to find the best mortgage lender you can. To do that, shop for offers from at least three lenders.
Compare mortgage rates and other loan terms such as fees, time to close, the availability of online application and loan tracking, and customer service offerings. Taking the time to make an informed decision can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.
To help you choose a mortgage lender, NerdWallet has picked some of the best out there in a variety of categories to help you get the home loan with the best mortgage rate, term and fees.
When you buy a home or refinance your mortgage, it's a big financial decision, so it makes sense to find the best mortgage lender you can. To do that, shop for offers from at least three lenders.
Compare mortgage rates and other loan terms such as fees, time to close, the availability of online application and loan tracking, and customer service offerings. Taking the time to make an informed decision can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.
To help you choose a mortgage lender, NerdWallet has picked some of the best out there in a variety of categories to help you get the home loan with the best mortgage rate, term and fees.
| Lender | NerdWallet Rating | National / Regional | Minimum Credit Score | National / Regional | Learn More | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Better: NMLS#330511 at Better | Best for refinancing | National | 620 | National | at Better | |
 Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611 at Guaranteed Rate | Best for online experience and refinancing | National | 620 | National | at Guaranteed Rate | |
 New American Funding: NMLS#6606 at New American Funding | Best for nontraditional credit histories | National | 620 | National | at New American Funding | |
 Quicken Loans: NMLS#3030 at Quicken Loans | Best for customer satisfaction | National | 620 | National | at Quicken Loans | |
 NASB: NMLS#400039 at NASB | Best for overall mortgage experience, first-time home buyers and veterans | National | 620 | National | at NASB | |
 Chase: NMLS#399798 at Chase | Best for first-time home buyers and jumbo loans | National | 620 | National | at Chase | |
 Connexus: NMLS#649316 | Best for home equity lines of credit | National | 640 | National | Read review | |
 Alterra: NMLS#133739 | Best for FHA loans | Regional | N/A | Regional | Read review | |
 PrimeLending: NMLS#13649 | Best for FHA loans | National | 580 | National | Read review | |
 Flagstar: NMLS#417490 | Best for jumbo loans | National | N/A | National | Read review | |
 Navy Federal: NMLS#399807 | Best for VA loans | National | N/A | National | Read review | |
 Wells Fargo: NMLS#399801 | Best for online experience | National | 620 | National | Read review |
More from NerdWallet:
Last updated on April 23, 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 Mortgage Lenders of May 2021
- Better: Best for refinancing
- Guaranteed Rate: Best for online experience and refinancing
- New American Funding: Best for nontraditional credit histories
- Quicken Loans: Best for customer satisfaction
- NASB: Best for overall mortgage experience, first-time home buyers and veterans
- Chase: Best for first-time home buyers and jumbo loans
- Connexus: Best for home equity lines of credit
- Alterra: Best for FHA loans
- PrimeLending: Best for FHA loans
- Flagstar: Best for jumbo loans
- Navy Federal: Best for VA loans
- Wells Fargo: Best for online experience
Frequently asked questions
The answer depends on your needs. Lenders vary by the types of loans and services they offer as well as their credit score minimums and other requirements for borrowers. The best mortgage lender is the one that offers the products you need, has requirements you can meet and charges the lowest mortgage rates and fees.
Some lenders post mortgage rates on their websites and include tools to see how much your rate might be. But those are just estimates. You'll need to get preapproved for a mortgage to get a rate offer based on your credit score and other financial information.
Closing costs are the various fees and expenses you pay to finalize the mortgage. Closing costs typically run between about 2% and 5% of the loan amount. That means on a $300,000 home loan, you could pay $6,000 to $15,000 in closing costs.
Most state housing finance agencies offer first-time home buyer programs, which can include closing cost and down payment assistance. The assistance can come in the form of a grant, a forgivable loan or a deferred-payment loan. To qualify, you need to work with a lender approved by the state agency.
You should shop for a lender first and get preapproved for a mortgage before shopping for a house. A mortgage preapproval shows sellers and their real estate agents that you're a serious buyer. It also indicates how much you can borrow, which will help you determine how much home you can afford.
