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10 Best Lenders for Low- and No-Down-Payment Mortgages of 2023

Compare lenders that offer low- and no-down-payment mortgages, and learn about their pros and cons.

By Abby Badach Doyle  

Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners.

If you're like many home buyers, a down payment is one of the biggest obstacles between you and homeownership. Finding a lender with low- or no-down-payment mortgages could be the difference between buying a home now or having to wait months or years.

VA loans, backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and USDA loans, guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, require no down payment for qualified buyers.

FHA loans, insured by the Federal Housing Administration, require down payments as low as 3.5%. And even today's conventional loans allow down payments as low as 3%.

Some lenders have their own proprietary programs that are competitive with government loans in terms of both down payment requirements and application criteria.

Putting less money down could mean buying a home sooner. But lower down payments have disadvantages, too, such as higher monthly mortgage payments, so it's important to understand and compare options before buying a home.

Best Lenders for Low- and No-Down-Payment Mortgages

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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

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at BNC National Bank

Why we like it

Good for: First-time home buyers and others who want low-down-payment loan options.

Pros

  • Offers a wide variety of loan types and products.

  • Has robust online capabilities, and an app for iOS and Android.

  • Mortgage interest rates are lower than typical, according to the latest data.

Cons

  • Has a limited number of physical mortgage offices.

  • No rate information is available without starting an application or speaking with a loan officer.

  • Does not offer home equity loans or lines of credit.

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Carrington
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Carrington: NMLS#2600

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Carrington

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%

Why we like it

Good for: first-time home buyers or credit-challenged borrowers interested in government loan products.

Pros

  • Offers multiple low-down-payment loan programs.

  • May consider alternative credit data, such as bank statements.

  • You can view customized rates for purchasing a home and apply online.

Cons

  • Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.

  • Lender fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.

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Flagstar
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Flagstar: NMLS#417490

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Flagstar

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who want a wide range of choices — not only among mortgage products, but also in the channel they prefer, whether a branch, online or on the phone.

Pros

  • Offers a wide range of loan types and products, including FHA, VA and USDA.

  • Borrowers can apply and track loan status online.

  • Offers customized online rate quotes with monthly payment estimates, including mortgage insurance, when applicable.

Cons

  • Home equity loans are geographically limited.

  • Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.

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Freedom Mortgage
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Freedom Mortgage: NMLS#2767

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Freedom Mortgage

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why we like it

Freedom offers a typical range of home loan options, but rates are not available on its website.

Pros

  • Offers conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo loans.

  • Multiple customer service options, including brick-and-mortar branches, online message center and phone.

  • Low average mortgage interest rates and origination fees, according to the latest federal data.

Cons

  • No mortgage rates displayed online.

  • Does not offer home equity loans or lines of credit.

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Guaranteed Rate
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Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
Guaranteed Rate

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers seeking a solid variety of loan types, including jumbo and interest-only options, and a totally online experience.

Pros

  • Displays detailed sample rates for many of its loan products.

  • Offers a wide variety of loans, including jumbo and interest-only products.

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

Cons

  • Doesn't offer home equity loans.

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loanDepot
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loanDepot: NMLS#174457

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
loanDepot

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who want an easy online application and a variety of loan types to explore.

Pros

  • Has branches across the country for customers who prefer face-to-face service.

  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.

  • Mortgage interest rates tend to be on the lower end, according to the latest federal data.

Cons

  • Mortgage rates aren't available online; you'll need to contact a loan officer.

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

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New American Funding
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at New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at New American Funding

Why we like it

Good for: First-time home buyers and other borrowers looking for a broad array of loan choices.

Pros

  • Offers a wide variety of purchase and refinance mortgages with an emphasis on helping underserved communities.

  • Its home equity line of credit can be used for an owner-occupied or second home.

  • Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.

Cons

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

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Northpointe
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at Northpointe

Northpointe: NMLS#447490

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Northpointe

Min. credit score

720

Min. down payment

5%
Learn more

at Northpointe

Why we like it

Good for: those seeking an abundance of loan offerings, including a no-down-payment mortgage that helps accelerate home equity accumulation.

Pros

  • A full slate of loan offerings.

  • Offers a no-down-payment loan with a shorter repayment term that helps accelerate home equity accumulation.

  • Digital conveniences include a mobile app.

Cons

  • You’ll need to provide contact information or speak to a loan officer for customized mortgage rates.

  • Origination fees are on the high side, according to the latest data.

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Truist
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Truist: NMLS#399803

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Truist

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why we like it

Good for: first-time home buyers, doctors and other borrowers interested in low-down-payment mortgage options.

Pros

  • Offers a complete suite of online mortgage application tools and loan tracking.

  • Sample rates are easy to find on the website.

  • Offers a wide variety of loan options, including construction loans and programs for doctors.

Cons

  • Customized rates aren't available online without starting an application.

  • For borrowers who prefer to apply in person, branches are limited mostly to the South and East.

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US Bank
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US Bank: NMLS#402761

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
US Bank

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%

Why we like it

U.S. Bank gets high marks for its loan offerings and online customer conveniences — and has competitive fees and mortgage rates.

Pros

  • Offers a full line of conventional and government loan products.

  • Provides home equity loans and lines of credit.

  • Allows borrowers to apply and track their loan's progress online.

Cons

  • No personalized mortgage rates available online.

  • Published mortgage rates assume an above-average credit score.

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Pros and cons of low- and no-down-payment home loans

The pros: You don't have to wait until you have saved enough money for a large down payment. That means you can become a homeowner and start building equity more quickly.

The cons: Low- and no-down-payment mortgages include extra expenses.

Conventional loans with down payments of less than 20%, along with FHA and USDA loans, require buyers to pay for mortgage insurance, which protects the lender in case the borrower defaults. VA loans have a one-time VA funding fee.

A low- or zero-down-payment mortgage means you will start your homeownership journey with little to no equity in the home. If your home declines in value, you can end up owing more than the property is worth. Your interest rate and monthly mortgage payment could also be higher with a low-down-payment mortgage.

» MORE: Check out first-time home buyer programs in your state

Credit score requirements for low- or no-down-payment mortgages

FHA loans: To qualify for a 3.5% payment on an FHA loan, you’ll need at least a 580 credit score. With a score between 500 and 579, you’ll need a 10% down payment.

Conventional loans: On low-down-payment conventional loans, a 620 score or better is generally required. Some conventional loans, such as HomeReady and Home Possible, are geared to low-income borrowers.

VA loans: VA loans cater to borrowers with military connections. The required credit score for VA loans varies by lender, but many ask borrowers to have at least a 620 or have other qualifications.

USDA loans: USDA loans are for buyers in rural and some suburban areas. Applicants with credit scores of 640 and higher can qualify for streamlined processing. Those with lower scores have to go through a more rigorous underwriting process. Applicants with no credit score or limited credit histories can qualify for USDA loans with nontraditional credit information, such as rental and utility payments.

» MORE: How your credit score affects your mortgage rate

More from NerdWallet

Last updated on March 1, 2023

Methodology

The star ratings on this page reflect each lender's overall star ratings. Read more about how we determine those ratings.

The lenders on this page are chosen using this methodology:

NerdWallet reviewed more than 50 mortgage lenders, including the majority of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders by annual loan volume (measured among lenders with at least a 1% market share), lenders with significant online search volume and those that specialize in serving various audiences across the country.

For inclusion in this roundup, lenders must have an overall score of 4 or higher. FHA, USDA and VA loans must each make up at least 1% of the lender's home purchase loan volume, according to the latest HMDA data or FHA and VA loans must each make up at least 1% of the lender's home purchase loan volume and the lender must offer a proprietary mortgage program with a minimum down payment of 3% or less or for borrowers with less than a 580 credit score.

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 2021 HMDA data for origination volume, origination fee, average interest rate and share-of-product data.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Lenders for Low- and No-Down-Payment Mortgages of 2023

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