BEST OF
10 Best Nonbank Mortgage Lenders of 2021
See NerdWallet's picks for the best nonbank mortgage lenders of 2021 across different categories, including first-time home buyers, low down payments and customer service.
Gone are the days when buying a home meant getting dressed up to visit the loan officer at your local bank.
Nonbank lenders provide a welcome alternative to traditional banks, especially for credit-challenged borrowers or those looking for a more streamlined mortgage experience.
NerdWallet picked some of the best nonbank mortgage lenders in a variety of categories so you can quickly determine which one is right for you.
Gone are the days when buying a home meant getting dressed up to visit the loan officer at your local bank.
Nonbank lenders provide a welcome alternative to traditional banks, especially for credit-challenged borrowers or those looking for a more streamlined mortgage experience.
NerdWallet picked some of the best nonbank mortgage lenders in a variety of categories so you can quickly determine which one is right for you.
| Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Minimum Down Payment | Minimum Credit Score | Minimum Down Payment | Learn More | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Quicken Loans: NMLS#3030 at Quicken Loans | Best for first-time home buyers | 3% | 620 | 3% | at Quicken Loans | |
 Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611 at Guaranteed Rate | Best for online experience | 3% | 620 | 3% | at Guaranteed Rate | |
 New American Funding: NMLS#6606 at New American Funding | Best for first-time home buyers | 3% | 620 | 3% | at New American Funding | |
 loanDepot: NMLS#174457 at loanDepot | Best for refinancing | 5% | 620 | 5% | at loanDepot | |
 Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289 at Fairway Independent Mortgage | Best for customer service | 3% | 620 | 3% | at Fairway Independent Mortgage | |
 Veterans United: NMLS#1907 at Veterans United | Best for veterans | 0% | 640 | 0% | at Veterans United | |
.png) Reali Loans: NMLS#991397 at Reali Loans | Best for refinancing | 5% | 620 | 5% | at Reali Loans | |
 Alterra: NMLS#133739 | Best for veterans | 0% | N/A | 0% | Read review | |
 PNC: NMLS#446303 | Best for low down payment | 3% | 620 | 3% | Read review | |
 Homebridge: NMLS#6521 | Best for customer service | 3% | 620 | 3% | Read review |
Last updated on January 27, 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 Nonbank Mortgage Lenders of 2021
- Quicken Loans: Best for first-time home buyers
- Guaranteed Rate: Best for online experience
- New American Funding: Best for first-time home buyers
- loanDepot: Best for refinancing
- Fairway Independent Mortgage: Best for customer service
- Veterans United: Best for veterans
- Reali Loans: Best for refinancing
- Alterra: Best for veterans
- PNC: Best for low down payment
- Homebridge: Best for customer service
