BEST OF

5 Best OHFA Mortgage Lenders of 2021

The OHFA offers down payment assistance to Ohio residents. These are our top picks among OHFA-approved lenders.

NerdWallet
Jan 20, 2021

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OHFA, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, is a go-to resource for residents who need a little boost to buy their first home. While OHFA facilitates these assistance programs, it doesn't issue mortgages. That’s why you’ll need to turn to a participating lender.

To help, NerdWallet has compiled a list of some of the best-rated OHFA-approved lenders among those we’ve reviewed.

» MORE: Discover OHFA loan programs and eligibility requirements

Best OHFA Mortgage Lenders

US Bank
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US Bank: NMLS#402761

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
US Bank

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
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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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PrimeLending
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PrimeLending: NMLS#13649

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
PrimeLending

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Read review

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers looking for closing cost assistance, as well as those seeking to renovate or to build a new home.

Pros

  • Full online application includes document uploads and automated loan updates.

  • Offers a "float-down" interest rate lock.

  • Offers a proprietary closing-cost assistance program.

Cons

  • No online mortgage rates — you have to contact the lender for info.

  • Doesn't offer home equity products.

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Caliber
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Caliber: NMLS#15622

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Caliber

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Read review

Why we like it

Good for: first-time home buyers, veterans and those who may have credit challenges to overcome.

Pros

  • Offers extensive educational resources for military borrowers.

  • Provides digital tools for a streamlined application process.

  • Participates in some state 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.

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Guaranteed Rate
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at Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Guaranteed Rate

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at Guaranteed Rate

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers seeking conventional or government-backed loans, and a totally online experience.

Pros

  • Offers the ability to securely upload and digitally sign loan documents.

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

Cons

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

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Fairway Independent Mortgage
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at Fairway Independent Mortgage

Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Fairway Independent Mortgage

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%
Learn more

at Fairway Independent Mortgage

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who want access to a wide variety of mortgages and the convenience of a comprehensive mobile application process.

Pros

  • Offers a robust suite of loan products, including a variety of renovation loans.

  • Has a digital application that can be completed in 10 minutes.

  • Works with some state housing finance agencies to offer mortgages with down payment and closing cost assistance.

Cons

  • Mortgage rates aren't posted online.

  • Origination fees are on the high side and are not offset by low rates, according to the latest data.

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More OHFA-approved lenders

These lenders also participate in OHFA programs and are among the highest-volume mortgage providers in Ohio; however, they haven’t been reviewed by NerdWallet.

Huntington Bank

  • Offers all government-backed loans.

  • A single loan provides financing for a purchase and a renovation.

  • Mortgage loan officers specially trained to help with state bond programs.

Park National Bank

  • Provides information about OHFA assistance programs.

  • A loan for a lot lets you buy the land first and build later.

  • An online chat feature is available for quick questions.

More from NerdWallet

Last updated on January 20, 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 OHFA Mortgage Lenders of 2021