9 Best San Diego Mortgage Lenders of 2022
Shopping for San Diego mortgage lenders? Compare our picks for the city’s top mortgage companies to get the best loan options, mortgage rates and more.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Thanks to white-sand beaches and year-round sunshine, deciding to live in San Diego is a no-brainer. But with scores of mortgage companies to pick from, finding the right one to finance your house can feel more difficult. That’s where NerdWallet comes in. We compared San Diego’s leading mortgage lenders — high-volume national brands along with local options — to identify top options for first-time home buyers and repeat buyers alike.
Thanks to white-sand beaches and year-round sunshine, deciding to live in San Diego is a no-brainer. But with scores of mortgage companies to pick from, finding the right one to finance your house can feel more difficult. That’s where NerdWallet comes in. We compared San Diego’s leading mortgage lenders — high-volume national brands along with local options — to identify top options for first-time home buyers and repeat buyers alike.
Best San Diego Mortgage Lenders
Lender | NerdWallet Rating | Min. credit score | Min. down payment | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|
Quicken Loans: NMLS#3030 Learn more at Quicken Loans | Best for a digital mortgage experience | 620 | 3% | Learn more at Quicken Loans |
![]() Bank of America: NMLS#399802 Learn more at Bank of America | Best for face-to-face service | 660 | 5% | Learn more at Bank of America |
![]() Chase: NMLS#399798 Learn more at Chase | Best for face-to-face service | 620 | 3% | Learn more at Chase |
![]() Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289 Learn more at Fairway Independent Mortgage | Best for a digital mortgage experience | 620 | 3% | Learn more at Fairway Independent Mortgage |
![]() Flagstar: NMLS#417490 | Best for first-time home buyers | 620 | 3% | Read review |
![]() Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274 | Best for first-time home buyers | 620 | 3% | Read review |
![]() Caliber: NMLS#15622 | Best for veterans | 580 | 0% | Read review |
![]() Navy Federal: NMLS#399807 | Best for a credit union mortgage | N/A | 0% | Read review |
![]() San Diego County Credit Union: NMLS#580585 | Best for a credit union mortgage | N/A | 5% | Read review |
at Quicken Loans
Quicken Loans: NMLS#3030
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
3%at Quicken Loans

at Bank of America
Bank of America: NMLS#399802

Min. credit score
660Min. down payment
5%National / regional
Nationalat Bank of America

at Fairway Independent Mortgage
Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289

Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
3%at Fairway Independent Mortgage
Flagstar: NMLS#417490

Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
3%Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274

Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
3%Caliber: NMLS#15622

Min. credit score
580Min. down payment
0%Navy Federal: NMLS#399807

National / regional
NationalMin. down payment
0%San Diego County Credit Union: NMLS#580585

Min. down payment
5%National / regional
RegionalLocal mortgage lenders in San Diego
The following lenders have not been reviewed by NerdWallet. However, they do a significant volume of mortgage lending in San Diego and are popular among the city’s mortgage shoppers. Check them out if you prefer to include a local lender or two in your search for the best mortgage.
Several low-down-payment loans.
Loan options with no closing costs and no mortgage insurance.
Mobile app available.
Multiple branch locations in San Diego.
Pre-qualification requires a phone call with a loan officer.
Loan programs for foreign nationals and self-employed borrowers.
Will finance all types of condos.
Several branch locations in and around San Diego.
Conventional, government and jumbo loan options.
Offers refinancing and reverse mortgages.
Only one branch location in San Diego.
Website provides instant customized rate quotes.
Offers 3% down conventional loans.
Claims to charge a flat, guaranteed lender fee.
More from NerdWallet
Last updated on January 6, 2022
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 San Diego Mortgage Lenders of 2022
- Quicken Loans: Best for a digital mortgage experience
- Bank of America: Best for face-to-face service
- Chase: Best for face-to-face service
- Fairway Independent Mortgage: Best for a digital mortgage experience
- Flagstar: Best for first-time home buyers
- Guild Mortgage: Best for first-time home buyers
- Caliber: Best for veterans
- Navy Federal: Best for a credit union mortgage
- San Diego County Credit Union: Best for a credit union mortgage