8 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.
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 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.
- 50+ mortgage lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 40+ years of combined experience covering mortgages and financial topics.
- Objective, comprehensive star rating system assessing 120+ categories and 5,000+ data points.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
- 50+ mortgage lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 40+ years of combined experience covering mortgages and financial topics.
- Objective, comprehensive star rating system assessing 120+ categories and 5,000+ data points.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
8 Best San Diego Mortgage Lenders of 2022
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Lender ▾ ▾ | NerdWallet Rating ▾ ▾ | Min. credit score ▾ ▾ | Min. down payment ▾ ▾ | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289 Learn more at Fairway Independent Mortgage | 620 | 3% | Learn more at Fairway Independent Mortgage | |
 Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 620 | 3% | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Caliber: NMLS#15622 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 580 | 0% | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Navy Federal: NMLS#399807 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | N/A | 0% | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Bank of America: NMLS#399802 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 660 | 5% | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Chase: NMLS#399798 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 620 | 3% | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Flagstar: NMLS#417490 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | N/A | 5% | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 San Diego County Credit Union: NMLS#580585 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | N/A | N/A | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet |
Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289
620
3%
- Offers a robust suite of loan products, including ITIN loans for borrowers without Social Security numbers, renovation loans, government-backed mortgages and loans for self-employed borrowers.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
- Mortgage rates for different types of loans aren't posted online.
- Origination fees and mortgage rates are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274
620
3%
- Offers a wide variety of loan options, including home improvement loans and mortgages for manufactured homes.
- Has branches in most states.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
- Origination fees and mortgage rates tend to be on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
- Mortgage rates are not published online.
- Mobile app receives mostly negative reviews from users.
- Offers extensive educational resources for military borrowers.
- Participates in some down payment assistance and first-time home buyer programs.
- No mortgage rates displayed online.
- Doesn’t offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
Navy Federal: NMLS#399807
National
0%
- Offers unique loan options aimed at military borrowers, such as a proprietary loan called Military Choice that works as an alternative to VA loans.
- 24/7 customer service supports borrowers stationed overseas.
- Offers home equity loans and lines of credit.
- Borrowers must join the credit union before applying for a mortgage.
- The lender does not offer renovation or construction loans.
- When we tried their customer service line, we sometimes waited longer than 10 minutes before being connected with a representative who could answer our questions.
Bank of America: NMLS#399802
660
5%
National
- Offers down payment and closing cost assistance programs.
- May give existing customers a discount on mortgage lender origination fees and HELOC interest rates.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
- Doesn't offer renovation or construction-to-permanent mortgage loans.
- Must enroll in online banking to access Home Loan Navigator.
- Fined $12 million for reporting inaccurate mortgage applicant info to the federal government.
- Offers two proprietary loans with low down payment requirements.
- Provides customizable sample rates.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to JD Power and Zillow.
- Borrowers must apply for prequalification before accessing a full online application.
- Origination fees are higher than average, according to the latest federal data.
- Borrowers may be frustrated with the lender’s website experience.
- Multiple loans for those who are renovating or building a home, including loans with interest-only payments during construction.
- Offers home equity loans and lines of credit.
- Offers down payment assistance and loans for underserved borrowers, including ITIN loans and loans with flexible qualifications in certain communities.
- Interest rates are on the low side relative to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Borrowers can enter their information (including their desired loan amount, down payment and zip code) into the lender’s Mortgage Quote Comparison tool and receive a customized rate quote.
- Home equity loans are not available in all locations served by Flagstar.
- In 2022, the lender was fined for violating laws regarding properties in flood zones.
San Diego County Credit Union: NMLS#580585
N/A
Regional
- Offers purchase, refinance and jumbo mortgages, plus loans for second homes and home equity products.
- Provides customized rate and fee quotes without requiring contact information.
- Interest rates are notably low, according to the latest federal data.
- No FHA, VA or USDA mortgages.
- Loans are available in California only.
- Mobile app has low ratings.
Local 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.
NerdWallet's Best San Diego Mortgage Lenders of 2022
- Fairway Independent Mortgage: Best for a digital mortgage experience
- Guild Mortgage: Best for first-time home buyers
- Caliber: Best for veterans
- Navy Federal: Best for a credit union mortgage
- Bank of America: Best for face-to-face service
- Chase: Best for face-to-face service
- Flagstar: Best for first-time home buyers
- San Diego County Credit Union: Best for a credit union mortgage
