9 Best San Francisco Mortgage Lenders of 2022

San Francisco mortgage lenders vary by size and capabilities. These are highly rated lenders in various home loan categories for Bay Area home buyers.

Last updated on January 6, 2022
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NerdWallet
NerdWallet
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  • 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.
NerdWallet's mortgage content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in home lending. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Newsweek and many other national, regional and local publications. They have been cited in publications including The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast as well as local TV and radio.

9 Best San Francisco Mortgage Lenders of 2022

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Lender
NerdWallet Rating
Min. credit score
National / regional
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Rate

Rate: NMLS#2611

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Refinancing
Best for refinancing

580

National

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PNC

PNC: NMLS#446303

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5.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for government-backed loans

620

National

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SoFi

SoFi: NMLS#696891

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4.5
/5
Home loans overall
Best for first-time home buyers

620

Regional

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Chase

Chase: NMLS#399798

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4.5
/5
Refinancing
Best for refinancing

620

National

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Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

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4.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for traditional banks

660

National

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loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

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4.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for government-backed loans

620

National

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Citibank

Citibank: NMLS#412915

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4.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for traditional banks

N/A

National

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Flagstar

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

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4.5
/5
Home equity loans
Best for home equity products

680

National

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US Bank

US Bank: NMLS#402761

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3.5
/5
Home equity loans
Best for home equity products

660

National

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Rate
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Rate

Rate: NMLS#2611

5.0
Refinancing
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

580

National / regional

National

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers seeking a broad menu of loans, including jumbo and interest-only options, renovation loans and government-backed mortgages, as well as home equity lines of credit.
Pros
  • Offers a one-day mortgage approval process.
  • Offers a generous selection of loans, including government-backed, interest-only, ITIN, jumbo, and renovation loans.
  • Advertises a HELOC that can be funded in as few as five business days.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • Origination fees are higher than average, according to the latest federal data.
  • HELOC has a relatively short draw period, which may not provide flexibility for someone who wants the option of accessing home equity over a longer period.
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PNC
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PNC

PNC: NMLS#446303

5.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItPNC Bank has a variety of appealing mortgage options, including jumbo loans, programs for first-time home buyers and home equity lines of credit.
Pros
  • Low-down-payment loan options include FHA, VA, USDA and PNC Community Loan.
  • Jumbo loans available with minimum down payments of 5%.
  • Customizable mortgage rates are posted online.
Cons
  • Average mortgage rates are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
  • In-person service is not available in every state.
  • You’ll have to supply personal data or account info to get answers by phone.
SoFi
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SoFi

SoFi: NMLS#696891

4.5
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItSoFi offers standard purchase and refinance mortgage options, but not construction or renovation loans, and stands out for its convenient one-stop-shopping setup.
Pros
  • Offers a credit up to $10,000 if closing exceeds the contract date and the lender is at fault.
  • Sample mortgage rates are highly customizable.
  • Borrowers can lock in their rate for up to 91 days after preapproval.
Cons
  • Borrowers may experience difficulty with customer service.
Chase
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Chase

Chase: NMLS#399798

4.5
Min. credit score

620

National / regional

National

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who want a wide selection of loan products, an in-person experience and comparatively low interest rates.
Pros
  • Carries a wide variety of mortgage types and products, including mortgages with down payments as low as 3%.
  • Offers low rates compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
  • Offers a customizable mortgage calculator for personalized rate and payment estimates.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • Doesn't offer home improvement loans, such as FHA 203(k) and HomeStyle.
  • You have to speak with a home loan adviser to complete the application.
  • Home equity lines of credit (HELOC) are currently unavailable.
Bank of America
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Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

4.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

660

Min. down payment

5%

National / regional

National

Why We Like ItBank of America offers low interest rates, in-person service and plenty of loan options, but it was fined by regulators for reporting inaccurate mortgage data.
Pros
  • Interest rates are lower than most lenders, according to the latest federal data.
  • Offers up to $10,000 in down payment assistance to qualified borrowers.
  • Banking customers can get discounted interest rates or fees.
Cons
  • Mortgage origination fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
  • Rate estimator tool doesn’t personalize by credit score.
  • Fined $12 million for reporting inaccurate mortgage applicant info to the federal government.
loanDepot
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loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

4.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItLoanDepot is a large nonbank lender that offers the potential for a streamlined mortgage process and cash back, but to start an application or get a rate quote you must work with a loan officer over the phone.
Pros
  • Offers a variety of repayment terms for fixed-rate loans.
  • Does a substantial amount of business in FHA lending.
  • mello smartloan product can streamline mortgage application, appraisal and title search.
Cons
  • Interest rates are not available on the website.
  • Origination fees are on the higher end, according to the latest federal data.
Citibank
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Citibank

Citibank: NMLS#412915

4.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
National / regional

National

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItCiti offers solid customer support and a highly rated mobile app. Borrowers need to contact the lender for a customized rate quote or preapproval — but average mortgage rates are among the lowest of lenders we review.
Pros
  • Very low average interest rates compared to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
  • Closing cost credits and interest rate discounts available.
  • Highly rated mobile app.
Cons
  • Preapproval and application require a phone call to complete.
  • Must contact the lender for customized rate quote.
  • Doesn’t offer renovation or construction-to-permanent loans.
Flagstar
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Flagstar

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

4.5
Home equity loans
NerdWallet rating
Max LTV

85%

Min. credit score

680

Why We Like ItGood 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.
US Bank
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US Bank

US Bank: NMLS#402761

3.5
Home equity loans
NerdWallet rating
Max LTV

80%

Min. credit score

660

Why We Like ItU.S. Bank’s home equity loan have no application fee or closing costs. However, its 80% loan-to-value borrowing limit is less generous than many other lenders, and loans are only available in two term lengths: 10 or 15 years.
Pros
  • No application fee or closing costs.
  • Sample rates customizable by location are posted online.
  • Rate discount for banking customers.
Cons
  • Maximum loan amount is 80% of home equity.
  • Only two term lengths: 10 or 15 years.
  • Not available in Delaware, South Carolina and Texas.

» MORE: See the best California mortgage lenders

Local mortgage lenders in San Francisco

If you want to include a local lender or two in your search for the best mortgage, these San Francisco lenders are among the highest-volume mortgage makers in the city. The lenders have not been reviewed by NerdWallet.

  • Offers single-family, co-op and condo loans.

  • All-in-one construction-to-permanent loans finance the building of your dream home.

  • Underwrites vacation and second-home loans.

  • No-closing-cost options reduce out-of-pocket fees.

  • Offers loan options that don't require mortgage insurance.

  • Home hunters can get pre-qualified over the phone “in minutes.”

  • Combo loans allow the purchase of a property using a primary mortgage and a HELOC.

  • Portfolio loans provide underwriting flexibility for higher-value homes.

  • HELOCs feature no application fee or closing costs, subject to some restrictions.

  • Over 100 branches in Northern California.

  • An independent mortgage banking firm established in 1996.

  • Application documents are available online for downloading.

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 Francisco Mortgage Lenders of 2022

  • Rate: Best for refinancing
  • PNC: Best for government-backed loans
  • SoFi: Best for first-time home buyers
  • Chase: Best for refinancing
  • Bank of America: Best for traditional banks
  • loanDepot: Best for government-backed loans
  • Citibank: Best for traditional banks
  • Flagstar: Best for home equity products
  • US Bank: Best for home equity products
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