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10 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.

By
NerdWallet
Mar 9, 2023

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Best San Francisco Mortgage Lenders

Lender
NerdWallet Rating
Min. credit score
Min. down payment
National / regional
Learn more
Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

Read review
4.5/5
Best for traditional banks

660

5%

National

Chase

Chase: NMLS#399798

4.0/5
Best for refinancing

620

3%

National

Citibank

Citibank: NMLS#412915

4.5/5
Best for traditional banks

N/A

3%

National

Flagstar

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

4.5/5
Best for home equity products

680

3%

National

Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

5.0/5
Best for refinancing

620

3%

National

loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

4.0/5
Best for government-backed loans

620

5%

National

PNC

PNC: NMLS#446303

5.0/5
Best for government-backed loans

620

3%

National

4.0/5
Best for first-time home buyers

620

3%

National

SoFi

SoFi: NMLS#1484615

4.0/5
Best for first-time home buyers

620

3%

Regional

US Bank

US Bank: NMLS#402761

4.5/5
Best for home equity products

620

N/A

National

Bank of America
Read review
Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

4.5
Min. credit score

660

Min. down payment

5%

National / regional

National

Why We Like ItGood for: first-time home buyers looking for low- or no-down-payment options and homeowners interested in a home equity line of credit.
Pros
  • 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.
Cons
  • Doesn't offer renovation loans that roll costs into a mortgage.
Chase

Chase: NMLS#399798

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.
Citibank

Citibank: NMLS#412915

National / regional

National

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: Buyers who want to explore low down payment mortgages, including government-backed loans and Citi’s proprietary option.
Pros
  • Offers a wide variety of loan options, including low-down-payment mortgages and jumbo mortgages.
  • Offers low rates compared with other lenders, according to the latest data.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • Requires help from a loan officer to complete an online mortgage application.
  • Customized mortgage rates not available without making contact.
  • Doesn’t offer renovation loans, or home equity loans or lines of credit.
Flagstar

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

National / regional

National

Max LTV

89%

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.
Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

Min. credit score

620

National / regional

National

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers seeking a solid variety of loan types, including jumbo and interest-only options, and a totally online experience.
Pros
  • Displays detailed sample rates for many of its loan products.
  • Offers a wide variety of loans, including jumbo and interest-only products.
  • Offers low rates compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Cons
  • Doesn't offer home equity loans.
loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who want an easy online application and a variety of loan types to explore.
Pros
  • Has branches across the country for customers who prefer face-to-face service.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
  • Mortgage interest rates tend to be on the lower end, according to the latest federal data.
Cons
  • Mortgage rates aren't available online; you'll need to contact a loan officer.
  • Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
PNC

PNC: NMLS#446303

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers with low-to-moderate incomes or limited down payments. PNC offers several low-down-payment loans, including one with no mortgage insurance.
Pros
  • Posts current mortgage rates on its website.
  • Offers several affordable loan options, including FHA, VA, USDA and the PNC Community Loan.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • Doesn't offer renovation mortgages.
  • In-person service is not available in every state.
Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who appreciate convenience online and on the go for a fully digital home loan experience with consistently acclaimed customer service.
Pros
  • Caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan online and talk to a human only as necessary.
  • Estimates the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.
  • Streamlines the online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, including the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
Cons
  • Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
  • Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
  • Lender fees are on the high side and the fees aren't offset by particularly low mortgage rates, according to the latest data.
SoFi

SoFi: NMLS#1484615

Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers seeking an entirely digital application process for conventional purchase mortgages or refinancing.
Pros
  • Borrowers with an existing loan or investment account from SoFi may qualify for a $500 discount on mortgage fees.
  • Mortgage rates tend to be on the low side, according to the latest federal data.
  • Offers jumbo loans with a minimum down payment of 10%.
Cons
  • Does not offer government-backed loans, such as FHA or VA.
  • Requires users to create an account to see customized mortgage rates.
  • SoFi conforming mortgages are unavailable in Hawaii.
US Bank

US Bank: NMLS#402761

National / regional

National

Max LTV

80%

Min. credit score

620

Why We Like ItU.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.

» 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 March 9, 2023

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

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