Best of

8 Best SC Housing Mortgage Lenders of 2020

NerdWalletJanuary 2, 2020

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.

SC Housing offers affordable loans and home buyer assistance programs to South Carolina residents. Here are our picks for SC Housing-approved lenders that are also highly rated.

To take advantage of the affordable homeownership programs offered by SC Housing, you’ll need to contact a lender that partners with the state agency. Not all lenders do.

NerdWallet has compiled a list of the SC Housing-approved lenders that rank among the best. You can be confident that these mortgage companies are familiar with the home loan programs that may include generous assistance SC Housing offers in your county.

» MORE: Find SC Housing loan programs and eligibility requirements

Summary of Best SC Housing Mortgage Lenders of 2020

Logo

at Fairway

Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289

Logo

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%

at Fairway

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.

Read Full Review
Logo

at Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

Logo

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%

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.

Read Full Review
Logo
Read review

Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274

Logo

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%

Read review

Why we like it

Good for: first-time home buyers and others who may need the flexibility of a low-down-payment loan program.

Pros

  • Offers multiple online conveniences, including a full mortgage application, e-signatures and digital loan process tracking.

  • Offers a wide variety of loan products, including home improvement and manufactured home loans.

Cons

  • Does not offer home equity loan products.

  • Average interest rates and fees are higher than other lenders.

Read Full Review
Logo
Read review

Caliber: NMLS#15622

Logo

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 homebuyer programs.

Cons

  • No mortgage rates displayed online.

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

Read Full Review
Logo

at New American

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

Logo

Min. Credit Score

700

Min. Down Payment

3%

National / Regional

National

at New American

Why we like it

Ideal for borrowers who need to be evaluated on the basis of nontraditional credit. New American Funding offers FHA and VA loans, works with down payment assistance programs, and helps borrowers whose credit histories don't fit the mold of traditional banking.

Pros

  • Uses manual underwriting to evaluate creditworthiness.

  • Offers full online mortgage application, rate quotes, document upload and loan tracking.

  • Home equity lending sets it apart from most non-bank lenders.

Cons

  • Services not available in all 50 states.

Read Full Review
Logo
Read review

BB&T: NMLS#399803

Logo

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%

Read review

Why we like it

Good for borrowers in the Southeast who want online tools with the option of face-to-face service. BB&T, now part of Truist Financial Corp., offers a full menu of home loans.

Pros

  • Offers a variety of low-down-payment mortgages as well as construction mortgages.

  • Website lets users estimate rates online by loan and property type, amount and location.

  • Has an online mortgage application.

Cons

  • Branches limited mostly to the Southeast region.

  • Does not offer FHA loans.

Read Full Review
Logo

at loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

Logo

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

5%

at loanDepot

Why we like it

Ideal for borrowers looking to get a mortgage with help from a loan officer. Digital back-office operations are said to add efficiency to the loan process.

Pros

  • Offers digital income, asset and employment verification.

  • Offers multiple renovation loan options.

  • Has over 200 affiliated loan stores nationwide for customers who prefer face-to-face service.

Cons

  • Mortgage rates aren't available online; you'll need to contact a loan officer.

  • Does not offer home equity loans or lines of credit.

Read Full Review
Logo
Read review

PrimeLending: NMLS#13649

Logo

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.

Read Full Review

More SC Housing-approved lenders

Here are additional South Carolina lenders that participate in SC Housing programs. While they haven’t been reviewed by NerdWallet, they are among the leading mortgage originators in the state.

South State Bank

  • Allows borrowers to start an application online.

  • Offers Rural Development Loans with 100% financing.

  • Has dozens of locations in South Carolina — from Abbeville to York.

Movement Mortgage

  • Says it completes the underwriting for new mortgage applications within six hours.

  • Processes 75% of its loans within seven business days.

  • Offers a condo loan program with conventional and government-backed financing options.

Ameris Bank

  • Has locations in nine cities in South Carolina.

  • Offers all government-backed loans.

  • Has a medical professional loan program that offers 100% financing to physicians, dentists, pharmacists and veterinarians, among others.

First Citizens Bank

  • Shows mortgage rates for a variety of home loans.

  • Has an online loan application with mortgage process status updates.

  • Offers a renovation loan that allows you to buy and improve a fixer-upper with a single closing.

More from NerdWallet

Last updated on January 2, 2020

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 SC Housing Mortgage Lenders of 2020