BEST OF

8 Best SC Housing Mortgage Lenders of 2021

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.

NerdWallet
Jan 26, 2021

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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

Best SC Housing Mortgage Lenders

Fairway Independent Mortgage
Learn more

at Fairway Independent Mortgage

Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Fairway Independent Mortgage

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
Learn more

at Fairway Independent Mortgage

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.

  • Origination fees are on the high side and are not offset by low rates, according to the latest data.

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Guaranteed Rate
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at Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Guaranteed Rate

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
Learn more

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
Guild Mortgage
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Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Guild Mortgage

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
Read review

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who value customer service, and 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.

  • Origination fees tend to be on the higher end, according to the latest data.

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Caliber
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Caliber: NMLS#15622

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Caliber

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 home buyer programs.

Cons

  • No mortgage rates displayed online.

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

Read Full Review
New American Funding
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at New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

5.0

NerdWallet rating 
New American Funding

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
Learn more

at New American Funding

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers who need to be evaluated on the basis of nontraditional credit and those interested in various down payment assistance programs.

Pros

  • Uses manual underwriting to evaluate creditworthiness, in some cases.

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

Cons

  • Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.

Read Full Review
BB&T (Truist)
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BB&T (Truist): NMLS#399803

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
BB&T (Truist)

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
Read review

Why we like it

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

Pros

  • Offers a variety of home loans, including construction-to-permanent loans, physicians loans and jumbo loans.

  • Has a robust online mortgage application.

Cons

  • Branches limited to mostly the Southeast region.

  • Custom rates are only available if you speak with a representative.

Read Full Review
loanDepot
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at loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
loanDepot

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

5%
Learn more

at loanDepot

Why we like it

Good for: borrowers looking to refinance or who want to start the application process online.

Pros

  • Offers digital income, asset and employment verification.

  • Offers multiple renovation loan options.

  • Has affiliated loan stores 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
PrimeLending
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PrimeLending: NMLS#13649

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
PrimeLending

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 26, 2021

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 2021