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10 Best South Carolina Mortgage Lenders of 2021

Looking for a South Carolina mortgage lender? We've researched the state's top lenders, selecting the best for first-time home buyers, online experience and even home equity lines of credit, to help you choose the right mortgage lender today.

NerdWallet
By
Last updated on January 22, 2021

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.

  • 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.

Best South Carolina Mortgage Lenders

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Lender
NerdWallet Rating
Min. credit score
Min. down payment
Learn more
Rocket Mortgage, LLC

Rocket Mortgage, LLC: NMLS#3030

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at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
Home loans overall
Best for online experience

620

1%

Learn more
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

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on NerdWallet
3.5
/5
Home loans overall
Best for online experience

620

5%

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on NerdWallet
Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

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on NerdWallet
4.5
/5
HELOCs
Best for HELOCs

660

N/A

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on NerdWallet
SunTrust (Truist)

SunTrust (Truist): NMLS#2915

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

620

3%

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on NerdWallet
Guild Mortgage

Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274

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on NerdWallet
3.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for first-time home buyers

620

3%

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on NerdWallet
Navy Federal

Navy Federal: NMLS#399807

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on NerdWallet
5.0
/5
VA loans
Best for veterans

N/A

0%

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on NerdWallet
USAA

USAA: NMLS#8722

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on NerdWallet
5.0
/5
VA loans
Best for veterans

640

0%

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on NerdWallet
Flagstar

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

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on NerdWallet
5.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for low down payment

620

3%

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on NerdWallet
BB&T (Truist)

BB&T (Truist): NMLS#399803

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on NerdWallet
4.5
/5
Home loans overall
Best for low down payment

620

3%

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on NerdWallet
TD Bank

TD Bank: NMLS#399800

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on NerdWallet
5.0
/5
HELOCs
Best for HELOCs

620

3%

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on NerdWallet
Rocket Mortgage, LLC
Learn more
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
Rocket Mortgage, LLC

Rocket Mortgage, LLC: NMLS#3030

4.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

1%

Why We Like ItGood for: FHA borrowers and others short on down payment cash, as well as home buyers who value convenience over low fees.
Pros
  • Streamlined online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, as well as the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
  • Offers the option to work with loan officers by phone if desired.
  • Largest FHA lender in the nation.
Cons
  • Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
  • Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
  • Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
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loanDepot
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on NerdWallet
loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

3.5
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers who are comfortable with an entirely online experience, and who want a one-stop shop for buying and selling.
Pros
  • Offers a variety of repayment terms.
  • Online loan calculator lets borrowers compare monthly payments and lifetime interest.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • No sample interest rates are provided.
  • Origination fees are on the higher end, according to the latest federal data.
  • Lender’s website does not have a live chat feature.
Bank of America
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on NerdWallet
Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

National / regional

National

Max LTV

85%

Min. credit score

660

Why We Like ItGood for: Borrowers who seek to tap into home equity through a national bank with several rate-discount options.
Pros
  • Charges no closing costs or annual fees.
  • Publishes sample HELOC rates online.
  • Offers rate discount for auto pay from an account with the lender.
Cons
  • There is an early termination fee if the account is closed within the first three years.
SunTrust (Truist)
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on NerdWallet
SunTrust (Truist)

SunTrust (Truist): NMLS#2915

4.5
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: first-time home buyers, doctors and other borrowers interested in low-down-payment mortgage options.
Pros
  • Offers a wide variety of loan options, including special programs for doctors.
  • Offers a complete suite of online mortgage application tools and loan tracking.
  • Sample rates and fees are easy to find on the website.
Cons
  • Customized rates aren't available online without starting an application.
  • Branches are limited mostly to the Southeast.
Guild Mortgage
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on NerdWallet
Guild Mortgage

Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274

3.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood 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 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.
Cons
  • 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.
Navy Federal
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on NerdWallet
Navy Federal

Navy Federal: NMLS#399807

National / regional

National

Min. down payment

0%

Why We Like ItGood for: military members and their families looking for low-down-payment mortgages.
Pros
  • Offers a wide range of affordable mortgage products, including 0% down payment loans, designed for military members.
  • Offers HELOCs and home equity loans.
  • Offers low rates compared with most lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Cons
  • Website does not provide customized mortgage rates based on credit score or other factors before you apply.
  • Credit union membership is limited to veterans and current military members, their families, and certain federal employees, retirees and contractors.
USAA
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on NerdWallet
USAA

USAA: NMLS#8722

Min. credit score

640

Min. down payment

0%

Why We Like ItGood for: veterans, active-duty service members and eligible reservists looking for VA loans.
Pros
  • VA loans are the bulk of USAA’s business, so it knows the ins and outs of eligibility.
  • Offers a conventional home loan with low down payment for first-time buyers.
  • Mortgage interest rates are on the low side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Cons
  • Doesn’t offer FHA or USDA loans, or second mortgages.
  • Limited mortgage rate information is on the USAA website. For customized rates, you'll have to make contact.
Flagstar
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on NerdWallet
Flagstar

Flagstar: NMLS#417490

5.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: Borrowers who may benefit from Flagstar’s unique loan options, such as ITIN loans, loans for manufactured homes or physician loans.
Pros
  • 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.
Cons
  • 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.
BB&T (Truist)
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on NerdWallet
BB&T (Truist)

BB&T (Truist): NMLS#399803

4.5
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood 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.
TD Bank
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on NerdWallet
TD Bank

TD Bank: NMLS#399800

National / regional

Regional

Max LTV

89.90

Min. credit score

620

Why We Like ItGood for: Borrowers on the East Coast seeking to tap into home equity with a rate discount, especially if there is no time crunch.
Pros
  • Publishes a sample HELOC rate online.
  • Offers a fixed-rate payment option.
  • Available for second homes and investment properties.
Cons
  • $50 annual fee, waived for lines of credit below $50,000.
  • Available only in states on the East Coast.
  • Early termination fee charged if the line is closed within two years.

More from NerdWallet
Calculate your South Carolina mortgage payment
Compare South Carolina mortgage rates
How much home can you afford?

Last updated on January 22, 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 South Carolina Mortgage Lenders of 2021

  • Rocket Mortgage, LLC: Best for online experience
  • loanDepot: Best for online experience
  • Bank of America: Best for HELOCs
  • SunTrust (Truist): Best for first-time home buyers
  • Guild Mortgage: Best for first-time home buyers
  • Navy Federal: Best for veterans
  • USAA: Best for veterans
  • Flagstar: Best for low down payment
  • BB&T (Truist): Best for low down payment
  • TD Bank: Best for HELOCs
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