BEST OF

7 Best TDHCA Mortgage Lenders of 2021

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, or TDHCA, can help first-time buyers purchase a home. See NerdWallet's picks for participating lenders.

NerdWalletJan 21, 2021

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Texas residents who want to buy their first homes can get help from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The state's My First Texas Home loan program includes down payment and closing cost assistance.

The program's low-interest rate loans are offered through a network of participating lenders. These are among the best, as determined by NerdWallet research.

» MORE: Explore TDHCA first-time home buyer programs

Summary of Best TDHCA Mortgage Lenders of 2021

loanDepot
Learn more

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 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.

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PrimeLending
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PrimeLending: NMLS#13649

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
PrimeLending

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
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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.

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Alterra
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Alterra: NMLS#133739

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Alterra

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
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Why we like it

Good for: first-time home buyers and those with nontraditional incomes.

Pros

  • Offers an ITIN qualification path for undocumented borrowers.

  • Has a digital application process.

  • Offers several mortgage options for low- to moderate-income borrowers.

  • Borrowers can qualify with income from self-employment and other nontraditional sources.

Cons

  • No mortgage rates published online.

  • No home equity loans or lines of credit.

  • Generally has higher rates and fees than other lenders.

  • Branch offices not available in all states.

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Fairway Independent Mortgage
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at Fairway Independent Mortgage

Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
Fairway Independent Mortgage

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
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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.

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Guild Mortgage
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Guild Mortgage: NMLS#3274

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Guild Mortgage

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
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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.

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Homebridge
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Homebridge: NMLS#6521

3.5

NerdWallet rating 
Homebridge

Min. Credit Score

620

Min. Down Payment

3%
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Why we like it

Good for borrowers who want a loan officer's help, in person or on the phone, when deciding among the wide range of available mortgage options — including loans to buy and renovate.

Pros

  • Offers a full array of mortgage products, including government and renovation loans.

  • Has loans for most purposes, including purchase, refinance and jumbo mortgages.

  • Online portal keeps borrowers up-to-date on the loan application's progress.

Cons

  • Doesn't post interest rates on its site.

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

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Guaranteed Rate
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at Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

5.0

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

More TDHCA participating mortgage lenders

The following are some of the highest-volume lenders that participate in TDHCA first-time home buyer programs. They have not been reviewed by NerdWallet.

Supreme Lending

  • Website has calculators, answers to FAQs and a mortgage glossary.

  • Offers FHA, VA and USDA loans.

  • National lender headquartered in Texas.

Cornerstone Home Lending

  • More than 25 locations in Texas.

  • Prequalification can be started online.

  • Website includes calculators, FAQs and a mortgage glossary.

AmCap Home Loans

  • Offers FHA, VA and USDA mortgages as well as conventional loans.

  • Lends in over 30 states and headquartered in Texas.

  • Reduced interest rate for disabled veterans under the Texas VLB mortgage program.

Gateway Mortgage Group

  • Outlines the steps to buying a home and offers a homebuying guide.

  • Offers FHA, VA and USDA loans as well as conventional mortgages for first-time home buyers.

  • Website has several loan calculators.

More from NerdWallet

Last updated on January 21, 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 TDHCA Mortgage Lenders of 2021