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9 Best New Jersey Mortgage Lenders of 2022

Here are some of the best NJ mortgage lenders, whether you're a first-time home buyer, a refinancer or a borrower with imperfect credit.

NerdWallet
By
Last updated on January 6, 2022
Edited by
✅ Fact checked and reviewed
Mary Makarushka
Edited by
✅ Fact checked and reviewed

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 New Jersey Mortgage Lenders

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Lender
NerdWallet Rating
Min. credit score
Min. down payment
Learn more
New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

Top 3 most visited 🏆
Learn more
at New American Funding
at New American Funding
Home loans overall
Best for weaker credit

580

3%

Rocket Mortgage, LLC

Rocket Mortgage, LLC: NMLS#3030

4.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for online lender

620

1%

Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

Learn more
at Guaranteed Rate
at Guaranteed Rate
5.0
/5
Refinancing
Best for refinancing

620

3%

loanDepot

loanDepot: NMLS#174457

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on NerdWallet
3.5
/5
Home loans overall
Best for first-time home buyers & online lenders

620

5%

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on NerdWallet
PNC

PNC: NMLS#446303

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on NerdWallet
5.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for face-to-face experience

620

3%

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on NerdWallet
Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

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on NerdWallet
4.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for face-to-face experience

660

5%

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on NerdWallet
Citibank

Citibank: NMLS#412915

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on NerdWallet
4.0
/5
Home loans overall
Best for first-time home buyers

N/A

3%

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on NerdWallet
Carrington

Carrington: NMLS#2600

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on NerdWallet
3.5
/5
Home loans overall
Best for weaker credit

620

5%

LEARN MORE
on NerdWallet
Chase

Chase: NMLS#399798

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on NerdWallet
4.5
/5
Refinancing
Best for refinancing

620

3%

LEARN MORE
on NerdWallet
New American Funding
Learn more
at New American Funding
at New American Funding
New American Funding

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

4.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

580

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: first-time home buyers, military members and self-employed or underrepresented borrowers.
Pros
  • Offers a wide variety of purchase and refinance mortgages with an emphasis on helping underserved communities.
  • Its home equity line of credit can be used for an owner-occupied or second home.
  • Has a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end.
  • Personalized mortgage rates are not available on the website without providing contact information.
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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.
Guaranteed Rate

Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611

5.0
Min. credit score

620

National / regional

National

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers seeking a broad menu of loans, including jumbo and interest-only options, renovation loans and government-backed mortgages, as well as home equity lines of credit.
Pros
  • Offers a one-day mortgage approval process.
  • Offers a generous selection of loans, including government-backed, interest-only, ITIN, jumbo, and renovation loans.
  • Advertises a HELOC that can be funded in as few as five business days.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
  • Origination fees are higher than average, according to the latest federal data.
  • HELOC has a relatively short draw period, which may not provide flexibility for someone who wants the option of accessing home equity over a longer period.
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.
PNC
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on NerdWallet
PNC

PNC: NMLS#446303

5.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: borrowers with low to moderate incomes or limited down payments, as well as home buyers seeking mortgages in higher-priced regions of the nation.
Pros
  • Offers several low-down-payment loan options, including FHA, VA, USDA and the PNC Community Loan.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
  • Mortgage rates are lower than the industry average, according to the latest federal data.
  • Jumbo loans available with 5% down payment.
Cons
  • Doesn't offer renovation mortgages or home equity loans.
  • In-person service is not available in every state.
  • You’ll have to create an account or supply personal data to get answers by phone.
Bank of America
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on NerdWallet
Bank of America

Bank of America: NMLS#399802

4.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
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 or construction-to-permanent mortgage loans.
  • Must enroll in online banking to access Home Loan Navigator.
  • Fined $12 million for reporting inaccurate mortgage applicant info to the federal government.
Citibank
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on NerdWallet
Citibank

Citibank: NMLS#412915

4.0
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
National / regional

National

Min. down payment

3%

Why We Like ItGood for: Rates-focused borrowers who are Citi customers, or home buyers seeking down payment assistance.
Pros
  • Average interest rates are among the lowest compared to other lenders’, according to the latest federal data.
  • Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
  • Borrowers with existing Citi accounts may receive discounts.
Cons
  • Customized mortgage rates are not available without contacting the lender.
  • HELOCs and home equity loans are not currently available.
  • No live chat feature on the lender’s site.
Carrington
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on NerdWallet
Carrington

Carrington: NMLS#2600

3.5
Home loans overall
NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

5%

Why We Like ItGood for: credit-challenged borrowers interested in government loan products or borrowers with nontraditional credit histories.
Pros
  • Offers multiple low-down-payment loans.
  • Accepts history of bankruptcy, foreclosure and late payments with flexible loan program.
  • Considers borrowers with low credit scores and high debt-to-income ratios.
Cons
  • Fined $5.25 million for misleading customers about pandemic-era payment relief.
  • Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
  • Lender fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
Chase
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on NerdWallet
Chase

Chase: NMLS#399798

4.5
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.

More from NerdWallet
Estimate your payment with our mortgage calculator for NJ Compare today's mortgage rates in NJ
Find New Jersey first-time home buyer programs

Last updated on January 6, 2022

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 New Jersey Mortgage Lenders of 2022

  • New American Funding: Best for weaker credit
  • Rocket Mortgage, LLC: Best for online lender
  • Guaranteed Rate: Best for refinancing
  • loanDepot: Best for first-time home buyers & online lenders
  • PNC: Best for face-to-face experience
  • Bank of America: Best for face-to-face experience
  • Citibank: Best for first-time home buyers
  • Carrington: Best for weaker credit
  • Chase: Best for refinancing

Frequently asked questions

  • The credit score you need to buy a house in New Jersey depends on the type of mortgage you're planning to use. Home loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration tend to have the lowest required minimum credit scores, but individual lenders can ask for higher scores. For most conventional loans, you'll need a credit score of at least 620.

  • The median monthly housing payment for New Jersey homeowners was $2,413 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. That number includes principal, interest, insurance, taxes, utility costs and homeowners association or other fees. You can use a mortgage calculator for NJ to get a more specific estimate of what your monthly mortgage payments would be.

  • Your down payment amount depends less on where you live, and more on the type of mortgage you're using and how your offer shapes up. With a conventional loan, you can make a down payment that's as low as 3%. However, in a competitive housing market, it may help your offer stand out if you can make a down payment that's beyond the bare minimum. If you need down payment assistance, you may want to look into New Jersey first-time home buyer programs.

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