NerdWallet reviewed the majority of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders by annual loan volume (lenders had to have at least a 1% market share). We focused on lenders that offered the following loans: purchase, refinance, jumbo, FHA, VA and/or HELOCs. In addition, we reviewed online lenders and emerging and notable players. We also considered lenders with significant online search volume and those that specialize in serving various audiences across the country. Some of these are companies that NerdWallet partners with, some are not.
How we chose the winner:
We started by pooling all of our online mortgage lenders. The winner(s) must offer all five of the following online capabilities: full online application, document upload, loan-process tracking, e-signature and a mobile-responsive website and/or an app with mortgage functionality. The winner(s) must also do online preapproval, offer real-person access, show rates for most/all their products, have low origination fees, have an online form to fill out for customized mortgage-rate quotes, and offer the widest variety of loan products.
How we verified our data:
NerdWallet solicits information from reviewed lenders on a recurring basis throughout the year. All lender-provided information is verified through lender websites and interviews.
We also utilized 2018 HMDA data for origination fee data.
