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Standout FHA lenders
If you have a lower credit score or are looking for a low down payment, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans may be the right option for you. However, they can be more complicated.
2018 FHA loan requirements
Remember, you’ll also want to take into account mortgage insurance premiums since they are required by FHA lenders. The mortgage insurance protects the lender from borrower defaults.
Get quotes from multiple lenders
at Quicken Loans
at Quicken Loans
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
Pros
- Caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan online and talk to a human only as necessary.
- Estimates the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.
- Streamlines the online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, including the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
- Lender fees are on the high side and the fees aren't offset by particularly low mortgage rates, according to the latest data.
Pros
- Caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan online and talk to a human only as necessary.
- Estimates the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.
- Streamlines the online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, including the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
- Lender fees are on the high side and the fees aren't offset by particularly low mortgage rates, according to the latest data.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
Pros
- Caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan online and talk to a human only as necessary.
- Estimates the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.
- Streamlines the online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, including the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
- Lender fees are on the high side and the fees aren't offset by particularly low mortgage rates, according to the latest data.
Pros
- Caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan online and talk to a human only as necessary.
- Estimates the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.
- Streamlines the online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, including the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
- Lender fees are on the high side and the fees aren't offset by particularly low mortgage rates, according to the latest data.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
Pros
- Caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan online and talk to a human only as necessary.
- Estimates the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.
- Streamlines the online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, including the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
- Lender fees are on the high side and the fees aren't offset by particularly low mortgage rates, according to the latest data.
Pros
- Caters to self-service users who want to apply for a home loan online and talk to a human only as necessary.
- Estimates the loan amount you’ll qualify for within minutes.
- Streamlines the online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, including the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
- Lender fees are on the high side and the fees aren't offset by particularly low mortgage rates, according to the latest data.
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
at Rocket Mortgage, LLC
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
Pros
- Streamlined online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, as well as the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
- Mortgage interest rates are on the low side compared to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers the option to work with loan officers by phone if desired.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
- Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Pros
- Streamlined online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, as well as the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
- Mortgage interest rates are on the low side compared to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers the option to work with loan officers by phone if desired.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
- Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
Pros
- Streamlined online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, as well as the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
- Mortgage interest rates are on the low side compared to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers the option to work with loan officers by phone if desired.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
- Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Pros
- Streamlined online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, as well as the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
- Mortgage interest rates are on the low side compared to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers the option to work with loan officers by phone if desired.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
- Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
Pros
- Streamlined online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, as well as the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
- Mortgage interest rates are on the low side compared to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers the option to work with loan officers by phone if desired.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
- Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
Pros
- Streamlined online process with document and asset retrieval capabilities, as well as the ability to edit your preapproval letter.
- Mortgage interest rates are on the low side compared to other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers the option to work with loan officers by phone if desired.
Cons
- Getting a customized interest rate requires a credit check, which can affect your credit score.
- Doesn't offer home equity lines of credit.
- Origination fees are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
at New American Funding
at New American Funding
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
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.
- Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
Cons
- Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.
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.
- Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
Cons
- Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
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.
- Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
Cons
- Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.
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.
- Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
Cons
- Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. down payment
3%
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.
- Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
Cons
- Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.
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.
- Offers a program to enable buyers to make cash offers.
Cons
- Mortgage origination fees tend to be on the high end, according to the latest federal data.
What if you don’t meet all FHA requirements?
That means if your situation doesn’t neatly fit within all the guidelines, a lender may consider your loan application as a one-off instance, an exception. Frankly, lenders aren’t always eager to do that.
As an alternative, you can work on getting preapproved for your mortgage loan to lock in your interest rate.
Rating methodology:
NerdWallet’s star ratings for mortgage lenders are awarded based on our evaluation of the products and services that lenders offer to consumers who are actively shopping for the best mortgage. The six key areas we evaluated include the loan types and loan products offered, online capabilities, online mortgage rate information, customer service and the number of complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a percentage of loans issued. We also awarded lenders up to one bonus star for a unique program or borrower focus that set them apart from other lenders. To ensure consistency, our ratings are reviewed by multiple people on the NerdWallet Mortgages team.
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