Compare top mortgage lenders
Reach out to multiple lenders to see how much you could save. It pays to compare your options.
The lenders for you
- Offers loan products starting with as little as 3% down
- Doesn't charge lender fees, such as application, underwriting and origination charges
- Strengths: Offers an "underwriter reviewed" preapproval letter in as little as 24 hours.
- Weaknesses: Not available in all 50 states.
- Read our Better.com review
at Better.com
- Good for: borrowers who need to be evaluated on the basis of nontraditional credit and those interested in various down payment assistance programs.
- Read our New American Funding review
at New American Funding
- Full line of fixed and adjustable rate mortgages, including FHA and VA loans.
- Good for: People comfortable using online tools and those looking for FHA loans. Minimum credit score of 620, 580 for FHA loans.
- Strengths: Verifies employment and tells you how much you qualify for in minutes.
- Weaknesses: No HELOC or home equity loans. Relies on traditional credit measures.
- Read our Quicken Loans review
at Quicken Loans
In order to pick the best lender for you, first decide what kind of loan you’re looking for, what type of service and lending experience you expect, and then see how several lenders compare side by side. What’s most important to you? Face-to-face service, an online experience, credit score flexibility? The mortgage-lending landscape is a crowded field that includes traditional lenders like Bank of America, online mortgage lenders such as Better Mortgage, credit unions like Navy Federal Credit Union, regional banks like SunTrust, mortgage brokers acting as middlemen, and more. Once you’re ready, be sure to contact multiple lenders to compare mortgage rates and lender fees. If you follow these steps, you’ll be able to find the best lender for you.
In a 2015 report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that 77% of consumers apply to only one lender when seeking a mortgage. By shopping just three different lenders, borrowers could save more than $3,500 in just the first five years, according to the CFPB’s research. By applying to several lenders rather than just one, you can compare all-in costs and get the best deal.
