Chase Mortgage Review 2023
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Our Take
3.5
Chase stands out for their low-down-payment mortgage options, including two proprietary low-down-payment loans called DreaMaker and Standard Agency. They also offer the ability to customize a rate estimate without contacting the lender, streamlining the process of comparing rates. However, borrowers won’t be able to apply without getting prequalified first, and the lender’s origination fees tend to be higher than competitors’.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers two proprietary loans with low down payment requirements.
- Provides customizable sample rates.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
Cons
- Borrowers must apply for prequalification before accessing a full online application.
- Origination fees are higher than average, according to the latest federal data.
- Borrowers may be frustrated with the lender’s website experience.
Compare to Other Lenders
Full Review
What borrowers say about Chase mortgages
NerdWallet’s lender star ratings assess objective qualities, including rates, fees and loan offerings. To assess borrowers’ subjective experiences with lenders, NerdWallet has gathered customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and Zillow.
Chase receives a score of 736 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study. The industry average for origination is 716. (Mortgage origination covers the initial application through closing day.)
Chase receives a score of 665 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study. The industry average for servicing is 601. (A mortgage servicer handles loan payments.)
Chase receives a customer rating of 4.95 out of 5 on Zillow, as of the date of publication. The rating reflects more than 8,000 customer reviews.
Chase’s mortgage loan options
3 of 5 stars
Chase offers a standard menu of fixed-rate and adjustable-rate conventional mortgages, as well as VA, FHA and jumbo loans. Chase is the fourth-largest jumbo loan lender by volume, according to the latest federal data.
Chase also offers two proprietary mortgages that require just 3% down. The first option, called Standard Agency, requires that at least one borrower on the mortgage is a first-time home buyer and is intended for borrowers with higher credit scores. The other option, called DreaMaker, has more flexible credit requirements and is available to borrowers who meet income limits.
Borrowers in certain census tracts who get an FHA, VA, Standard Agency or DreaMaker loan are also eligible for a $2,500 or $5,000 home buyer grant, which can be used to purchase points or applied toward the down payment or closing costs. DreaMaker borrowers who complete a home buyer education course can also receive up to $500 toward their closing costs or down payment.
While Chase does not currently offer home equity loans or HELOCs, homeowners interested in both refinancing their home and borrowing more money may apply for a cash-out refinance.
What it’s like to apply for a Chase mortgage
2 of 5 stars
Chase lost points in our review for requiring borrowers to apply for prequalification before accessing a full loan application. Borrowers can input their personal information, but won’t be able to upload supporting documentation until they are prequalified.
Borrowers who prefer an in-person experience can find a home lending advisor in their area using Chase’s search tool.
Chase’s website can be somewhat difficult to navigate. We had to surf through multiple screens to track down information about individual loan products. The customer service phone line is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. When we called the phone line, we were initially disconnected, but a second call attempt was successful. We were able to connect with a live representative after responding to two questions in the phone menu.
Chase does not have a live chat feature on its website, though existing customers who sign into an account can send a “secure message” and receive a response within 24 hours.
Chase’s banking app currently has a rating of 4.8 in Apple’s App Store, and is ranked as the No. 6 finance app.
» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage
Chase’s mortgage rates and fees
3 of 5 stars
Chase earns 2 of 5 stars for average origination fee.
Chase earns 4 of 5 stars for average mortgage interest rates.
NerdWallet analyzes federal data to compare mortgage lenders’ origination fees and offered mortgage rates. We measure annual averages across all loan types, as reported by the lenders. Chase’s mortgage interest rates are on the lower side compared to competitors, while origination fees are on the higher side.
Borrowers should consider the balance between lender fees and mortgage rates. While it's not always the case, paying upfront fees can lower your mortgage interest rate. Some lenders will charge higher upfront fees to lower their advertised interest rate and make it more attractive. Some lenders just charge higher upfront fees.
Chase’s mortgage rate transparency
5 of 5 stars
Chase provides sample rates and APRs on its website based on the borrower’s ZIP code. Borrowers should be aware that these rates assume that the customer is purchasing one discount point and has a down payment of at least 20%; if the consumer is bringing less cash to the table, actual rates will be higher than what’s advertised.
Alternatively, borrowers can input basic financial information into Chase’s mortgage calculator (such as their credit score, down payment and property price) and see their customized rate and APR. This figure accounts for PMI, taxes and insurance, which is more accurate than what borrowers are likely to find on competitor sites that don’t incorporate these costs into their advertised APRs.
Alternatives to a home loan from Chase
Flagstar could be a strong fit for borrowers interested in low-down-payment options, while borrowers looking for a jumbo loan may be a good match for Bank of America.
» MORE: Best lenders for jumbo loans
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John Buzbee contributed to this review.
More from NerdWallet
NerdWallet’s overall ratings for mortgage lenders are evaluated based on four major categories: variety of loan types (purchase, refinance, fixed and adjustable, for example), ease of application, rates and fees and rate transparency. Among the factors we consider when scoring these categories are options to apply for and track loans online, the level of detail about mortgage rates on lender websites and our analysis of the rates and fees lenders reported in the latest available Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. These scores generate ratings from 1 star (poor) to 5 stars (excellent).
