Churchill Mortgage Review 2021
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Our Take
3.5
The bottom line: Offers flexibility for those without credit scores, but its “debt-free” guidance may not appeal to everyone.
Full Review
Churchill: NMLS#1591
Min. Credit Score
620
Min. Down Payment
3%
Loan Types and Products
Purchase, Refinance, Fixed, Adjustable, FHA, VA, USDA
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers loan plans for borrowers without credit scores.
- Annual mortgage reviews help borrowers stay on track toward the goal of living debt-free.
- Offers digital conveniences such as document uploads and e-signature.
Cons
- Doesn't provide information online about rates and fees.
- Doesn't offer home equity loans or HELOCs.
- You can’t apply online without first speaking to a loan specialist.
Compare to Other Lenders
Min. Credit Score620 | Min. Credit Score620 | Min. Credit Score620 |
Min. Down Payment3% | Min. Down Payment3% | Min. Down Payment3% |
Loan Types and ProductsPurchase, Refinance, Jumbo, Fixed, Adjustable, FHA | Loan Types and ProductsPurchase, Refinance, Jumbo, Fixed, Adjustable, FHA, VA | Loan Types and ProductsPurchase, Refinance, Home Equity, Reverse, Jumbo, Fixed, Adjustable, FHA, VA, USDA |
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Full Review
Churchill Mortgage at a glance
Churchill Mortgage takes an unusual approach when it comes to mortgage debt. Its goal is to get you to quit paying a mortgage. Churchill Mortgage calls it "debt-free homeownership."
Wait. A mortgage lender advocating a debt-free goal?
Helping clients own a home free and clear is the “Churchill Mission.” It began with debt-free-lifestyle guru Dave Ramsey, then a fledgling radio host, pitching advertising to the company more than 25 years ago. What started as a business relationship ended up informing Churchill’s philosophy of mortgage lending.
Here’s a breakdown of Churchill Mortgage’s overall score:
Variety of loan types: 4 of 5 stars
Variety of loan products: 4 of 5 stars
Online convenience: 4 of 5 stars
Rates and fees: 3 of 5 stars
Rate transparency: 1 of 5 stars
Churchill Mortgage loan types and products
Churchill Mortgage offers purchase, refinance and jumbo home loans, as well as FHA, VA and USDA government-backed loans. The lender also works with borrowers without credit scores, in a break from the traditional method of determining risk. Churchill doesn't originate home equity loans or lines of credit but will "broker them out," it says. That’s basically handing the loans off to lenders that will make such second mortgages on home equity.
The company doesn’t have minimum or maximum loan amounts.
Churchill Mortgage online convenience
Select the “Get Started” button on churchillmortgage.com and enter contact information, which is routed to an office in Nashville, Tennessee. You'll get a call to continue the loan process.
You can upload documents online, and the company uses e-signatures too. Average closing time is 30 to 45 days.
Churchill Mortgage rates and fees
One of the most important considerations when choosing a mortgage lender is understanding what the loan will cost. In order to provide consumers with a general sense of what a lender might charge, NerdWallet scores lenders on two factors regarding fees and mortgage rates:
A lender's average origination fee compared with the median of all lenders reporting under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. Churchill Mortgage earns 3 of 5 stars on this factor.
A lender's offered mortgage rates compared with the best available on comparable loans. Churchill Mortgage earns 3 of 5 stars on this factor.
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.
You can decide to buy discount points — a fee paid with your closing costs — to reduce your mortgage rate.
Deciding whether to pay higher upfront fees is a matter of considering how long you plan to live in your home and how much cash you have to apply toward closing costs when you sign the loan paperwork.
Churchill Mortgage rate transparency
Churchill Mortgage doesn't post interest rates on its website. To get a rate quote, you will need to submit a mortgage application.
