Freedom Mortgage Review 2024
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Our Take
2.5
Freedom offers a range of home purchase and refi options, but no home equity loans, and mortgage rates aren't available on its website. The lender was penalized for providing illegal incentives for mortgage referrals.
Pros
- Offers conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo loans.
- Multiple customer service options, including brick-and-mortar branches, online message center and phone.
- Low average mortgage interest rates, according to the latest federal data.
Cons
- No mortgage rates displayed online.
- Fined $1.75 million for illegal kickbacks to real estate agents and brokers for loan referrals.
- Origination fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
Lender | Min. credit score | Min. down payment | |
|---|---|---|---|
620 | 0% | Visit Lenderat NBKC at NBKC | |
620 | 3% | Visit Lenderat Better at Better | |
580 | 3.5% | Visit Lenderat Rocket Mortgage, LLC at Rocket Mortgage, LLC | |
620 | 0% | Visit Lenderat Veterans United at Veterans United | |
620 | 3% | Visit Lenderat Guaranteed Rate at Guaranteed Rate |
Full Review
What borrowers say about Freedom 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.
Freedom Mortgage received a score of 699 out of 1,000 in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study. The industry average for origination is 730. (Mortgage origination covers the initial application through closing day.)
Freedom received a score of 585 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.)
Freedom received a customer rating of 4.83 out of 5 on Zillow, as of the date of publication. The rating reflects more than 1,860 customer reviews.
Freedom Mortgage and consumer trust
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Freedom in August 2023 for illegally incentivizing referrals from real estate brokers and agents, which the agency says undermined consumer choice. The lender was ordered to pay $1.75 million into the CFPB’s victim relief fund.
A lender’s NerdWallet star rating is negatively affected by recent regulatory actions for violations that harmed mortgage customers. When shopping for a mortgage lender, do an online search to see if the company is in the news, and why.
Freedom Mortgage's loan options
3 of 5 stars
Freedom Mortgage offers conventional purchase and refinance loans (cash-out and rate-and-term options). It also provides government-backed FHA, VA and USDA options.
Borrowers can choose from a variety of jumbo loans for properties such as vacation homes and investment options. There’s even an option for self-employed borrowers who don’t have a traditional method for proving income.
The lender does not offer construction-to-permanent or home-renovation loans, nor does it offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
» MORE: Best VA lenders
What it’s like to apply for a Freedom mortgage
3 of 5 stars
Though you'll get started with a loan officer, either by calling Freedom or filling out an online form, the lender says that once you've decided to move forward, you can complete all tasks online, including securing preapproval for a home loan.
Once you’ve started an application with Freedom Mortgage, you can also contact them by phone or email, or set up an appointment with your loan officer. The lender doesn't offer a live chat on its website to answer questions, but if you want to call, a phone number is easy to find in the “Contact Us” tab at the top of every page.
» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage
Freedom Mortgage's rates and fees
3 of 5 stars
Freedom Mortgage earns 2 of 5 stars for average origination fee.
Freedom Mortgage 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. Overall, Freedom Mortgage had higher origination fees than average, with mortgage rates that were lower than average in the industry.
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.
Freedom Mortgage's rate transparency
1 of 5 stars
If you already have a mortgage serviced by Freedom Mortgage and are looking to refinance, you may be able to view rate offers by logging in to your account.
If you aren't already a customer, you'll have to call the lender or fill out a form to get started. A loan officer will contact you to provide rate information.
Alternatives to a home loan from Freedom Mortgage
Bank of America offers similarly low interest rates, and Flagstar Bank offers a competitive variety of government-backed loans.
» MORE: Best FHA lenders
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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).
