Movement Mortgage Review 2024

What borrowers say about Movement 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.

• Movement Mortgage receives a score of 745 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.) 

• Movement Mortgage receives a customer rating of 4.98 out of 5 on Zillow, as of the date of publication. The rating reflects nearly 18,450 customer reviews.

Movement Mortgage and consumer trust

Movement Mortgage agreed in June 2023 to pay $23.75 million to settle Justice Department claims that the lender improperly certified government-backed loans and mortgage insurance for borrowers who weren't eligible. These actions dated back to 2008. The lender also admitted, the DOJ said, that it failed to follow federal requirements for self-reporting instances of misrepresentation or fraud. The allegations were brought to the government’s attention by two former Movement Mortgage employees.

Because this settlement affects consumers indirectly, it did not impact NerdWallet’s star rating. When shopping for a mortgage lender, do an online search to see if the company is in the news, and why.

Movement Mortgage loan options

• 5 of 5 stars

Headquartered in South Carolina but licensed to lend in all 50 states, the lender offers a broad selection of home loans, including purchase and refinance options with fixed or adjustable rates, though federal data shows few if any adjustable-rate loans funded in 2022.

It also offers government-backed loans, such as FHA, VA and USDA mortgages. While nearly 70 percent of Movement’s 2022 loans were conventional, it is among the nation’s top 10 FHA lenders, according to the latest federal data. Movement Boost, a proprietary program, offers down payment and closing cost assistance to borrowers seeking FHA loans.

Also available are harder-to-find options, such as mortgages for condos, and loans for home renovation and new construction, which can be converted to permanent loans.

Movement’s high-balance loans and jumbo mortgages can help qualified borrowers buy properties in higher-priced regions of the nation. It offers reverse mortgages, too.

» MORE: Different types of mortgage loans

Movement Mortgage was co-founded in 2008 by former pro football player Casey Crawford, a member of the 2003 Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The lender created Movement Foundation with a mission to route some profits to health clinics, housing projects and other services in under-resourced areas. It also funds Movement Schools, a network of charter schools in Charlotte, North Carolina, with additional locations planned in coming years.

Movement Mortgage HELOC

The lender also offers a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. These second mortgages are a way for homeowners to access existing home equity without refinancing or selling their homes. Funds obtained with a second mortgage can be used for expenses such as home improvements, education costs or debt consolidation.

Unusually, Movement’s HELOC requires borrowers to draw the full loan amount (up to $400,000) at closing, with a fixed interest rate. After repaying some or all of the balance, the borrower can make additional withdrawals. (The fixed rate may vary.) The lender promises fast approval and funding in as few as five days.

» MORE: Best HELOC lenders

What it’s like to apply for a Movement mortgage

• 3.5 of 5 stars

Clicking the red “Apply Now” bar from any Movement page leads to a choice to find a loan officer or continue with a loan application. A loan officer can help you assess your options before you apply online, but you can also go straight to the application. Movement says its goal is to process most mortgages within seven business days, a documentation-gathering step that traditionally takes several weeks.

The lender’s process is designed for online applications, but Movement’s app for mobile devices facilitates payments, not applications. Borrowers can also apply by phone with a loan officer or in person, either at a Movement branch office or even in their own home. A tool on the lender’s website allows you to find a loan officer near you in a search that includes location and contact information.

Borrowers can upload and sign documents, and track the process of their loan online.

A customer service number is at the bottom of the lender’s website. When we called, the lender’s automated system answered immediately, but asked us to provide a loan number or other personal data to talk with a representative. There is no live chat to help answer questions.

» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage

Movement’s mortgage rates and fees

• 2 of 5 stars

• Movement Mortgage earns 2 of 5 stars for average origination fee.

• Movement Mortgage earns 2 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, Movement Mortgage had higher origination fees than average, with mortgage rates that also were higher 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.

» MORE: How to get the best mortgage rate

Movement’s mortgage rate transparency

• 1 of 5 stars

Movement doesn't publish current mortgage rates online, so you will need to contact a loan advisor for a rate quote.

NerdWallet’s transparency ratings are higher for lenders that post sample rates on their sites, making it easier for home buyers to comparison shop and highest for sites with self-serve tools that allow shoppers to see what rates might be like for their particular loan.

» MORE: Compare current mortgage interest rates

Alternatives to a home loan from Movement Mortgage

Here are some comparable lenders we review that borrowers can consider.

U.S. Bank offers similar options for construction loans, and Truist Bank’s foundation aims to help individuals and small businesses achieve financial stability.

» MORE: Best mortgage lenders

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