Sebonic Mortgage Review 2024
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Our Take
2.5
Sebonic Financial offers conventional and government-backed mortgages, but it doesn’t publish mortgage rates online or offer home equity loans or lines of credit. Its parent company's origination fees are among the highest in the industry.
Pros
- Lender representatives help guide the online application process.
- Offers a variety of mortgage options, including FHA, VA and USDA loans.
Cons
- Mortgage interest rates aren't published online.
- You’ll have to make contact to start the application process.
- Parent company’s fees are notably high, according to the latest federal data.
Lender | Min. credit score | Min. down payment | |
|---|---|---|---|
580 | 3% | Visit Lenderat New American Funding at New American Funding | |
620 | 3% | Visit Lenderat NBKC at NBKC | |
580 | 3.5% | Visit Lenderat Rocket Mortgage, LLC at Rocket Mortgage, LLC |
Full Review
What borrowers say about Sebonic 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 Zillow.
Sebonic Financial receives a customer rating of 4.43 out of 5 on Zillow, as of the date of publication. The score reflects more than 3,420 customer reviews.
Sebonic's mortgage loan options
2 of 5 stars
Sebonic Financial, a division of Cardinal Financial, is a nonbank lender offering fixed-rate mortgages, including conventional loans and FHA, VA and USDA loans. Cardinal reported that 30% of total mortgages originated in 2022 were FHA loans. Borrowers with a credit score of 550 may apply for an FHA loan.
The company also offers refinancing and jumbo loans, including an option to refinance a conventional mortgage into an FHA loan.
Like many nonbank lenders, Sebonic does not offer home equity loans or lines of credit. Sebonic’s parent company reported no adjustable-rate loan volume in 2022.
Home renovation and construction-to-permanent loans are not listed on the lender’s website, and queries regarding these options were unanswered.
What it's like to apply for a Sebonic mortgage
2 of 5 stars
Sebonic Financial offers an all-digital mortgage process, supplemented with human guidance.
Prospective borrowers start by calling a toll-free number or requesting a quote by providing contact information. They can then check the status of their loan application, review and upload documents, and maintain contact with their loan team via Sebonic's online platform.
The lender does not offer a mobile app, and a live chat option on Sebonic’s website requests contact information before you can type a question.
» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage
Sebonic's mortgage rates and fees
2 of 5 stars
Sebonic Financial, reporting as Cardinal Financial Company, earns 1 of 5 stars for average origination fee.
Sebonic Financial, reporting as Cardinal Financial Company, earns 3 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, Sebonic’s parent company had origination fees that were significantly higher than average in the industry, with mortgage rates that were typical in the industry. Loans considered higher risk often have higher interest rates and fees.
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.
Sebonic's mortgage rate transparency
1 of 5 stars
Current mortgage interest rates aren’t publicly visible anywhere on Sebonic’s website, so you’ll need to make contact to receive customized rates.
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.
Alternatives to a home loan from Sebonic
Here are some comparable lenders we review that borrowers can consider.
Rocket Mortgage originates more FHA loans than any other lender in the nation, and Flagstar Bank offers a similar human-guided application process.
» MORE: Best mortgage lenders
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More from NerdWallet
NerdWallet’s overall ratings for mortgage lenders are evaluated based on four major categories: average mortgage rates and origination fees, rate transparency to consumers, variety of loan types (purchase, refinance, fixed and adjustable, for example) and customer experience. Among the factors we consider in these categories are: options to apply for home loans online, typical time to close, mobile app experience, level of detail about mortgage rates on lender websites, and NerdWallet’s own analysis of the rates and fees lenders reported in the latest available Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. These and other items inform detailed rubrics, which generate ratings from 1 star (poor) to 5 stars (excellent). Read more about how we rate mortgage lenders here.
