USAA Mortgage Review 2025
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Why trust NerdWallet
- 50+ mortgage lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
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- Objective, comprehensive star rating system assessing 120+ categories and 5,000+ data points.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Our Take
5.0
USAA is among the top five VA loan lenders by volume, though conventional loans are available, too. USAA membership is open only to current and former military and eligible family members. Most likely to appeal to VA borrowers.
Pros
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Wide range of VA options, including jumbo loans and refinancing.
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Offers a low-down payment loan for first-time home buyers.
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Offers 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-year repayment terms, which is unusually flexible.
Cons
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Average VA loan interest rates are less competitive than some other top VA lenders, according to the latest data.
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Does not offer home equity loans or HELOCs.
Lender | Min. credit score | Min. down payment | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Visit Lenderat NBKC at NBKC | 620 | 3% | Visit Lenderat NBKC at NBKC |
 Visit Lenderat New American Funding at New American Funding | 580 | N/A | Visit Lenderat New American Funding at New American Funding |
 Visit Lenderat Rocket Mortgage, LLC at Rocket Mortgage, LLC | 580 | 3.5% | Visit Lenderat Rocket Mortgage, LLC at Rocket Mortgage, LLC |
 4.0 Visit Lenderat GO Mortgage at GO Mortgage | 620 | 3% | Visit Lenderat GO Mortgage at GO Mortgage |
 Visit Lenderat Veterans United at Veterans United | 620 | 0% | Visit Lenderat Veterans United at Veterans United |
Full Review
At a glance: USAA mortgage options
USAA is a large national bank based in San Antonio, Texas. Loans are available nationwide, though some products are restricted by location.
🏠Common mortgages • Conventional purchase loans • Conventional refinances • VA purchase loans • VA refinances • VA jumbo loans
🔑 Specialty loans • Fannie Mae HomeReady
💵 Home equity • VA cash-out refinances
» MORE: How to choose a mortgage lender
USAA special offers and discounts
Qualified first-time home buyers can access a low-down-payment conventional loan through the HomeReady program.Â
Members get access to the free USAA Perks program, which offers discounts on moving, travel, entertainment and more.
What mortgages does USAA specialize in?
A lender’s experience with your loan type can make a big difference. We looked at the latest federal data to find the types of mortgages USAA handles most often.
In 2024, VA loans made up almost two-thirds of USAA’s purchase loans, while the remaining third of purchase loans were conventional (with a tiny slice of jumbos).
How we score USAA mortgages
Each year, NerdWallet writers and editors dig into the latest data and independent research on mortgage lending. Then, we rate lenders based on the categories that matter most to mortgage borrowers.
USAA has a NerdWallet home loans rating of 4 stars overall. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s score.
Category | Star rating |
|---|---|
Average mortgage rates and fees | |
Mortgage rate transparency | |
Variety of loan types | |
Customer experience | |
Overall star rating |
Ah, so you’re the “read the fine print” type? We got you. Here’s how our scoring rubric works.
Average mortgage rates and fees (30%)
We review federal data (as reported by the lenders) and analyze mortgage lenders’ average fees and interest rates across all loan types. Lenders with the lowest average costs get the highest star ratings. Keep in mind: Loans that are easier to qualify for, like FHA loans, usually have higher rates and fees because lenders see them as a higher risk. Pro tip: Paying some fees upfront can sometimes lower your interest rate.
Mortgage rate transparency (25%)
We look at how easy it is to compare mortgage rates online. Lenders get higher transparency ratings if they show sample rates on their website. (Not all lenders do!) The best ratings go to lenders that offer interactive tools that let you customize a rate quote on your own.
Variety of loan types (25%)
There’s no one-size-fits-all mortgage. Lenders earn top ratings in this category when they offer a large variety of mortgage types. The more variety, the higher their score. A lender earns points for purchase and refinance; fixed and adjustable rates; FHA, VA or USDA loans; renovation or construction loans; and home equity loans or HELOCs.
Customer experience (20%)
How easy is it to work with this lender? Top-rated lenders offer helpful features like online applications, multiple ways to get support, a user-friendly mobile app and clear updates about the loan closing timeline.
» MORE: How to get the best mortgage rate
USAA mortgage reputation and customer experience
NerdWallet’s star ratings look at objective factors like rates, fees and loan options. To give you a sense of what the borrower experience is really like, we pulled the latest customer satisfaction scores Zillow, and we contacted the lender’s customer support.
Zillow Mortgage Lender Customer Rating
3.55
out of 5
Excellent rating as of the date of publication.
Rating reflects fewer than 100 customer reviews.
USAA mortgage customer service options
Here’s how you can get in touch with USAA.
Ways to reach LENDER
Physical branches . . . . . . âś… Phone support . . . . . . . . . âś… Mobile app . . . . . . . . . . . . âś… Online chat (bot) . . . . . . . âś… Online chat (human) . . . . đźš«
» MORE: How to apply for a mortgage
🤓 Our Nerds say... online access requires enrollment
Dawnielle Robinson-Walker, editor and content strategist
You can’t just browse USAA’s portal — you have to be a member first. To set up digital access, I had to enter my Social Security number or USAA ID to verify membership. It’s secure for members, but asking a lot of anyone just looking to explore their options.
Alternatives to a USAA mortgage
Our biggest tip: Get offers from at least three different mortgage lenders. Comparison shopping can save you thousands of dollars. You can get rate quotes yourself, or work with a mortgage broker to shop around on your behalf.
Veterans United is another VA lender worth a look, offering a range of VA mortgages and a 24/7 call center. Navy Federal Credit Union is a VA lender that also offers home equity loans and HELOCs, which USAA doesn’t currently provide.
» MORE: Best VA loan lenders
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.
