5 Tips for Finding the Best Mortgage Lender
Before house hunting, shop around for the best mortgage lenders. Get tips on finding the right lender for you, and see our top picks for a variety of needs.
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When you buy a home, you’re in it for the long haul. You’ll have a mortgage payment for 15, 20 or 30 years, so it’s smart to shop around to find the best mortgage lenders out there.
How to look for a lender Mortgage lenders vary by the types of home loans they offer and the rates and fees they charge.
Before shopping for lenders, get your finances in order and learn about the different types of mortgages. Then compare lenders that offer the products and services you need.
Here are five tips to help you find the best mortgage lender. (See expanded explanations of our tips following the list of lenders.)
Get your finances in shape. A good credit score and a low debt-to-income ratio will help you qualify for the best mortgage rates.
Learn what kind of mortgage is right for you. A variety of mortgages are available. Understand the options, and look for lenders that offer what you need.
Compare rates from multiple mortgage lenders. You can search for the best mortgage rates online.
Get preapproved for a mortgage. Show sellers and real estate agents that you're a serious buyer by getting preapproved.
Compare loan estimates from at least three lenders. The loan estimate spells out the loan terms, and it estimates the monthly payment, fees and closing costs.
NerdWallet has researched some of the best mortgage lenders to help narrow your choices.
When you buy a home, you’re in it for the long haul. You’ll have a mortgage payment for 15, 20 or 30 years, so it’s smart to shop around to find the best mortgage lenders out there.
How to look for a lender Mortgage lenders vary by the types of home loans they offer and the rates and fees they charge.
Before shopping for lenders, get your finances in order and learn about the different types of mortgages. Then compare lenders that offer the products and services you need.
Here are five tips to help you find the best mortgage lender. (See expanded explanations of our tips following the list of lenders.)
Get your finances in shape. A good credit score and a low debt-to-income ratio will help you qualify for the best mortgage rates.
Learn what kind of mortgage is right for you. A variety of mortgages are available. Understand the options, and look for lenders that offer what you need.
Compare rates from multiple mortgage lenders. You can search for the best mortgage rates online.
Get preapproved for a mortgage. Show sellers and real estate agents that you're a serious buyer by getting preapproved.
Compare loan estimates from at least three lenders. The loan estimate spells out the loan terms, and it estimates the monthly payment, fees and closing costs.
NerdWallet has researched some of the best mortgage lenders to help narrow your choices.
5 Tips for Finding the Best Mortgage Lender
Lender | NerdWallet rating | Min. credit score | Min. down payment | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|
NBKC: NMLS#409631 Learn more at NBKC | Best for overall mortgage experience | 620 | 3% | Learn more at NBKC |
New American Funding: NMLS#6606 Learn more at New American Funding | Best for nontraditional credit histories | 620 | 3% | Learn more at New American Funding |
Better: NMLS#330511 Learn more at Better | Best for refinancing | 620 | 3% | Learn more at Better |
Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611 Learn more at Guaranteed Rate | Best for FHA loans | 620 | 3% | Learn more at Guaranteed Rate |
PNC: NMLS#446303 | Best for jumbo loans | 620 | 3% | Read review |
Golden 1 Credit Union: NMLS#669333 | Best for cash-out refinancing | 620 | 3% | Read review |
San Diego County Credit Union: NMLS#580585 | Best for credit union lending | N/A | 5% | Read review |
Alliant: NMLS#197185 | Best for adjustable-rate mortgages | N/A | 3% | Read review |
Carrington: NMLS#2600 | Best for low credit score borrowers | 620 | 5% | Read review |
Flagstar: NMLS#417490 | Best for refinancing | 620 | 3% | Read review |
Navy Federal: NMLS#399807 | Best for VA loans | N/A | 0% | Read review |
at New American Funding
New American Funding: NMLS#6606
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
3%at New American Funding
at Guaranteed Rate
Guaranteed Rate: NMLS#2611
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
3%at Guaranteed Rate
Golden 1 Credit Union: NMLS#669333
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
3%San Diego County Credit Union: NMLS#580585
Min. down payment
5%National / regional
RegionalAlliant: NMLS#197185
National / regional
NationalMin. down payment
3%Carrington: NMLS#2600
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
5%Flagstar: NMLS#417490
Min. credit score
620Min. down payment
3%Navy Federal: NMLS#399807
National / regional
NationalMin. down payment
0%5 tips for finding the best mortgage lenders
Here are five tips to find the best lender for you.
1. Get your finances in good shape
The credit score required to get a mortgage varies by the type of loan and the lender. With a higher score, you'll have more choices of loan programs and you'll qualify for lower interest rates.
Before shopping for lenders, find out your credit score and make sure your credit reports are accurate. NerdWallet offers a free credit score and report, updated weekly, using TransUnion data.
You can receive free copies of your reports from each of the three major credit bureaus through the government-mandated AnnualCreditReport.com website. Check the reports carefully, and dispute any errors.
Next, work on improving your credit. Pay bills on time, and work on paying off credit card balances. Lowering your debt will also improve your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI, another key element that lenders evaluate. An ideal DTI ratio for a mortgage is under 36%. Reducing your debt payments will also free up money to save for a home down payment.
2. Learn what kind of mortgage is right for you
A variety of home loans are available to satisfy different needs. For example:
VA loans can help active and veteran military members and USDA loans are available for rural homebuyers. Neither require a down payment.
FHA loans have lower credit score requirements than other mortgages and require as little as 3.5% down.
Conventional loans are generally geared to borrowers with good credit, and some require as little as 3% down.
Jumbo loans are used to finance properties that are too expensive for most conventional loans.
Home loans also vary by term length, such as 15 or 30 years, and by how the interest rate works. With fixed-rate mortgages, the interest rate stays the same for the entire loan term; with an adjustable-rate mortgage, the interest rate periodically increases or decreases, after an initial fixed-rate period.
Some lenders offer a broad mix of mortgages; others specialize in certain types. Once you understand the general options, you can seek out the lenders that offer what you need.
3. Compare rates from multiple mortgage lenders
Search for the best mortgage rates online from lenders that offer the types of loans you want. Keep in mind that the rate quote you see is an estimate. A lender will have to pull your credit information and process a loan application to provide an accurate rate, which you can then lock in if you’re satisfied with the product.
Once you have several quotes from lenders, narrow the list to those with the lowest rates. The total interest you pay over the life of the loan is a big figure, and a lower rate can save you thousands of dollars.
» MORE: Use our mortgage calculator to find out your monthly mortgage payment.
4. Get preapproved
Apply for mortgage preapproval with more than one lender before you start shopping for a home. A mortgage preapproval letter shows sellers and real estate agents that you're a serious buyer. It's evidence that a lender has evaluated your finances and figured out how much you can afford to borrow.
Getting preapproved now will also save time later. When you're ready to make an offer on a home, lenders will have the information they need to process your home loan.
To get preapproved, you’ll have to provide information about your income, debts and assets. Lenders typically require:
Social Security numbers for yourself and any co-borrowers.
Savings, checking and investment account information.
Information about outstanding debt obligations, including credit card, car loan, student loan and other balances.
Two years of tax returns, W-2s and 1099s.
Salary and employer information.
Information about how large a down payment you can make and where the money is coming from.
5. Compare loan estimates and choose the best deal
A loan estimate is a document a lender must provide after you've applied for a loan and have provided certain information, including the address of the property you want to buy. The document will spell out important details about your loan, including the interest rate, monthly payment, fees and estimated closing costs.
Compare loan estimates from at least three lenders. Read each line to make sure the details match what you expected, and ask questions about anything you don't understand. Then carefully compare costs and terms to choose the best deal for you.
» MORE FOR CANADIAN READERS: How to choose a mortgage lender
Last updated on January 3, 2023
Methodology
NerdWallet's content team selected its list of lenders based on the following methodology:
NerdWallet's star ratings for mortgage lenders are awarded based on our evaluation of the products and services each lender offers to consumers who are actively shopping for the best mortgage. The four key areas we evaluated include the variety of loan types offered, ease of application, mortgage rate transparency, and our analysis of the rates and fees lenders reported in the latest available Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. To ensure consistency, our ratings are reviewed by multiple people on the NerdWallet Mortgages team.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's 5 Tips for Finding the Best Mortgage Lender
- NBKC: Best for overall mortgage experience
- New American Funding: Best for nontraditional credit histories
- Better: Best for refinancing
- Guaranteed Rate: Best for FHA loans
- PNC: Best for jumbo loans
- Golden 1 Credit Union: Best for cash-out refinancing
- San Diego County Credit Union: Best for credit union lending
- Alliant: Best for adjustable-rate mortgages
- Carrington: Best for low credit score borrowers
- Flagstar: Best for refinancing
- Navy Federal: Best for VA loans