Tuesday, October 8th
2024 Home Loan Provider Reviews
Better
- Fully online mortgage experience
- No commissions or lender fees
- 24/7 support
- Available nationwide (except Nevada)
- Lower-than-average interest rates
- Can use service to make a cash offer with no fees
You won't find another online lender that can match Better for home loans. This service is completely transparent with rates and fees, gives you plenty to choose from in loan types and terms, and provides exceptional customer service from prequalifying to closing and beyond. Thousands of happy homeowners say that Better deserves a perfect score for offering a streamlined mortgage process with interest rates that are much lower than average - and with no commissions or lender fees. Better earns our highest recommendation among providers of home loans.
Freedom Mortgage
- Open to residents of all 50 states, as well as DC, PR, and USVI
- In business for over 30 years
- "A+” rated by the BBB
- Available loan types: Conventional, VA, FHA, USDA
Freedom Mortgage has time on its side: this lender has been around for over 30 years and has over a million customers nationwide. You can use their site to prequalify for a mortgage, learn about various loan types, and get a better understanding of the home loan process. That's about all we'd recommend you do, though: despite an "A+” from the BBB, this company has over a thousand complaints that frequently mention how Freedom has dropped the ball with paperwork, payment processing, and so on. We suggest checking out our higher-rated home loan providers instead.
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Where Can You Get the Best Home Loans?
Your first thought might be to visit your local bank or broker, but think again. Why? You're not likely to get the very best rates and terms there. True, you might get a promo or slightly lower interest rate for being a current customer, but will your financial institution shop around to find you the ideal loan for your situation?
More than likely, they'll fit you with whichever mortgage is convenient (or profitable) instead of working to get you a home loan with the best possible terms. With interest rates constantly fluctuating, it's never a bad time to start looking into your financing options if homeownership is your goal. Even if you're just curious to see how much you can ultimately afford when the time comes, that will help you start budgeting and saving to have enough to secure your new home when you're ready.
Home Loan Provider FAQ
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Some mortgage terms stipulate that the funds can't come from a last-minute gift or contribution from a well-meaning family member, so plan ahead!
The easiest way to know how much you can borrow is by shopping for a home loan online. While some lenders require you to enter your personal information to show you their rates, others post sample rates online or let you choose your credit score range and other details to preview a more personalized quote. Be mindful that there's a difference between a "soft pull” on your credit - usually used to prequalify you, and only uses your address and phone number to verify your identity - and a "hard pull” that will impact your credit history.
The latter usually happens only when you've got a home under contract and you're ready to secure a mortgage, but pay attention to the fine print when you're checking out a lender's rates. You don't want to be "just browsing” and find out that your credit score took a nosedive with an unintentional hard inquiry on your report!
With many lenders interested in your business, how can you decide which one to use for your mortgage? Here are a few factors to look at before you complete a loan application:
- Loan types. Most people choose a conventional fixed mortgage of 15 or 30 years, and the majority of lenders offer that. If you're looking for something different, like an FHA loan or an ARM, you might need to shop around a bit more.
- Transparency. How easy is it to see the lender's current rates and fees? Can you get an idea on their main site or do you have to create an account first?
- Closing costs. The best home loan providers will tell you what to expect well in advance. Some include that information in the disclosures in the fine print at the bottom of the site, even before you give them any of your personal details. Others provide it when you've given them enough info to verify your identity but before filling out a formal application. Some closing costs are negotiable, so don't be afraid to ask any lender to make you an offer.
- Reputation. What do borrowers say about their experience with the financial institution? It's one thing to have great loan rates, but if the lender drops the ball during the purchasing process or if their customer service after closing is a nightmare, it's not worth the money you might save. Consider the lender's rating with the Better Business Bureau to start, but also look at recent customer comments to get a snapshot of how well the home loan provider is doing across the entire lifecycle of the mortgage (from pre-application to post-closing servicing).
To help you finance the home of your dreams, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's most popular mortgage lenders. We're confident that this information will be useful on your journey to home ownership. Congratulations!
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