The Best Mortgage Refinance Companies

Tuesday, January 14th

2025 Mortgage Refinance Company Reviews

Better

• Over $100 billion funded in home loans
• Over 400,000 customers
• Available in all 50 states + DC
• Rate quote and preapproval within minutes
• 100% online application process
• In business since 2015
• Offers both traditional and cash-out refinancing
• "B” rated and accredited by the BBB

Better is one of the newer options on the home mortgage refinancing market, getting its start back in 2015. They've gone all in, expanding to become a family of companies designed to meet all of your homeownership needs from real estate to insurance and more. Over the last decade, Better has funded more than $100 billion in home loans for over 400,000 customers in all 50 states plus DC. Is it any wonder that this lender has the backing of big names like Citi, Goldman Sachs, and American Express?

Choose between traditional and cash-out refinancing

When it comes specifically to refinancing, Better gives you both options: a traditional refinance (usually to take advantage of a better interest rate or more favorable terms overall) or a cash-out refi. You'll indicate which one you prefer on the Start page.

Last 4 of SSN required to get your quote

Whichever type of refinancing you're considering, you'll be walked through a series of questions for the purpose of doing a "soft” credit check; this includes the last 4 digits of your SSN, so don't try and fake your way through the answers. If you've entered your info properly, the next screen should display your credit score and Better's determination as to whether you can continue the refi process.

Easy-to-answer questions

Once you've gotten the green light, they'll ask you about your financial details, such as your annual income, co-borrower information, current mortgage payments (which they'll pull from your credit history), your refinancing goals, and assets.

Browse your refi possibilities

After you've provided all this information, the exciting part begins: exploring real-time loan options. Simply click on "Find your loan" to view the various possibilities for your refinancing. In the Loan Estimate preferences, you can specify whether your taxes and insurance will be held in escrow or paid directly. Remember, this is for the Loan Estimate page, not a final commitment. An estimated closing date will be suggested, although it's subject to adjustment (typically around 45 days).

See the options in a chart

Next, a chart displays default choices for a 30-year fixed mortgage. Click on the provided tabs if you prefer to explore options for a 20-year or 15-year fixed mortgage. While Better provides advice on fixed mortgages, they do not display adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). For specialized loans like jumbo or FHA, consult with your Better representative.

Points or credits? You choose

Better distinguishes itself by presenting a comprehensive view of possibilities, covering interest rates to points. You'll decide if paying points for a lower rate or receiving a credit at closing for a slightly higher rate aligns with your preferences. Evaluate how these choices impact your monthly payments.

Make changes any time before locking in your rate

When you find a combination of APR and points (or credits) that suits you, click on it and then hit "continue" to have it applied to your Loan Estimate page. This functions as a placeholder; you can modify it at any time before officially locking your rate.

Lower-than-average closing costs

Your Loan Estimate details are conveniently accessible on the left side of the page, ensuring transparency without hidden fees. While your refinance closing costs will depend on your loan's circumstances, Better tells you to expect them to be between $1,500 to $3,000.

Better price, guaranteed

Better's cost-saving features include an absence of origination fees. Another plus is that while Better will suggest a title company to use on your refi, you can choose one on your own if it'll save you money at closing. And, they promise to surpass your local broker's best offer, potentially resulting in a lower total cost to close. Submitting the competitor's Loan Estimate PDF to your Better representative will be required as a part of this Better Price Guarantee process: they'll either beat the price by at least $100 or send you that $100.

Digital but personable too

Despite the 100% online nature of the Better mortgage refinancing application, personalized help is available. After submitting your preliminary information, be watching for a phone call later that day to address any questions or concerns and guide you through the mortgage refinancing process. You can expect your representative to be knowledgeable and patient, with no pressure to lock in your rate. Better's loan officers don't get paid commission, so they'll always be operating strictly in your best interests.

Get info through your preferred channels

Concerned about communication overload? Better allows you to specify your preferred method of contact, either through your profile settings or by waiting for the preapproval letter in your email inbox. And, at any time, you can connect with a rep via live chat.

Not sure we agree with the BBB

We were a little surprised to discover that Better had a "B” rating from the Better Business Bureau at the time of our review, with the given reason being the 191 complaints filed over the last three-year period. However, only 17 complaints had been filed in the last 12 months, and most of those were nearly a year old at the time of this evaluation. Plus, all of those complaints had received an appropriate response from Better representatives.

Plenty of five-star feedback

Better yet (pun intended), more than 800 people visited the BBB site to leave a review for this mortgage lender, more often than not to leave a compliment: the reviews on the BBB alone average a fantastic 4.21 out of 5 stars. We found similar results on Trustpilot: across 1500+ ratings, 76% gave Better a perfect score. (And, for what it's worth, many of the complaints registered with Trustpilot appear to be for a similarly-named company, and not for Better's mortgage services.)

Still our top pick for mortgage refinancing

All of this combines to keep Better in our #1 spot among mortgage refinancing options. With numerous five-star reviews, an incredibly streamlined and transparent process, and multiple options for rates and terms, Better offers the broadest spectrum of possibilities. Be sure to check Better out for your refi.

Beeline

• Traditional and cash-out refinancing available
• Bank statement loans available for the self-employed
• Origination fees of $1,049 on conforming loans, $1,999 on non-conforming
• AI chat answers most of your questions, hassle-free
• Connects directly to your accounts to get you an approval in just 15 minutes
• Closing is 100% digital/remote
• "A+” rated by the BBB

Beeline is an online mortgage lender that offers a simple and fast home loan experience. It's one of the newest options for mortgage refinancing, getting its start just in 2019. When you start working with Beeline, it's going to feel very different (in some pretty fantastic ways). Let's take a look.

It's all about Bob

Beeline uses an AI-based chatbot to answer any initial questions you have about their mortgage refinancing service. It's got some bugs to work out - we asked for a rate quote, provided the basic information, but it went nowhere after we hit "continue” to confirm that everything was correct (several times, even). We're hopeful that "Bob” (what they call their AI) will get better over time. We did appreciate being able to ask "Bob” about Beeline's lender fees and get a straight-up answer with no problem: Beeline's origination fees at the time of this review were $1,049 on conforming loans (on both new mortgages and refinanced ones) and $1,999 on non-conforming. What a breath of fresh air to ask and get a direct answer, no poking around in T&Cs required.

Connects to your accounts to verify info

Another novel part of Beeline's approach to mortgage refinancing is that they connect directly to your bank account and other sources to verify your financial details, instead of requiring you to first provide an estimate and then later have to gather up all the paperwork. That means you could get your mortgage refi approved (not just pre-approved, but approved-approved) in as quickly as 15 minutes, with closing in anywhere from two weeks to 45 days. That's also helpful for the self-employed, who often face a much more hassle-laden process trying to document their income.

Loan Guides at the ready

You can book a chat with one of Beeline's Loan Guides to ask further questions. During our review, the Calendly for that feature showed no available appointments, so we went back over to "Bob” to ask how that could be done. "He” said we could send our information over to the Loan Guide team to have them put together a loan scenario that would fit the details we entered earlier, and we could choose to have them reach out with that info via phone or text.

Ask any question you like

Despite not being able to get that rate quote we wanted, it was still really nice to be able to ask questions of the AI-chat and not have to poke around endlessly on the website. "Bob” explained that the closing process would be done electronically and notarized remotely, so that any mortgage refinancing can genuinely be done from the comfort of one's sofa (as they advertise in a rather cute way throughout the site).

New but already excelling

Beeline hasn't been around for a super-long time, so it's no surprise that there aren't a ton of compliments or complaints registered with the Better Business Bureau: about 30 of the former and two of the latter. That's enough for the BBB to give Beeline an "A+” rating. We found similar feedback via Trustpilot: only 76 ratings at the time of this evaluation, averaging an impressive 4.7 stars out of 5. We were particularly pleased to see comments from investors who have used Beeline on several occasions over the last year and had smooth, straightforward closings every time. And yes, that applies for refinancing too: we found plenty of compliments that specifically mentioned traditional and cash-out refi experiences.

Make a Beeline to this mortgage refi platform

Beeline is incredibly promising. While it's still really new, we expect to hear only good things from this lender going forward. We encourage you to jump over to Beeline and hit "Bob” up with all of your hard questions about your mortgage refinancing and see if you wind up loving this lender as much as we do.

LendingTree

• Traditional and cash-out refi available
• Loan marketplace that refers you to multiple lenders
• Check out lender reviews even before applying
• Transparent process at every step
• Funds may be available as soon as next day
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

For those considering mortgage refinancing, LendingTree might be on your radar. This platform serves as a connection hub, linking users to mortgage refinancing offers from a vast network of over 300 vetted lending partners, giving you straightforward access to a comparison of multiple lenders' rates and terms. Boasting a substantial track record of over $260 billion in funded loans and a client base exceeding 110 million Americans, LendingTree is positioned as a valuable starting point for your refi search, potentially introducing you to lenders you might not discover on your own.

You'll have to take a few extra steps here

You should know upfront that while LendingTree facilitates the matching process, it doesn't directly fund your mortgage refinance. You'll still need to go through additional steps to finalize your refi, such as selecting a lender, completing their application process, and other necessary tasks. While LendingTree simplifies the process by providing access to multiple offers with a single online request, you should be prepared to invest time in researching and understanding the specific lender you eventually choose.

Pay attention to the questions

Curious about how LendingTree's online process operates? Initially, you'll specify the type of property you own, providing further details such as its use, zip code, property value, and more. You'll also be asked if you want additional cash out of the process: LendingTree doesn't come right out and say it, but this would be how you would sign up for a cash-out refi instead of a traditional mortgage refinance.

Accurate info required for bespoke quote

LendingTree then attempts to verify your identity and conduct a soft pull on your credit, offering customized quotes based on the provided details. If you want customized rates, you'll have to give LendingTree accurate information.

Detailed information on each lending partner

When reviewing your results on LendingTree's platform, you can click on "See Details" to learn more about the lending institution, contact them, or proceed directly to the application by clicking "Apply." We love how thoroughly LendingTree analyzes each lending partner in their network and includes hundreds (if not thousands) of reviews from clients who used those lenders for their mortgage needs. Even if you decide not to use LendingTree for your mortgage refinance, researching your chosen lender independently is strongly recommended and you can use this site as a valuable (free) resource.

Your referrals are influenced by LendingTree's affiliations

Be aware that LendingTree's revenue model, tied to its affiliations with lenders, influences which ones are presented to you and their order. While this is still a comprehensive way to explore various loan options, it might not connect you with every possible lender or mortgage refi rates and terms available on the market.

Great reputation

LendingTree enjoys a strong reputation, evident in its "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Numerous five-star reviews demonstrate clients' satisfaction with the platform for securing attractive interest rates and quick loan disbursements. However, be prepared for potential spam, as some complaints revolve around frequent phone calls, texts, and emails from lenders - an issue common to comparable lender-network services.

Best of the mortgage refi referral services

If you're seeking mortgage refinancing and value efficiency, LendingTree is the platform we recommend as a one-stop-shop experience using just one online questionnaire. While it's a time-saving option, we still advise you to double-check your lender matches on your own to make sure you've gotten the best refi terms among all of the available options. Overall, you can trust LendingTree to connect you with plenty of possibilities for your mortgage refinance.

Rocket Mortgage

• Traditional and cash-out refinancing available
• Custom terms starting as low as 8 years
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Thousands of five-star reviews
• In business since 1985

Rocket Mortgage is an online mortgage lender renowned for its user-friendly and efficient digital platform. Previously known as Quicken Loans, Rocket Mortgage offers an entirely online mortgage application process, allowing users to explore, apply, and manage their mortgages with ease. Known for its quick approval process and innovative tools, Rocket Mortgage has gained popularity for providing a convenient and tech-savvy experience in securing home loans. With features like real-time rate updates and comprehensive educational resources, Rocket Mortgage simplifies the mortgage experience for you.

Traditional, cash-out refi, and custom terms on offer

Rocket Mortgage gives you three ways to structure your refinancing: get cash out, lower your monthly payment, or shorten your term. This is the only platform we've seen that has custom terms starting at just 8 years, if you're really looking to accelerate how quickly you pay off your mortgage and you don't want to just rely on yourself to send in larger/more frequent payments on your existing home loan.

Complimentary mortgage review

Not sure which one is right for you? The company offers a free "Official Mortgage Review” to take a deeper look at your overall financial situation to help determine if you would benefit most from long-term savings on your mortgage, better cash flow in the here and now, and so on. Be aware that the review will do a soft pull on your credit, and you'll need to have your income, assets, and property information on hand. Your online application will wind up with you needing to speak with a Rocket rep before making it official, so be prepared for that.

No-pressure help

In our experience, Rocket Mortgage's customer service is solid. We were able to reach a live agent easily during regular business hours; he was able to answer all of the questions we had about mortgage refinancing without making us feel pressured to commit.

Not 100% upfront

But, we didn't love that our rep was a little less than direct when we asked about lender fees: he said that "closing costs traditionally are rolled in” and said we'd only be charged a $500 deposit for the appraisal, but when we pushed a little harder to ask about Rocket Mortgage's specific lender fees, he finally admitted that we should expect a base fee of $1,275 for processing and underwriting on a conventional loan.

"A+” from the BBB

In terms of overall reputation, Rocket Mortgage is doing well. They have an "A+” and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, despite having over 1000 complaints filed there over the last three years. Given that the company is positioned as "America's largest mortgage lender”, that number isn't so high relative to the overall volume of mortgages they fund.

Thousands of five-star ratings from happy homeowners

Jump over to what clients have to say about Rocket Mortgage on Trustpilot and the picture gets even rosier (to the tune of nearly 14,000 five-star reviews). There are frequent mentions of refinancing and how smoothly the process went (with closings in as fast as 2-3 weeks from the initial application). We're especially happy to see praise from homeowners who have been through multiple home purchases and refis with different lenders over the years, saying that their experience with Rocket Mortgage topped them all.

A mortgage refinancing lender you can trust

So, while we would prefer to see Rocket Mortgage be a little more forthcoming with their lender fees (or better yet, not charge them at all), we have to admit that they're doing an excellent job at providing mortgage refinancing for the vast majority of their clients. There's no reason not to have them on your list of lenders to seriously consider when deciding where to go for your refi.

loanDepot

• Traditional and cash-out refinancing available
• Funded more than $275 billion in loans since 2010
• Closing can be done in your own home (if allowed in your state)
• No lender fees on subsequent refi loans on the same property
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

loanDepot is a large, non-bank lender offering a variety of mortgage and home loan products, in operation since 2010. Known for its digital-first approach, the company has gained recognition for its quick and efficient mortgage application process and is one of the prominent players in the online lending space. loanDepot has funded over $275 billion in loans over the last 10+ years.

Application comes up quickly

We were a little taken aback by how quickly loanDepot moved us into a full-on mortgage refi application. After clicking on the button to get started and answering just a handful of questions (primarily our name, zip code, and remaining mortgage balance), we got a message that said, "let's see if you're approved”. From there, it went directly to a dashboard with "Mortgage Loan Application” right at the top. There was no indication if that was going to result in a soft or hard pull on our credit, so we were a little leery of continuing the process. It was only one page after that where we had to confirm our phone number by entering a confirmation code. If you've already decided that loanDepot is the right place to refinance your mortgage, go right ahead with the form; otherwise, you may want to speak with one of their representatives over the phone first.

No ballparks offered on rates or terms

You'll have to do one or the other (fill out the online application or speak with a licensed lending officer) to get a ballpark of your interest rate for a loanDepot refinance. Even though the site has a link for Refinance Rates, they don't come out and disclose anything up-to-date there. Yes, you'll find calculators to play with and get an idea of what your new loan could look like, but you're inputting the rate yourself (and while we all would love to enter a 1% interest rate and dream about how low our payments would be, that's just not realistic in any economy).

Fees for refis in certain states shown at the bottom

You should expect there to be lender fees when refinancing your mortgage here. While loanDepot only discloses the fees in the states that require them to do so by law, we're glad to see that they put those in an easy-to-find location (literally where it says "Fees” at the bottom of the site). Most of their competitors bury that information so far down that prospective clients don't even know to look for it.

"Lifetime guarantee” = no lender fees on future refis

Another perk here related to lender fees: if you get your original loan or your refi through loanDepot, and you choose to refinance it again down the road, you'll pay no lender fees on that subsequent loan. They call that their "Lifetime Guarantee”, in case you see it mentioned throughout the site.

Closings can often be done at home

Finally, we love that you can choose to do your closing at a title company office or from the comfort of your own home. Of course, you'll need to make sure that last option is allowed where you live, but wouldn't it be nice to sign the mountain of paperwork in your comfy chair and fuzzy pajamas?

Good reputation

The company's outstanding reputation is evident through its "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. With an average rating of 4.16 out of 5 stars across 3700 reviews on the BBB site and a still-solid 3.7 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot, loanDepot is well-regarded by its customers. We even spotted a mention of a successful cash-out refinance in a review left just days before this evaluation.

Solid overall but a bit of room to improve

However, loanDepot still comes in at just-above-average for us. We spotted some weird grammar throughout the site (like "talk to one of our licensed lending officer”), and we came across some links as we went through the site from top to bottom that didn't go where they should have. Plus, it didn't feel completely above board to essentially promise a peek at rates, only to be taken to a generic page with less-than-specific calculators. Is that enough to make you avoid loanDepot for your mortgage refinancing? Not necessarily, but it is sufficient to get in the way of this lender reaching a higher ranking.

AmeriSave

• Traditional and cash-out refinancing available
• Licensed in all states but NY
• In business for over 20 years
• Over 733,000 borrowers financed
• $130 billion in loan volume
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB

AmeriSave has plenty of experience you can rely on if you're looking to refinance your mortgage. They've been in business for over two decades and can point to more than 733,000 borrowers they've helped with home loans, reaching more than $130 billion in loan volume. As long as you're not trying to refi a property in New York State, you'll be eligible to apply for an AmeriSave home loan.

Get an instant rate quote when you're verified

AmeriSave offers an instant rate quote if you're willing to have a soft pull on your credit. Whether you choose a traditional refi or a cash-out loan, you can enter some basic detailed like your address and the names of the people who'll be applying, and once your identity is verified (through a code sent via text) you'll see what AmeriSave can offer on your mortgage refinancing.

More info upfront would be preferable

But, this lender plays its cards closer to the vest than almost any other mortgage refi service on our list. There's nowhere on the site where you can take a peek at rates and fees prior to filling out the instant quote form and confirming your identity.

Other loan products have steep fees

Why does that matter? Well, when we looked at AmeriSave's fees for a different loan product (namely, home equity loans), there was a fee disclosure at the bottom of the site. And those fees were hefty, to put it mildly. We wish that they would do the same for mortgage refinancing; the lack of disclosure is not what we like to see when choosing a lender.

Good overall track record

Maybe it won't ultimately be a problem for you: after all, the company is "A+” rated and accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has thousands of five-star reviews from happy clients. Most borrowers have a great experience when using AmeriSave for their mortgage needs.

Mixed feedback, especially from refinancing clients

But, when we looked at reviews that specifically mentioned "refi”, we found more than a few complaints. One mentioned a process that took two months to complete when the client was expecting it to take three weeks. Another ranted that their cash-out refi was supposed to take care of certain bills, but those wound up not being included as expected. Several complained about AmeriSave's automated underwriting system that left them hanging, despite having had an enthusiastic loan officer who sold them on using the company in the first place. That tracks with the 1,700 complaints filed with the BBB over the most recent three-year period, but fortunately only 196 of those were within the most recent 12 months.

Good but not our favorite

We're willing to give AmeriSave a rating that's right around average, mostly because there are obviously clients who have a flawless mortgage refinancing experience from start to finish and we can't completely overlook that. But, when we consider all of the options on the market today and the lengths to which many of AmeriSave's rivals go to pull back the curtain and give even a glimpse of the terms and fees, we just don't feel all that excited about starting the refi process here. It's not the worst lender by any means, but you should see what the higher-ranking refi platforms can do for you before you sign on the dotted line with AmeriSave.

SoFi^®

• Traditional and cash-out refinancing available
• 100% online application
• Available in all states except NY
• "A+” rated by the BBB
• Thousands of five-star ratings

SoFi, or Social Finance, is a financial services company that provides a range of products, including student loan refinancing, personal loans, investment management, and mortgage refinancing. Known for its online platform and user-friendly approach, SoFi aims to offer individuals a well-rounded service for managing various aspects of their finances. Beyond traditional banking, SoFi has gained recognition for its community-focused initiatives and educational resources, positioning itself as a modern, comprehensive financial services provider in the fintech industry.

Daily rates on display

Unlike some of SoFi's lending products, which are only available in certain states, mortgage refinancing is offered to residents everywhere except the state of New York. Another difference we like: SoFi shows the current daily rates on 10, 15, 20, and 30 year fixed mortgage refis right on their main page. Naturally, these are "starting at” rates; the best terms will go to those with exceptional credit, and you won't know what you're being offered until you click on "view your rate” and have a soft pull done on your credit. You can also give SoFi a call for a complimentary mortgage consultation if you'd like some answers before you provide your sensitive data.

Spell it out, please

We do wish that SoFi would come out with a few more details in advance - like how much, exactly, you should expect to pay in closing costs. Yes, we know that many third-party closing costs like property taxes and government recording fees are beyond their control (and vary so widely by location that it's not worth trying to even offer a ballpark). However, SoFi charges its own lender fee (unlike some of its rivals) and only tells you that those fees are "to ensure [they] can continue to provide great rates, educational resources, and first-class customer service.” And, when you look at the fine print at the bottom of the site and see closing cost examples ranging from $6,615 to $7,094 on a loan amount of $362,000, it makes you wish you could see exactly how those fees come to be (because it also says that the given monthly payments don't include taxes and insurance).

"A+” rating and five-star reviews

SoFi's reputation isn't worrisome, generally speaking. The company has an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, in addition to thousands of five-star ratings left by happy clients in places like Trustpilot. For the most part, people are satisfied with the service they receive and the products they use through the SoFi platform, from loans to basic banking services.

Mortgage refinancing doesn't always go well

On the other hand, when we searched the feedback on Trustpilot specifically for the term "refi”, most of the hits were negative. Some comments mentioned it taking many months to get to the closing on their mortgage refinance (one person said their SoFi rep actually told them that "purchase mortgages were the priority” and not refinancing), another complained about the "hard sell” they got after submitting a basic inquiry on a refi, and a third referenced insurance payments that weren't taken care of during the closing process as SoFi promised.

Might be best as a backup to higher-ranking refi services

SoFi comes out as a "just average” option for mortgage refinancing. We're glad to see that they've got some loyal clients, but when we compare their overall service with the higher-ranked competitors in our evaluation, SoFi doesn't exactly shine. With lender fees that are likely to be high, less than transparent disclosure of fees prior to submitting an inquiry, and some negative feedback specifically from mortgage refinancing clients, SoFi works best as a backup option.

Axos Bank

• Traditional and cash-out refinancing available
• No lender fee if you meet the eligibility criteria
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business since 2000

Axos Bank is a 100% digital lender, in business since 2000. This online-only structure allows them to offer competitive interest rates on traditional banking products, low to no fees across the spectrum of services they offer, and easy access via desktop and mobile apps.

Waived lender fees is an attractive perk if you qualify

We'll start out by saying that Axos Bank is the mortgage refinancing lender we really wanted to like. What's not to love about waived lender fees? True, you have to meet certain criteria, like having (or opening) an Axos Bank account and having a balance of at least $500 there when the Initial Closing Disclosure is issued. But to save hundreds (or more) on your refi just by opening an account? Sure!

Rate quote at your fingertips

We were also thrilled to be able to get an honest-to-goodness rate quote without having to have our identity verified. All that was necessary was our name, phone number and email address, and estimates for the home's value/remaining mortgage balance, plus our credit score range, and - voila - we were given a list of loan options to consider, from a conforming 10-year fixed to a 30-year fixed. They were all in line with what we'd seen with current rates advertised elsewhere, though it's worth pointing out that all of them included paying points for a lower APR.

Cash out? Maybe.

Theoretically, a cash-out refinance should be no problem with Axos Bank as well. During the quote process we described, there was a place to enter an optional cash out amount. But, that didn't seem to affect our results, so we were left with not much information about the cash-out process at Axos Bank.

Clients aren't happy

Sadly, that's where the good vibes ended. Rates and fees? Undisclosed, no matter where we looked on the Axos Bank website. We thought that the "A+” rating and accreditation were a sign of hope, until we jumped over to Trustpilot and saw that over 80% of the reviewers there gave Axos Bank the lowest possible score. Comment after comment said essentially the same thing: "Avoid this bank like the plague.”

The complaints continue

While most of the rants talked about banking products and not specifically about mortgages, remember: if you want that no-lender-fee perk, you're going to need an Axos Bank account too. And, when we looked for reviews that mentioned mortgages, it continued to paint a not-so-pretty picture of inexplicably doubled escrow payments, non-US based customer service reps that are hard to understand (when you can reach anyone at all, that is), and mistakes on the bank's part that damaged the customer's credit score.

Not worth a try

As Simon Cowell might say to a less-than-impressive candidate on America's Got Talent, "It's a no for [us].” Axos Bank has us hitting the big red "X” buzzer on their mortgage refinancing, because despite a promising start, they fail to deliver a trustworthy performance. You'll get more for your time and money somewhere else.

eMortgage

• Connects you with up to 5 competing mortgage lenders
• Offers both traditional and cash-out refi

eMortgage is a referral service that can connect you with up to five competing lenders for your mortgage refinancing, in addition to options for home purchase, home equity loans, and reverse mortgages. Many of the lenders in their network are partners we reviewed separately, along with a few lesser-known financial institutions. eMortgage is a service provided by HSH, so don't be caught off-guard if you see references to HSH as you work your way through the eMortgage site.

Online application isn't user-friendly

To get started, click on the Refinance option. You'll be asked for the zip code of the property, the use of the property (primary vs. second home or investment), your estimated credit score range, and so on. This form itself was a little glitchy: on many of the questions, we were automatically advanced to the next page, and trying to go back to correct something selected erroneously took us back to the start of the process.

Cash-out refinancing is available

As we filled out the form, we were asked if we wanted to take cash out as part of our refinancing. That was the only way we found out that eMortgage makes cash-out refis available, in addition to traditional refinancing.

Your matches will contact you

If you provide enough information for eMortgage to verify your identity, you should wind up with a results page of up to five matching lenders. Each of those will reach out to you within a day, to offer a mortgage refinancing loan and potentially to request additional information. In our case, we weren't matched with any lender, but we were able to click to see today's rates in general and offered several not-quite-related products like credit monitoring and credit score boosting services.

It's all about making money

It's the fine print on the eMortgage site that gets us. It explains that this site is compensated by the lenders it features, and that the amount of that compensation affects what eMortgage shows you. In other words, your matching list of lenders won't necessarily be the loans that are in your best interests, but rather the ones that will make eMortgage the most money. Does that sound like the way to get the best rates and terms on your mortgage refinancing? We don't think so either.

Where's the client feedback?

And maybe that's why it's hard to find any kind of reputation for this service. Even when we looked for a Better Business Bureau listing for eMortgage's parent company, HSH, we came up empty. It's not that we think anything shady is going on - after all, HSH has been around for decades, providing objective mortgage industry facts and figures in real time - but it just doesn't feel like eMortgage is really looking out for you in the service they provide.

Don't bother with eMortgage

For those reasons, we can't help but put eMortgage as one of our lowest-recommended options for people looking to refinance a mortgage. If you like the idea of a one-stop shop to compare offers from multiple lenders, there are other services (including at least one on our list) who do a better job of prioritizing your needs over their financial gains. And, since many of the "trusted providers” on eMortgage's list are lenders we reviewed separately, you could always go directly to the source and apply there. There's just no reason to use eMortgage when there are higher-ranking lenders to choose from.

Freedom Mortgage

• Offers traditional and cash-out refinancing
• In business since 1990

Freedom Mortgage was family-founded in 1990 and has helped millions of homeowners purchase their home or refinance their existing mortgage. They offer several options for refinancing, including traditional and cash-out.

Maximum home value of $548,250

Let's assume you're going to refinance your home instead of trying to get equity out. Click that button and start to answer Freedom Mortgage's questions, which include your current loan type (conventional, FHA, USDA, VA), property address, and so on. We thought it was odd that the maximum home value was set as $548,250; especially in a time where home values were at an all-time high, it seemed strange to cap it there.

No info until you speak with a Freedom Mortgage rep

Unfortunately, no matter how you answer the questions, your process will abruptly come to a halt at the end: you have to wait for a Freedom Mortgage representative to contact you to take the next steps. You don't get a rate preview, an option to complete a full application, or any of the other features typically found with rival mortgage refinancing options in our evaluation. That's a huge downside.

Downgraded by the Better Business Bureau

Besides that, are you wondering why Freedom Mortgage is at the bottom of our list? The reason begins and ends with what we found at the Better Business Bureau: a "C” rating, revoked accreditation, and over 1,200 complaints filed in the last three years. According to the BBB, Freedom Mortgage was penalized to the tune of $1.75 million for providing incentives to real estate brokers and agents in exchange for mortgage referrals. That, along with not "establishing and maintaining a positive track record in the marketplace” and not "maintaining at least a B rating in all-company-owned locations and its headquarters”, led to the BBB removing Freedom Mortgage's previous accreditation.

Lots of complaints from borrowers

And, lest you think the BBB has a vendetta against the company, just check out the lender's reputation elsewhere: you'll find plenty of unhappy clients venting about homeowner's insurance that never got paid (after Freedom acquired loans from other lenders), payments not being withdrawn on time even when set up to go automatically, and much more.

Look elsewhere

Let's be real: having a mortgage is stressful enough without having to worry that your refi lender is going to drop the ball. According to thousands of people with experience dealing with Freedom Mortgage, that's exactly what you may get if you use them for your refinancing. While you can't control who your lender sells your mortgage to, you absolutely get to decide where you start your refinance - and there are better choices available.