Best Online Mortgage Lenders

It’s now easier than ever to explore mortgage loan options from the comfort of your home. While there are many online mortgage companies offering a variety of loan products, the best lender for your needs might vary depending on where you’re buying a home and your financial situation. 

Quick Look at the Best Online Mortgage Lenders:

• Best for Conventional Loans: New American Funding
• Best Pre-Approval Process: Rocket Mortgage
• Best for Nonconforming Mortgage Loans: Angel Oak Home Loans
• Best for Refinancing: Better.com

Best Online Mortgage Lenders

The best online mortgage lenders offer streamlined application processes, a variety of loan choices and additional features that make securing housing easier. Consider the following loan providers as you shop for a mortgage. 

New American Funding 

New American is an online mortgage lender offering a variety of conventional and government-backed mortgage loan options. The company is notable for its cash buyers program, which may allow you to unlock the benefits that come with making a purchase offer in cash. 

Customers who qualify for the cash Buyer Accepted program may save up to 11% on their home purchase, as some sellers prioritize cash sales. Using this program, New American issues a mortgage loan to you and pays the seller in cash. This can be beneficial for borrowers looking to reduce the price they pay for their homes. 

Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage is one of the largest online lenders in the United States, offering a wealth of loan types and terms. Rocket Mortgage is notable for its streamlined application process, which can be completed entirely online. Most users will also receive an instant decision when they apply for preapproval, speeding up the mortgage process. 

Rocket Mortgage is also notable for its online homeowner education resources. If you’re still in the beginning stages of comparing your loan options, Rocket Mortgage’s extensive learning center can be an excellent place to begin familiarizing yourself with mortgage options. 

Angel Oak Home Loans

Angel Oak is a unique online lender that specialized in nonconforming mortgage loans, particularly for those in unique financial situations. For example, if you work as a contractor or you own your own business, you may not have W-2s to prove your income — a common requirement from lenders considering applications. Angel Oak offers a bank statement loan option that allows you to skip the W-2 requirement and qualify for a loan based on asset documentation. 

Angel Oak also offers other nonconventional loan choices, including those for foreign nationals and 1099 contractors. While Angel Oak only offers 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loans, the provider can be a unique option if qualifications at other lenders are preventing you from financing a home.  

Better.com

Another online lender, Better.com is notable for its easy application process and refinance considerations. Better.com allows users to view current rates online before applying, which can help you compare loan prices without damaging your credit with a hard pull. Better.com also offers loans without lender fees or commissions — though you still need to pay closing costs. 

Better.com is notable for its free refinancing program. If you get a mortgage loan through Better.com and rates on your type of loan drop within three years, Better.com will cover the cost of a refinance for qualifying buyers. This can be beneficial for anyone who wants to buy a home but has been hesitating because of record interest rates. 

Types of Mortgages

Did you know that there are multiple types of mortgage loans? The type of loan you choose may dictate where you can buy a home, the down payment you’ll need to qualify, credit requirements and more. The following are some of the most common types of home loans. 

• Conventional loan: Conventional mortgage loans are the most common type of loan, and can be used to purchase any type of property.
• FHA loan: FHA loans are designed to help buyers with lower credit scores or past financial mistakes buy a home. FHA loans can only be used to buy homes in livable condition. 
• VA loans: VA loans are special property loans for people who have served in the armed forces as well as active duty service members. Some select family members of service members may also qualify. 
• USDA loan: A USDA loan can help you buy a home in a rural or suburban area. Like an FHA loan, you can only buy a home that’s safe to live in when you use a USDA loan.
• Jumbo loan: If you’re buying a home in a high-value area, you might need to use a jumbo loan to buy your property. Jumbo loans are larger than the conforming loan limits set in place by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. 

What to Look for in an Online Mortgage Lender

Not satisfied with Benzinga’s list of the best online lenders? Look for these features when you continue your search for additional mortgage lenders. 

• Loan offerings: Not every type of mortgage loan is offered by every company. Begin by deciding what type of loan would be best for your home purchase and seek out lenders offering what you need. 
• Interest rates: Compare interest rates between lenders offering your type of loan. While interest rates are constantly changing based on a variety of economic factors, most lenders allow you to lock in your mortgage rate for a few weeks to a month after being preapproved. Take this time to compare loan pricing between competitors. 
• Service quality: If this is your first time buying a home, it can be comforting to choose a lender with a responsive customer service team. Before applying for a mortgage preapproval, you may want to test each company’s customer service by connecting with a representative and asking a few questions about the home-buying process. 

How to Prepare for a Mortgage

Before applying for a mortgage loan, there are a few steps you can take to improve your chances of getting the financing you need, including:

• Pay down debt: Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio describes the amount of debt you have outstanding compared to your household income. Lenders look at DTI ratios to determine how much financing they will extend to a borrower. Paying down outstanding debt will improve your chances of getting a home loan. 
• Check your credit: Mortgage providers always look at your credit history when applying for a home loan. Pull your credit report with each of the three major bureaus and look for items you don’t recognize. If there is a mistake lowering your score, contact the bureau issuing the report to adjust it. 
• Avoid opening new credit lines: After you apply for your loan, avoid applying for other types of credit like a personal loan or a new credit card. This may lower your credit score during the underwriting process — a red flag for lenders. 

Fees Associated With Mortgages

While most borrowers are familiar with the concept of a down payment, there are additional closing costs you’ll need to cover when applying for a loan. Closing costs will vary depending on the specific lender you’re working with, but may include: 

• Origination fee: The origination fee covers the cost of preparing your loan paperwork on your behalf. 
• Appraisal fee: Appraisals are necessary before getting a loan because banks cannot extend more financing than a home is worth. The appraisal fee is paid to the home appraiser who estimates the value of the property you’re buying. 
• Credit check and underwriting fees: As a part of the application process, your lender will need to pull your credit report and verify your assets. There may be a variety of fees associated with the underwriting process, including fees for checking your credit. 

Frequently Asked Questions