First Flight at a glance, 2025
Every figure is from the lender's own HMDA filing. "vs national" compares with all lenders combined.
How the F grade breaks down
Each component is a percentile rank among 1,883 small mortgage lenders. Higher is better. Components the lender does not report are left out and the weights redistributed.
Approval oddsdecision denial rate, weight 45%
14th23.5% deniedProcesswithdrawn + incomplete share, weight 15%
13th23.3%Trend, 2023–2025
| Year | Applications | Originated | Denial rate | Decision denial | Median rate | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 131 | 79 | 21.4% | 25.9% | — | $7.3M |
| 2024 | 134 | 75 | 19.4% | 25.5% | — | $9.2M |
| 2025 | 133 | 73 | 18.1% | 23.5% | — | $8.6M |
What First Flight lends
Applications by purpose and loan type in 2025, with the denial rate for each. A lender's mix explains a lot of its headline rate: HELOCs and FHA loans are denied far more often than conventional purchase loans.
By loan purpose
By loan type
Also: 0 home-equity lines, 0 reverse mortgages, 9 manufactured homes, 9 investment properties.
Why First Flight denies applications
Primary reason reported for each of the 24 denials in 2025. Lenders can cite up to four reasons; this is the first one listed.
Who gets approved at First Flight
Decision denial rate by applicant profile. Groups with fewer than 20 applications are omitted.
| Applicant income | Applications | Originated | Decision denial rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 34 | 13 | 50.0% |
| $50k – $100k | 43 | 23 | 16.7% |
| $100k – $150k | 31 | 22 | 11.1% |
| Applicant age | Applications | Originated | Decision denial rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35–44 | 23 | 15 | 22.7% |
| 45–54 | 26 | 16 | 10.5% |
| 55–64 | 34 | 16 | 29.2% |
Where First Flight lends
2 states and 24 counties in 2025. Click a state for the lender's full record there.
| State | Applications | Originated | Denial rate | Median rate | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 131 | 73 | 18.3% | — | #287 |
Frequently asked questions
First Flight denied 23.5% of the applications it decided on in 2025. The national figure across all lenders was 22.6%. On approval odds it ranks in the 14th percentile of small mortgage lenders.
The most common reason First Flight gave in 2025 was "credit history", cited on 45.8% of its denials. Lenders report up to four reasons per denial to the CFPB; the full breakdown is on this page.
In 2025, 24% of its applications were for home purchases, 29% for refinancing (including cash-out), and 47% for home improvement or other purposes. By loan type: 100% conventional, 0% FHA, 0% VA.
Every figure on this page comes from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Loan/Application Register published by the CFPB, which lenders are required by federal law to file. We add the grade and the comparisons; we do not add facts.