Forum at a glance, 2025
Every figure is from the lender's own HMDA filing. "vs national" compares with all lenders combined.
How the C grade breaks down
Each component is a percentile rank among 581 mid-size mortgage lenders. Higher is better. Components the lender does not report are left out and the weights redistributed.
Approval oddsdecision denial rate, weight 45%
30th16.8% deniedPricingmedian rate spread over APOR, weight 30%
52nd0.24 ptsProcesswithdrawn + incomplete share, weight 15%
32nd20.3%Closing coststotal loan costs ÷ loan amount, weight 10%
77th1.57% of loanTrend, 2023–2025
| Year | Applications | Originated | Denial rate | Decision denial | Median rate | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2,047 | 1,259 | 16.9% | 21.3% | 8.00% | $186M |
| 2024 | 1,893 | 1,205 | 13.7% | 17.6% | 8.00% | $200M |
| 2025 | 2,162 | 1,423 | 13.4% | 16.8% | 7.25% | $243M |
What Forum 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: 699 home-equity lines, 0 reverse mortgages, 1 manufactured homes, 63 investment properties.
Why Forum denies applications
Primary reason reported for each of the 290 denials in 2025. Lenders can cite up to four reasons; this is the first one listed.
Who gets approved at Forum
Decision denial rate by applicant profile. Groups with fewer than 20 applications are omitted.
| Applicant income | Applications | Originated | Decision denial rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50k | 241 | 118 | 37.9% |
| $50k – $100k | 670 | 429 | 19.0% |
| $100k – $150k | 562 | 376 | 14.0% |
| $150k – $250k | 490 | 364 | 9.5% |
| Over $250k | 184 | 132 | 4.3% |
| Applicant age | Applications | Originated | Decision denial rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | 42 | 25 | 19.4% |
| 25–34 | 316 | 215 | 12.6% |
| 35–44 | 498 | 321 | 19.5% |
| 45–54 | 532 | 358 | 17.3% |
| 55–64 | 445 | 292 | 17.8% |
| 65–74 | 254 | 162 | 14.2% |
| Over 74 | 71 | 46 | 14.6% |
Where Forum lends
3 states and 58 counties in 2025. Click a state for the lender's full record there.
| State | Applications | Originated | Denial rate | Median rate | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 2,147 | 1,423 | 13.3% | 7.25% | #38 |
Frequently asked questions
Forum denied 16.8% of the applications it decided on in 2025. The national figure across all lenders was 22.6%. On approval odds it ranks in the 30th percentile of mid-size mortgage lenders.
The most common reason Forum gave in 2025 was "debt-to-income ratio", cited on 46.9% of its denials. Lenders report up to four reasons per denial to the CFPB; the full breakdown is on this page.
The median interest rate on loans Forum originated in 2025 was 7.25%, and its median rate spread over the average prime offer rate was 0.24 points. Rates on this page are what borrowers actually got, not advertised rates.
In 2025, 29% of its applications were for home purchases, 14% for refinancing (including cash-out), and 57% for home improvement or other purposes. By loan type: 97% conventional, 2% 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.