Eight ways to rank every U.S. mortgage lender, nationally and in each state, built from the lenders' own federal filings.
Lenders with the highest composite grade: approval odds, pricing, process and closing costs, each ranked against peers of the same kind and size.
Lenders that say no least often, measured on applications they actually decided. Withdrawn and incomplete files are excluded so the figure reflects the lender, not the applicant.
The median interest rate borrowers actually received on originated loans, not the advertised rate. Product mix matters: a VA-heavy lender will look cheaper than a jumbo specialist.
Ranked by the dollar value of loans originated. Volume is not quality, but it does tell you who is set up to close at scale.
Lenders handling the most FHA applications. FHA loans allow 3.5% down and lower credit scores; a lender that does a lot of them has the underwriting muscle for it.
Lenders handling the most VA-guaranteed loan applications for veterans and service members.
Rate-and-term and cash-out refinance applications combined.
Open-end home equity lines of credit. Denial rates run far higher on HELOCs than on purchase mortgages, so compare these lenders only with each other.
