In this article, we will take a look at the 15 best mortgage lenders in America. You can also check out 11 Tips to Get Approved for a Mortgage.
The US mortgage sector, the lifeblood of the American dream of homeownership, continues to undergo significant transformations in 2024. One of the most significant trends in 2024 is the shift in interest rates. After a period of historically low rates, the Federal Reserve’s tightening measures have pushed rates upwards over the past couple of years.
As of mid-2024, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hovers around 6.8% according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. However, the Mortgage Bankers Association offers some good news for potential homeowners: mortgage rates are expected to stabilize in the near future. While rates are not likely to fall below 6% until at least 2025, they’re projected to hold steady through the second quarter of 2024. This is due in part to inflation remaining above the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2%. Until inflation dips closer to that goal, the Federal Reserve is likely to keep interest rates elevated to control inflation’s impact on the economy.
On the mortgage originations front, a report by S&P Global predicts a rise in 2024, fueled by a return to normalcy in the economic climate. Despite affordability concerns, the US housing market has shown remarkable resilience. Home prices increased by 6.2% between December 2022 and October 2023. Meanwhile, the rental vacancy rates stood at 6.6% in Q3 2023. This rate falls below the historical average of 7.4% and is significantly lower than the 2009 peak of 11.1%.
Overview of Mortgage Market Players
A quick look at a list of mortgage companies in the USA will reveal different kinds of players in the market. Firstly, there are banks, led by the “Big Four Banks”: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC). These financial giants have extensive branch networks and offer traditional mortgage products with competitive rates. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) are also among the 5 Largest Publicly Traded Financial Companies in the US.
In the Q1 2024 earnings call, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) revealed that revenue in the home lending division saw a 10% year-on-year increase. This was mainly driven by higher net interest income and production revenue. Meanwhile, originations experienced a 10% growth.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) also recently entered a deal with New York Community Bancorp (NYCB) to purchase approximately $5 billion in loans. Banking experts suggest that the sale of mortgage warehouse loans by NYCB is intended to strengthen the institution’s financial position and improve its liquidity.
In addition to these banks, there are wholesale lenders streamlining the mortgage process. Wholesale lenders like United Wholesale Mortgage and Rocket Mortgage act as intermediaries, providing mortgages to mortgage brokers who then connect them to borrowers. United Wholesale Mortgage ranks among the largest mortgage servicers in the US.
Credit unions and niche lenders also offer alternatives to traditional banks. Credit unions, member-owned financial cooperatives, often offer competitive mortgage rates and personalized service. However, their eligibility requirements can be stricter, often limiting membership to those who live, work, or worship in a specific area. For borrowers with unique needs, niche lenders offer specialized products.
Meanwhile, veterans can take advantage of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan program, which offers them favorable terms and eliminates the need for a down payment. Similarly, government-sponsored enterprises like Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp play a key role in the mortgage market, by purchasing mortgages from lenders and ensuring liquidity.
11 Tips to Get Approved for a Mortgage
Our Methodology
To shortlist the 15 best mortgage lenders in America, we consulted credible sources such as Insider Monkey, Forbes, US News Money, and Nerd Wallet. A list of the best mortgage lenders was compiled considering factors such as loan options, interest rates, total originations, loan volume, customer service, and closing timelines. There is a strong correlation between the quality of services provided by the best lenders and their annual loan volumes. Hence, we used the latest loan volume data from 2022, provided by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, to rank the best mortgage lenders in ascending order.
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15 Best Mortgage Lenders in America
15. Mortgage Research Center
Total Loan Volume: $23,831,530,000
Total Originations: 79,430
The Mortgage Research Center shares mortgage news and advice with homebuyers from a team of experts in mortgage, real estate, and personal finance. It is an independent mortgage company that has originated 79,430 home loans worth $23,831,530,000 in 2022. It has fully licensed lead sales in the 50 states of the US, real-time lead delivery, integration with all top lead management systems, CRMs, and email, validation with third-party industry leaders, and a self-service portal for additional access to all leads.
14. Flagstar Bank
Total Loan Volume: $24,937,780,000
Total Originations: 61,200
Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Flagstar Bank is a major American commercial bank. It’s a subsidiary of New York Community Bank. While previously one of the biggest US banks, Flagstar is now recognized as a leading residential mortgage servicer in the country. Flagstar originated 61,200 loans with a total loan volume of nearly $25 billion in 2022.
13. Community Bank N.A.
Total Loan Volume: $25,374,430,000
Total Originations: 101,366
Community Bank System is a large financial institution with more than 225 branches across New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Massachusetts. It is commonly known as Community Bank, N.A. With over $16.2 billion in assets, it has the resources to finance a wide variety of personal, business banking, and commercial business needs. Since 2012, Community Bank has consistently been named in the top 15 on Forbes’ list of Best Banks in America, twice reaching the No. 3 rank. The bank originated 101,366 mortgages amounting to $25,374,430,000 in 2022.
12. Caliber Home Loans
Total Loan Volume: $29,496,240,000
Total Originations: 86,850
Caliber Home Loans, a mortgage lender and servicer, is now part of the Newrez Family of Companies. They are registered with the New York Department of Financial Services. With 86,850 originations, Caliber Home Loans has provided mortgages worth $29,496,240,000 in 2022. The independent mortgage company has online mortgage applications available.
11. Guaranteed Rate
Total Loan Volume: $31,008,935,000
Total Originations: 82,163
Guaranteed Rate, founded in 2000 by Victor Ciardelli, is a leading US residential mortgage lender headquartered in Chicago. They specialize in helping homeowners achieve their goals with competitive rates for home purchases and refinances, exceptional customer service, and efficient closing processes. They originated 82,163 mortgages reaching a little more than $31 billion in 2022.
10. CrossCountry Mortgage
Total Loan Volume: $35,337,675,000
Total Originations: 99,085
CrossCountry Mortgage is an independent mortgage company that has its headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 2003 and is led by its CEO Ronald Leonhardt, Jr. The independent mortgage company is among the top 10 best mortgage lenders in America.
9. PNC Bank
Total Loan Volume: $37,350,450,000
Total Originations: 107,904
PNC Bank is a large American bank with a wide reach. The bank operates in 27 states and D.C. The bank offers various banking services like checking, savings, loans, and credit cards. PNC Bank is also one of the biggest banks in the United States by assets, branches, deposits, and ATMs. PNC originated 107,904 mortgages worth $37 billion in 2022.
8. Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
Total Loan Volume: $40,808,695,000
Total Originations: 127,965
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is a mortgage lender headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and Carrollton, Texas. The company originated 127,965 mortgages worth $40.8 billion in 2022. It ranks eighth on our list of the best mortgage lenders in America.
7. U.S. Bank
Total Loan Volume: $42,530,125,000
Total Originations: 119,747
U.S. Bank is a major American bank headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bank is owned by notable shareholders, including investment giants like Vanguard and BlackRock. With 119,747 mortgage originations worth $42.5 billion, it is one of the best mortgage lenders in America.
6. Loan Depot
Total Loan Volume: $52,531,740,000
Total Originations: 156,126
LoanDepot, headquartered in Irvine, California, is a major non-bank mortgage lender offering home loans and other financial products. Founded in 2009, LoanDepot became a publicly traded company in 2021. The company originated 156,126 mortgages worth $52.5 billion in 2022. It is the sixth-largest mortgage lender by volume.
5. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)
Total Loan Volume: $53,522,050,000
Total Originations: 121,486
Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), a leading American financial giant, offers investment banking and a wide range of financial services. The company’s headquarters are in Charlotte, North Carolina, with an additional investment banking hub in Manhattan. Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) originated 121,486 mortgages worth $53.5 billion in 2022.
4. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM)
Total Loan Volume: $72,661,605,000
Total Originations: 115,033
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is a heavyweight in the financial world. It’s one of the top banks in the US and globally by market value. Headquartered in New York City, the company provides investment banking solutions, and capital raising and risk management services, for all sorts of corporations and institutions. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is in the fourth position on our list of best mortgage lenders in America.
3. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC)
Total Loan Volume: $78,976,195,000
Total Originations: 142,769
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is a major American bank serving over 70 million customers across 35 countries. It’s considered one of the most important financial institutions globally and is a member of the prestigious “Big Four Banks” in the US alongside JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C). Apart from offering a variety of loan terms and products, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is welcoming toward low-income borrowers with flexible credit requirements. It was responsible for originating 142,769 mortgages valued at roughly $79 billion in 2022.
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) shared an update regarding its mortgage activities in the Q1 2024 earnings call:
“Retail mortgage originations declined 38% from a year ago, reflecting the progress we made on our strategic objective to simplify the business as well as the decline in the mortgage market. We also made significant progress in reducing the amount of third-party mortgage loans we serviced, down 21% from a year ago. We also continued to reduce the headcount in home lending, which was down 33% from a year ago. Balances in our auto portfolio were down 12% compared to last year. Origination volume declined 18% from a year ago, reflecting credit tightening actions, but increased 24% from a slow fourth quarter.”
2. United Wholesale Mortgage
Total Loan Volume: $127,514,000,000
Total Originations: 348,415
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), founded in 1986, is a leading wholesale mortgage lender headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan. They’re the second-biggest mortgage lender in the US, having originated 348,415 mortgages for a total of $127.5 billion in 2022. United Wholesale Mortgage is a wholesale lender, which means its loans are only accessible through a mortgage broker. The lender offers a “Conventional 1% Down” program, where income-qualified borrowers can make a 1% down payment, and United Wholesale Mortgage will contribute an additional 2% towards the down payment, up to $4,000.
1. Rocket Mortgage
Total Loan Volume: $127,577,000,000
Total Originations: 464,363
Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, Rocket Mortgage has been one of the top mortgage companies for years. It has been holding the title of largest online retail mortgage lender since 2018. In 2022, Rocket Mortgage originated 464,363 mortgages for a total value of $127.6 billion, solidifying its position in the market (with a 5.5% origination share). Rocket Mortgage provides competitive mortgage rates, good customer service, and a completely digital, online-only mortgage application process. The company offers multiple loan options and customizable loan terms.
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