9 Best Houston Mortgage Lenders of 2022
Houston mortgage lenders serve a wide range of borrowers. Here are the highest-rated NerdWallet-reviewed lenders as well as top-producing local firms.
Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Houston mortgage lenders serve a wide range of borrowers: first-time home buyers snagging a condo in the walkable EaDo, commuting suburbanites in The Woodlands or out in Sugar Land or Katy. And H-Town lenders also cater to the pricey ground for sale inside the loop, such as River Oaks.
NerdWallet vetted the capabilities of Houston mortgage companies in various categories. And we found some top-producing local lenders for your consideration.
- 50+ mortgage lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 40+ years of combined experience covering mortgages and financial topics.
- Objective, comprehensive star rating system assessing 120+ categories and 5,000+ data points.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
- 50+ mortgage lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 40+ years of combined experience covering mortgages and financial topics.
- Objective, comprehensive star rating system assessing 120+ categories and 5,000+ data points.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
9 Best Houston Mortgage Lenders of 2022
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Lender ▾ ▾ | NerdWallet Rating ▾ ▾ | Min. credit score ▾ ▾ | National / regional ▾ ▾ | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289 Learn more at Fairway Independent Mortgage | 620 | National | Learn more at Fairway Independent Mortgage | |
 loanDepot: NMLS#174457 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 620 | National | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Caliber: NMLS#15622 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 580 | National | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 USAA: NMLS#8722 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 620 | Regional | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 PrimeLending: NMLS#13649 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 620 | National | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Bank of America: NMLS#399802 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 660 | National | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Flagstar: NMLS#417490 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | N/A | National | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Homebridge: NMLS#6521 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 620 | National | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | |
 Chase: NMLS#399798 LEARN MORE on NerdWallet | 620 | National | LEARN MORE on NerdWallet |
Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289
620
National
- Offers a robust suite of loan products, including ITIN loans for borrowers without Social Security numbers, renovation loans, government-backed mortgages and loans for self-employed borrowers.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
- Mortgage rates for different types of loans aren't posted online.
- Origination fees and mortgage rates are on the high side compared with other lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers a variety of repayment terms for fixed-rate loans.
- Does a substantial amount of business in FHA lending.
- mello smartloan product can streamline mortgage application, appraisal and title search.
- Interest rates are not available on the website.
- Origination fees are on the higher end, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers extensive educational resources for military borrowers.
- Participates in some down payment assistance and first-time home buyer programs.
- No mortgage rates displayed online.
- Doesn’t offer home equity loans or lines of credit.
- Wide range of VA options, including jumbo loans and refinancing.
- Offers a low-down payment loan for first-time home buyers.
- Offers 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-year repayment terms, which is unusually flexible.
- Average VA loan interest rates are less competitive than some other top VA lenders, according to the latest data.
- Does not offer home equity loans or HELOCs.
PrimeLending: NMLS#13649
620
3%
- Offers closing cost assistance.
- Wide variety of loan types, including non-QM loans.
- Mortgages are available for manufactured homes, including 3D-printed houses.
- Loans are not available in all states.
- Rates are not posted online.
- Does not have a mobile app.
Bank of America: NMLS#399802
660
5%
National
- Interest rates are lower than most lenders, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers up to $10,000 in down payment assistance to qualified borrowers.
- Banking customers can get discounted interest rates or fees.
- Mortgage origination fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
- Rate estimator tool doesn’t personalize by credit score.
- Fined $12 million for reporting inaccurate mortgage applicant info to the federal government.
- Conventional loan terms extend to 40 years, which is unusually flexible.
- Offers options for high-balance mortgages.
- Offers specialized mortgages for professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, starting their careers.
- Reported average time to close (20-30 days) is faster than industry standard.
- The lender’s mobile app is focused on banking, not mortgages.
- Conventional fixed-rate mortgages require a 5% minimum down payment, higher than some competitors.
- Offers a full array of mortgage products, including government and renovation loans.
- Online portal keeps borrowers up to date on the loan application's progress.
- Offers home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs.
- Doesn't post interest rates on its site.
- Lender fees are on the high side, according to the latest federal data.
- Offers two loans with 3% down payment minimums.
- Home buyer grants up to $7,500 may apply for qualifying borrowers.
- Receives high marks for customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Zillow.
- Borrowers must speak with a home loan expert before completing an online application.
- No online live chat feature, and in-person services vary by branch location.
» MORE: Compare Houston mortgage rates
Local mortgage lenders in Houston
If you want to include a local lender or two in your search for the best mortgage, these Houston lenders are among the highest-volume mortgage providers in the city, though they have not been reviewed by NerdWallet.
About a dozen offices in the Houston metro area.
Complete an online form to pre-qualify.
An app allows you to upload documents, check your loan status and even search for homes.
Specializes in jumbo loans in the Houston area.
A large selection of home loans, including construction and agriculture mortgages.
Offers home equity lines of credit and loans.
Texas-born in 2002, with headquarters in Houston and offices in more than 30 states.
Online, you can choose a "Quick Start" option or take about 15 minutes to complete a full pre-qualification.
A no-credit-score mortgage option is available, as well as bank statement programs and government-backed loans.
Nearly 20 loan officers in its north Houston office.
A digital mortgage gateway allows you to complete pre-qual information in as little as 10 minutes.
The broad selection of loans includes conventional, government-backed, renovation and even reverse mortgages.
More from NerdWallet
Last updated on January 6, 2022
Methodology
NerdWallet's star ratings for mortgage lenders are awarded based on our evaluation of the products and services each lender offers to consumers who are actively shopping for the best mortgage. The five key areas we evaluated include the variety of loan types and products offered, online conveniences, online mortgage rate information, and the rate spread and origination fee lenders reported in the latest available Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. To ensure consistency, our ratings are reviewed by multiple people on the NerdWallet Mortgages team.
NerdWallet's Best Houston Mortgage Lenders of 2022
- Fairway Independent Mortgage: Best for mobile experience
- loanDepot: Best for customer service
- Caliber: Best for VA borrowers
- USAA: Best for VA borrowers
- PrimeLending: Best for closing costs assistance
- Bank of America: Best for in-person service
- Flagstar: Best for full-service experience
- Homebridge: Best for wide selection of loan products
- Chase: Best for in-person service
