6 Best SONYMA Mortgage Lenders of 2024

SONYMA helps people achieve the dream of homeownership in the Empire State. See our picks of participating SONYMA lenders.

Last updated on February 21, 2024

Written by

Barbara Marquand

Senior Writer

Edited by

Johanna Arnone

Managing Editor

Fact Checked

Written by

Barbara Marquand

Senior Writer

Edited by

Johanna Arnone

Managing Editor

Fact Checked

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.

The State of New York Mortgage Agency offers special home loan programs through local lenders to first-time buyers and veterans. Residents who haven't owned a home in the past three years qualify as first-time buyers. Repeat buyers in certain targeted areas of the state may also be eligible.

SONYMA programs feature reduced interest rates, low down payment requirements and forgivable loans to assist with down payments.

» MORE: Explore SONYMA loan programs

Here are NerdWallet-reviewed lenders that participate in SONYMA loan programs. When reaching out to a lender, ask for a loan officer with experience in processing SONYMA loans.

Why trust NerdWallet

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.

NerdWallet's mortgage content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in home lending. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Newsweek and many other national, regional and local publications. They have been cited in publications including The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast as well as local TV and radio.

Why trust NerdWallet

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.

NerdWallet's mortgage content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in home lending. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Newsweek and many other national, regional and local publications. They have been cited in publications including The Wall Street Journal, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast as well as local TV and radio.

6 Best SONYMA Mortgage Lenders of 2024

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Lender ▾ ▾	NerdWallet Rating ▾ ▾	Min. credit score ▾ ▾	Min. down payment ▾ ▾	Learn more
loanDepot: NMLS#174457 Compare More Lenders on NerdWallet	4.0 /5 Home loans overall Best for fixer-uppers	620	3%	Compare More Lenders on NerdWallet
Fairway Independent Mortgage: NMLS#2289 Top 3 most visited 🏆 Learn more at Fairway Independent Mortgage at Fairway Independent Mortgage	3.0 /5 Home loans overall Best for customer satisfaction	620	3%	Top 3 most visited 🏆 Learn more at Fairway Independent Mortgage at Fairway Independent Mortgage
Caliber: NMLS#15622 Compare More Lenders on NerdWallet	3.0 /5 Home loans overall Best for VA loans	620	3%	Compare More Lenders on NerdWallet
CrossCountry Mortgage: NMLS#3029 Compare More Lenders on NerdWallet	4.0 /5 Home loans overall Best for government-backed loans	620	3%	Compare More Lenders on NerdWallet
PrimeLending: NMLS#13649 Compare More Lenders on NerdWallet	4.0 /5 Home loans overall Best for fixer-uppers	620	3%	Compare More Lenders on NerdWallet

More from NerdWallet

Last updated on February 21, 2024

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.

Lenders included on this page participate in SONYMA programs and have earned at least 3 stars in NerdWallet's home loans overall rating.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best SONYMA Mortgage Lenders of 2024

loanDepot: Best for fixer-uppers
Fairway Independent Mortgage: Best for customer satisfaction
Caliber: Best for VA loans
CrossCountry Mortgage: Best for government-backed loans
PrimeLending: Best for fixer-uppers
Movement Mortgage: Best for variety of loan types