When you’re ready to refinance your mortgage, it may be tempting to use the bank that financed your original loan. But your life, circumstances and options have changed. Finding a lender that can meet your needs makes a big difference.
To choose the best lenders for this list, we considered the products and loan amounts offered, eligibility requirements, fees and the lender’s online availability. We also looked at customer reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot, as well as J.D. Power customer satisfaction rankings wherever possible.
There's no shortage of mortgage lenders able to refinance your loan. But among them all, Better is the best. Better's refinance rates tend to be the same or lower than many other major mortgage companies, and it doesn't charge fees for application or origination. And even if you manage to find a more attractive deal elsewhere, Better will match the offer or give you $100.
Pros
Speedy preapproval process. You can get preapproved for a Better mortgage in three minutes.
Intuitive and online. The mortgage application is entirely online, but you can call for help if needed.
Fewer fees.. Better doesn't charge application fees or origination fees like many other lenders do.
Cons
Not available in all states. As of September 2020, Better is not licensed to issue mortgages in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Vermont or Virginia.
No brick-and-mortar branches. Better is an online-only lender, meaning you can't speak to a loan officer face-to-face if that's important to you.
Some loan types aren't available. Better doesn't offer VA or USDA loans, nor does this lender provide mortgages for modular homes, mixed-use properties, co-ops or multi-family homes.
No home-equity loans or lines of credit.. This lender doesn't offer home equity loans or HELOCs.
Loan products offered
Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, Refinance, HELOC, Equity Unlocker
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans United has been the top VA lender for the last four years. The lender is accredited by the BBB with an A+ rating and slightly shy of a 5-star rating from over 1,200 customer reviews as of August 2020. Veterans United does equally well with customers on Trustpilot, earning 4.9 stars with over 5,300 reviews.
Pros
Offers both a streamline refinance and cash-out option
Focused on military loans, but offers conventional and other government-backed loans
Get an online quote or pre-approval in minutes
Cons
Not ideal for lenders with poor credit.
Limited branch locations in only 18 states
No home equity loans or lines of credit (HELOCs) available
Fairway took second place to Quicken Loans in J.D. Power's 2019 customer satisfaction rankings. The company has been accredited with the BBB for 24 years and has an A+ rating and an average 5-star rating from over 1,800 customer reviews as of August 2020. Trustpilot has no reviews for Fairway Independent, but Zillow has over 23,000 reviews for the lender with an average of 4.97 stars.
Pros
Apply online and through the mobile app
Offers several refinancing options
High customer ratings
Cons
Rates or fees aren't available on the website
HELOC loans not available
Performs a hard credit check as part of the application process
Loan products offered
Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, Refinance, Reverse
Better charges no lender's fees, and the company also offers a better price guarantee. They'll match any valid competitor's offer and beat them by at least $100 — or Better will pay you the $100. The company is accredited with an A+ rating the BBB and has a 4-star rating with 384 customer reviews as of August 2020.
Pros
Fully online application process
On-demand rate lock
No origination or application fees
Cons
Only available in 43 states
Lacks online customer reviews
No HELOCs or second mortgages available
Loan products offered
Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, Refinance, HELOC, Equity Unlocker
Your NBKC online experience can start before you even apply, with a calculator that allows you to explore both your conventional mortgage and refinance rates—including lender fees—without entering any personal contact information. You can apply fully online and track your application to see where you are in the process. As of August 2020, the lender is accredited with the BBB with an A+ rating, and receives high customer satisfaction with just shy of a 5-star rating from 350 reviews on BBB and over 9,000 reviews on Zillow.
Pros
Easy online application with e-signing or overnight delivery
Offers VA and FHA options in all 50 states
Online calculator to estimate rates and fees
Cons
Only offers home equity loans in the Kansas City area
No bank branches outside Kansas City
No cash-out refinancing
Loan products offered
Conventional, Refinance, VA, FHA, Home equity (limited availability)
Minimum credit score
620
Minimum down payment (Conventional)
3%
State availability
Available in all states
Minimum credit score
620
How do I choose the best mortgage refinance lender?
If you’re still not sure that one of the lenders above is right for you, consider the following tips to help you find the best fit:
Know your credit score. Above all others, this number determines your eligibility for a loan, which lenders you can work with and the terms that lender will offer.
Know what fits your lifestyle. Decide if you prefer a local, nonprofit credit union or if you need everything online.
Shop for a good rate. When you compare your options, look at interest rates, loan terms and fees.
See what other borrowers have to say. Take the time to read through reviews to get insight on potential problems.
Compare mortgage refinance lenders and brokers
Compare these lenders and lender marketplaces by the type of home loan you’re searching for, state availability and minimum credit score (for a conventional loan). Select See rates to provide the company with basic property and financial details for personalized rates.
Disclaimer: The partners on Finder's mortgage comparison tables are sorted in alphabetical order.
What are the alternatives to mortgage refinancing?
If in all of your research, you’ve decided that refinancing your loan isn’t the right choice, but you still want to make some changes, you have some other options.
Mortgage recast. If you’re able, pay a large sum towards your principal payment, and your lender can recast, or recalculate your mortgage payments. Not all lenders provide this service, but using a recast doesn’t extend the term of your loan and can help you remove the PMI portion of your payment.
Loan modification. Sometimes changing the existing terms of your loan is all you need. And if you can prove that you can’t afford to continue your payments as they are, your bank may work with you to modify the loan.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC). If you like the current terms of your loan, but you need some cash, you may consider taking out a line of credit against your home’s equity. It’s less expensive than a full cash-out refinance, and you can do whatever you want with the money.
Matching the right lender to your current circumstances and refinancing needs is the best way to ensure you not only get the best terms, but the best loan for you. And with so many lenders to choose from, it’s important to do careful research, which can include learning more about mortgage refinancing.
Heather Petty was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in home and personal loans. After falling victim to a disreputable mortgage broker when buying her first home, she’s on a mission to help readers avoid similar experiences when managing their own finances. A self-proclaimed word nerd, her writing and analysis has been featured on MSN, Credit.com and MediaFeed, among other top media. Heather previously worked as a technical writer and editor for the casino systems industry and is an internationally published young adult mystery author. She earned a BA in English with a minor in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno. See full bio
Heather's expertise
Heather has written 94 Finder guides across topics including:
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