Best Mortgage Lenders of April 2026

Mortgage rates have spiked by nearly half a percentage point in recent weeks, even though they are still down year-over-year. While you can’t control rates, you can control your lender, which could be just as important when it comes to affording your home purchase.

CNBC Select analyzed more than 40 banks, credit unions and fintech companies to find the best mortgage lenders based on rates, loan types, down payment options and other criteria. New additions to our list include Bank of America and Citizens Bank — both ranked highly in J.D. Power’s customer satisfaction surveys in 2025.

To learn how we made our picks, check out our methodology.

Who’s this for? One of the largest lenders in the U.S., Rocket Mortgage lists sample rates on its website and, in states where it’s allowed, offers remote closings.

Standout benefits: With Rocket’s ONE+ home loan, you can put as little as 1% down and receive a grant for an additional 2%. Rocket also offers government-backed HomeReady and Home Possible loans, which require a 3% down payment.

Who’s this for? Chase Bank operates nationwide and has more than 4,700 branches across the continental U.S. It has home loan advisors in 37 states and Washington, D.C.

Standout benefits: The DreaMaker loan is available with just 3% down, and income requirements have been lifted in 15 metro areas, including New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Chase guarantees on-time closing on conventional mortgages or eligible borrowers may receive $5,000.

Who’s this for? Guild Mortgage has flexible credit requirements, especially for FHA, VA and USDA loans. Borrowers who meet income requirements only need a 600 credit score to qualify for Guild’s Zero Down mortgage.

Standout benefits: If you earn up to 160% of the area’s median income, you may be eligible for another zero-down mortgage, Guild’s Arrive Home loan. First-timers or repeat buyers can qualify for 3.5% or 5% down payment assistance through a repayable second mortgage.

Who’s this for? Flagstar Bank‘s Gift Program gives eligible first-time buyers 3% of their purchase price to put toward a down payment or closing costs, up to $3,000. Buyers in Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey and New York are eligible for up to $10,000.

Standout benefits: Through the Flagstar Power Up program, first-time buyers in select census tracts can receive up to $8,000 in grants and gift funds.

Who’s this for? Veterans United is the largest issuer of VA loans in the nation and has a dedicated military relations team that works with active service members, veterans and their families.

Standout benefits: Borrowers can apply for preapproval online, and customer service is available by phone 24 hours a day. Veterans United counselors will also provide free tips to help boost their credit scores.

Who’s this for? PNC offers refinancing for primary homes, secondary homes and investment properties.

Standout benefits: Borrowers who make up to 140% of the area’s median income and are buying in majority-minority census tracts can receive a credit of up to $10,000. PNC Bank is one of the country’s largest providers of USDA loans, which allow eligible homebuyers to get zero-down mortgages in rural and suburban areas. Not only do USDA loans offer lower rates and more flexible credit requirements, but they also don’t require private mortgage insurance.

Who’s this for? Bank of America has a stellar record of customer satisfaction. It scored higher than any other lender in J.D. Power’s 2025 Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Survey and higher than all but two other lenders on J.D. Power’s 2025 Mortgage Originator Satisfaction Survey.

Standout benefits: Eligible first-time homebuyers can receive up to $17,500 in grants to put toward a down payment or closing costs.

Who’s this for? With SoFi‘s on-time closing guarantee, you could be eligible for a credit of up to $10,000 if you don’t close by the time stated in your contract.

Standout benefits: Sofi offers a 0.25% rate discount if you lock in a 30-year fixed-rate loan. Borrowers may earn a credit of up to $9,500 if they purchase a home through the SoFi HomeStory Rewards program.

Who’s this for? If you’re looking for simple ways to bring down your mortgage rate, Citizens Bank offers a rate discount of 0.125% for those who enroll in autopay.

Standout benefits: Homebuyers who use HomeStory Real Estate Services — Citizens partner real estate brokerage — to buy or sell their home can receive up to $9,500.

Who’s this for? If you want the personalized customer service, low fees and flexible credit requirements that come with a member-owned credit union, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union is a great option. It’s available in all states (except for Texas) and all you have to do to be a member is open a savings account with a $5 deposit.

Standout benefits: Borrowers can qualify for a conventional mortgage with a credit score as low as 580, while most mortgage lenders require a 620 credit score.

Who’s this for? If saving money is your priority, Rate‘s average mortgage rates are significantly lower than the industry average.

Standout benefits: Eligible applicants can receive mortgage approval within one business day. Qualified borrowers may also receive a $250 closing cost credit.

A mortgage is a personal loan used to buy a home, with the property serving as collateral.

As of 2025, over 92% of first-time buyers and 70% of repeat buyers took out a mortgage, according to the National Association of Realtors.

You can choose a fixed-rate mortgage with consistent payments or an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), which has a fixed rate for a number of years before changing at intervals.

Here are the most common types of home loans and the requirements for approval.

Here’s what to consider when selecting a mortgage provider.

Interest rate: Many lenders list sample mortgage rates on their websites, allowing you to compare rates without applying.

Loan types: Does the lender offer FHA, VA or USDA loans? Does it offer proprietary low-down-payment mortgages to help first-time homebuyers?

Down payment: Lenders have different requirements for the amount of cash required upfront. Your down payment also impacts your home equity and can influence your interest rate.

Repayment terms: What options does the lender offer when it comes to how many years you can take to pay back your mortgage?

Fees: Lender fees and closing costs can significantly increase the cost of buying a home. Some lenders clearly lay out their fee structure, while others are less transparent.

Loan limits: If you’re looking to borrow more than the conforming loan limit, make sure the lender offers jumbo loans large enough to meet your needs.

Closing timeline: The amount of time it takes to close on your new home can make a big difference. Rocket Mortgage advertises that its closings average 22 days, nearly half the industry average.

Preapproval allows homebuyers to see how much a lender may be willing to lend them and what their monthly mortgage rate might be.

To get preapproved, you’ll need to undergo a hard credit inquiry and provide documentation of your finances, including pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements and other proof of assets and debts.

While it’s not a guarantee, preapproval is a good indication of your status. It also shows sellers and real estate agents that you are serious about buying.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to deliver high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make informed financial decisions. Every mortgage review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of mortgage products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content independently of our commercial team and any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on maintaining high journalistic standards and ethics.

To determine the best mortgage lenders, CNBC Select analyzed more than 50 U.S. banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. We focused on the following features:

Loan offerings: We weighed lenders more heavily if they offered government-backed FHA, VA and USDA loans, jumbo mortgages and specialty loans aimed at low-income borrowers

Down payment: We noted when lenders had specialty loans with lower minimum down payments or offered down payment assistance. 

Credit score: Most lenders require a 620 FICO score to secure a conventional mortgage. We noted if a lender had options for borrowers with poor credit.

Closing times: We gave more weight to lenders with shorter-than-average closing times or that guaranteed an on-time closing.

Fees: The mortgage process includes origination, application and underwriting fees, as well as charges for appraisals, title insurance, attorneys and other closing costs. When possible, we noted if a lender had lower fees, discounts or waived certain fees.

Application process: We considered whether lenders offered an online pre-approval and application process, as well as whether they had physical branches for an in-person experience. 

Customer service: We gave more weight to lenders that scored highly on J.D. Power’s mortgage origination and servicing surveys. We also noted if they had robust customer service phone hours and a website with an online chat feature and educational resources.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

Based on that criteria, our picks for the best mortgage lenders are:

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