Investopedia’s pick for the best mortgage lender for bad credit is . It offers many types of mortgage loans, including Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans. It also offers non-QM loans with more favorable borrower requirements, including lower credit sco꧃res.
The lenders we identified for our list offer se🤡veral mortgage options for borrowers with less-than-ideal credit scores. They also have competitive rates and low down payment requirements, making them good options for borrowers just starting out, or juܫst improving their credit.
We researched 38 of t🐻he most active mortgage lenders, including major banks and credit unions a🦂nd major non-bank lenders. We evaluated them on several factors, including rates, eligibility requirements, customer service, typical loan closing times, and more.
Best Mortgage Lenders for Bad Credit for 2025
- Best Overall, Best for Self-Employed: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: American Pacific Mortgage
- Best for First-Time Homebuyers, Best for Fast Closing: Rate
- Best for Veterans: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: Veterans United Home Loans
- Best for FHA Loans: 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网: Fairway Independent Mortgage
- Best From a Big Bank: Chase
Best Overall, Best for Self-Employed : American Pacific Mortgage
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- Minimum Credit Score: 560
- Offers Non-QM Loans: Yes
- Online Application: Yes
Conventional qualifying mortgages require a minimum credit score of 620. American Pacific Mortgage offers spec𒅌ial nonﷺ-qualifying loans that require credit scores below 600.
Low credit score requirements
Multiple low-down payment programs
Branches and loan advisors available nationwide
No loan options available to New York residents
Does not disclose its rates or fees online
Must submit pers𝓡onal information before you can view rates
American Pacific Mortgage offers mortgage programs for low credit or low cash borrowers, including FHA, VA loans, and low-down payment loans. It also offers n💝on-QM loans, w﷽hich don’t have to comply with the federal government's strict borrower and property requirements for loans purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
The lender also offers a program for underserved homebuyers. With the 1% Home program, buyers can put just 1% down on a home, and American Pacific Mortgage will prov﷽ide a 2% grant (up to $4,500) to make homeownership more affordable.
Our researchers were impressed with the scope of the educational material American Pacific Mortgage provides online. Info🐻rmed consumers mak🐟e better choices, and our scoring model rewards lenders that make the effort to educate potential clients.
One downside with A﷽merican Pacific Mortgage is that it does not disclose rates or fees online. You’ll have to contact a loan advisor to get those details. The lender’s loans aren’t available in New York, either.
American Pacific Mortgage was founded in 1996 and is headquartered ♛in Roseville, California. It is lice🔯nsed to issue mortgages in 49 states and operates over 400 branches nationwide.
Best for First-Time Homebuyers, Best for Fast Closing : Rate
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Rate
- Minimum Credit Score: 620
- Offers Non-QM Loans: Yes
- Online Application: Yes
With Rate (former😼ly known as Guaranteed Rate Mortgage), you can get approved for a loan as soon as the same day you apply and get it funded in as few as 10 days.
Same-day mortgage approvals are possible
Low down payment options
Mobile application available
Potentially high lender fees
Lower-than-average customer satisfaction ratings
Rate offers several loan programs with relaxed credit score and down payment requirements. These include 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:non-QM loans, FHA loans, and VA loans.
Many lenders require borrowers to🌸 work closely with loan advisors from the initial quote through closing. In contrast, Rate offers a mostly digital loan application process. You ca🥀n even complete it using your smartphone. Depending on your state, you can complete the process entirely online.
Using Rate's platform you can fill out the application and qualify for a mortgage pre-approval all on the same day. If your application is approved, your mortgage could close in 10 days.
Rate was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Most home sales close in 30 days. Learn about some 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:common obstacles homebuyers face and what you can do to prevent delays on 💧your next home closing.
Best for Veterans : Veterans United Home Loans
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Veterans United Home Loans
- Minimum Credit Score: 620
- Offers Non-QM Loans: No
- Online Application: Yes
As the name suggests, Veterans United specializes in VA Loans for veterans. It is the nation's most active VA loan lender.
Specializes in VA loans
24-hour customer support
Robust educational tools
No details about other mortgage options
Limited online functionality
No home equity loans or HELOCs
Veteran’s United is the na🧸tion’s most active VA Loan lender, funding more loans than industry heavyweights like United Wholesale Mortgage, Rocket Mortgage, and even military member banking and lending specialist Navy Federal Credit Union. It offers 24-hour customer service to help borrowers no matter when (or where) they need assistance.
The website offers a strong collection of educational resources to help🐈 you understand your loan options. However, it does not offer a digital application or pre-approval service. You must fill out an email form ꧟to learn more about your loan options and costs.
The lender offers other typeꦫs of loans besides VA Loans, but its website lacks🍌 details.
Vඣeterans United Home Loans was founded in 2002 and is headquartered ♔in Columbia, Missouri.
Best for FHA Loans : Fairway Independent Mortgage
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澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Fairway Independent Mortgage
- Minimum Credit Score: 580
- Offers Non-QM Loans: Yes
- Online Application: Yes
Fairway Independent Mortgage offers several government-backed loan options. However, we named it best for FHA loans because it's also an approved FHA 203(k) lender, which means buyers can potentially get funding for improvements needed for fixer-uppers included in their mortgage.
Offers multiple government-backed loans
Operates an affordable housing program
Approved lender for FHA 203(k) loans
No details about rates or fees online
Third-party loan servicers
Must subm꧅it contact information to receive details
The FHA loan program, which the federal government backs, accepts bꦆorrowers with credit scores as low as 580. Fairway Independent Mortgage offers FHA loans (as well as USDA loans, VA loans, and other types) and adds an affordability program that features a $6,000 grant for a down payment or closing costs.
The lender gets high marks for customer service overall, too. It ranked sixth in J.D Power’s 2024 Mortgage Origination Satisfaction study (it placed first overall in the 2023 edition of the study.)
Unfortunately, Fairway probably won’t earn many accolades for its online experience for shopping and application processing. For rate and fee information, you must fill out a form and share your contact information with a loan advi♍sor, who will contact you. However, the site does have a deep library of educational resources.
Fairway Independent Mo🤡rtgage was founded in 1996 ﷽and is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin.
Best From a Big Bank : Chase
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- Minimum Credit Score: 620
- Offers Non-QM Loans: Yes
- Online Application: No
If you’re looking for a big bank experience or just want to keep all your banking and loans together in one place, Chase is a good choice. It of൲fers mortgages for🍸 borrowers with lower credit scores, plus discounts for customers with multiple accounts.
Discounts for existing customers
Quick closing times
Low down payment and credit score programs
Does not offer USDA loans
Limited loan details online
Chase is one of the largest banks in the nation. If you’re an existing customer, you can take a🐓dvanꦦtage of the bank’s rate discounts. It offers conventional mortgages plus FHA and VA loans.
The bank’s DreamMaker loan requires just 3% down and comes with a $7,500 grant in 8,500 U.S. communities. The grant is ꦿalso avaꦑilable with FHA and VA loans. Borrowers with fair or bad credit should consider an FHA loan, which has reduced credit score requirements compared to other types of mortgages.
Chase offers a mortgag𝐆e assistance preapproval process. You start it online and complete it with a loan advisor. The s꧂ervice will give you several options based on your financial situation.
JPMorgan Chase, Chase Bank’s parent, traces its history back toꦗ the nation’s founding. It is headquartered in New Yo🐎rk, New York.
Visit Investopedia’s 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:mortgage calculator to compare loan payments using advertised or quoted⛎ rates.
Compa𒁏re the Best Mortgage Lenders for Bad Credit
Lender | Average Days to Close | Min. Credit Score | Lender Fees |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |
21 | 620 | Not disclosed |
Best for First-Time Homebuyers, Best for Fast Closing |
18 | 620 | $1,740 |
Best for Veterans |
32 | 620 | $3,500 |
Best for FHA Loans |
10 | 580 | Not disclosed |
Best From a Big Bank |
21 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Why Trust Us
Investopedia collected and analyzed over 2,000 key data points from 38 leading mortgage lenders to evaluate the most important factors for readers looking for a mortgage loan. We used this data to review each company based on customer experience, reputation, cost, and other factors. Investopedia▨ developed this process to provide an unbiased, comprehensive review to ensure our readers make the right decision for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999 and has been helping readers find the best mortgages since 2020.
How We Choose the Best Mortg💦age Lenders for Bad Credit
To begin our research, we conducted a consumer survey of 500 current or prospective homebuyers and mortgage borrowers. We asked them 41 questions about their home-buying and mortgage-shopping experience and learned what features and services were most important to them. Our research team analyzed the 𝓡results, which fueled our list of 38 mortg🅰age lenders and 55 criteria for our rubric.
We then collected over 2,000 data points, surveying mortgage lenders and collecting data via websites, media contacts, and customer service. To develop our list of the best mortgage lenders for bad credit, we weighted 36 of the 55 individual criteria, giving higher weight to those criteria that mean the most to♏ borrowers. The score for each company’s overall star rating is a weighted average of those criteria in the following categories:
- Customer Experience: 48%
- Operational Features: 16%
- Reputation: 14%
- Loan Types: 11%
- Loan Costs and Requirements: 11%
To maintain the integrity of the data following collection and analysis, Investopedia’s compliance ▨team monitors changes to key details, like interest rates and fees. Compliance team members then update our pages to ensure they are accurate as of the date on the byline.
Read more about our process in our full 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:mortgage lender methodology.
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Investopedia / Tara Anand
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