LowRates.com Mortgage Review 2026

LowRates.com overview

LowRates.com is owned and operated by Sun West Mortgage Company — an online and brick-and-mortar lender founded in 1980 with 27 branches across the U.S. It prides itself on a customer-focused approach, fast turnaround times and experience in the market. LowRates.com offers conventional and government-backed loans, as well as construction loans and investment property loans.

Pros and cons of LowRates.com

How Bankrate scored LowRates.com

Affordability: 4.9 stars

Because of LowRates.com’s below-average APRs, low down payment requirements, competitive mortgage rates and participation in Housing Finance Agency (HFA) programs, it receives 4.9 out of 5 stars for affordability.

• Interest rates: LowRates.com offers competitive mortgage rates, with APRs about 30 basis points below the market average at the time of this review.
• Down payment: LowRates.com offers VA loans with no down payment, FHA loans with a 3.5% down payment and conventional loans with just 3% down.
• Fees: LowRates.com is unclear about the fees it might charge. You'll need to contact a loan officer for more information about the fees that may apply to your mortgage.

Availability: 5 stars

Its widespread availability and diverse portfolio of home loan products give LowRates.com a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for availability.

• Home loans offered: LowRates.com offers conventional, jumbo, FHA and VA purchase loans, as well as construction loans and investment property loans. The lender also does mortgage refinancing. 
• Footprint: LowRates.com has a wide footprint and is licensed to lend in all U.S. states, plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Where to find it: You can visit LowRates.com online, apply over the phone or email or visit a branch of Sun West Mortgage, its parent company.

Borrower experience: 4.6 stars

LowRates.com gets high marks for borrower experience due to its rate transparency and multiple contact methods. However, due to unpublished information about its rate lock length, it receives 4.6 out of 5 stars for borrower experience.

• Application and preapproval process: You can apply for a mortgage with LowRates.com through its website or over the phone. Thanks to its 24-hour loan center, the lender boasts fast loan approval times, with an average closing time of as fast as 20 days. 
• Transparency: When it comes to rate transparency, LowRates.com puts a rate quote front and center on its home page. You can check rates for different loan types and submit additional information to get a more accurate quote tailored to you.
• Customer service: You can contact the lender in various ways, such as through an online form or email, over the phone at 833-569-7283 Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT or in person at a branch location. Our recent calls, however, were met with a busy signal.

LowRates.com reputation

LowRates.com's parent company, Sun West Mortgage Company, has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, with 4.9 out of 5 stars from nearly 700 customers at the time of this review. The lender has been in business for more than 40 years with a reputation for great service. However, the lender is not ranked in J.D. Power's latest mortgage origination satisfaction study.

• Methodology

  To determine a mortgage lender’s Bankrate Score, Bankrate rates lenders on a scale of one (1) to five (5) stars — with five (5) the highest rating — based on a variety of factors relating to the lender’s products and services. To assign our ratings, we assessed each mortgage lender across three core areas:

  • Affordability: Annual percentage rate (APR) - 80%; assistance for first-time homebuyers - 10%; down payment - 10%
  • Availability: Loan products - 50%; licensing - 40%; credit score - 10%
  • Borrower experience: Rate transparency - 35%; customer service - 35%; convenience - 20%; rate locks - 10%; reputation (if applicable)

  Learn more about our methodology.