Mortgage lender review methodology
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here’s an explanation for .
To determine a mortgage lender’s Bankrate Score, Bankrate’s editorial team rates lenders on a scale of one to five stars based on a variety of factors relating to the lender’s products and services. Bankrate’s partners compensate us, but our opinions are our own, and partner relationships do not influence our reviews. Here is our full methodology for reviewing mortgage lenders.
Full Methodology
Bankrate’s experts regularly research, review and rate mortgage lenders to help you objectively compare and choose a lender that fits your needs. To determine a mortgage lender’s Bankrate Score, Bankrate rates lenders on a scale of one to five stars — with five 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, availability and customer experience. Within these areas, we looked at:
Affordability
- Lowest advertised annual percentage rate (APR) based on Bankrate’s sample scenario, which assumes a 740 or higher credit score and a 20 percent down payment, among other factors
- Customer discounts or incentive pricing, when applicable
Why we consider this: These affordability factors differ from lender to lender, so comparing costs is key.
Availability
- Approval and closing timelines
- Diversity of loan products
Why we consider this: These availability factors can make the overall process smoother or more challenging.
Customer experience
- Application process (e.g., online submittal)
- Availability of customer service support
Why we consider this: These customer experience factors can help you know what to expect when you work with a specific lender.
Note: The Bankrate Score does not take into account customer reviews, which are also displayed on each mortgage lender’s review as a separate star rating.