Read our review of

Best Rate USA Mortgage Review 2023

Written by

TJ Porter

Edited by

Suzanne De Vita

Updated May 31, 2023

The Bankrate promise

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 .

At a glance

NMLS: 146296

Editor's take

Best Rate USA is good for borrowers looking for a quick closing and lower rates overall.

Bankrate Score

Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.

4.1

Bankrate Score

Customer Rating

Star ranking and total number reflects the lifetime customer reviews received while this lender has been an advertiser on Bankrate.

To help serve you with relevant information, the customer reviews shown are limited to only those that this advertiser has received during the past 12 months.

5.0

1,638 ratings

Loans offered

Conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, fixed-rate, adjustable-rate; rate-and-term, cash-out and streamline refinancing

Min. credit score required

Undisclosed

Nationwide availability

Available in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Min. down payment

None for VA loans and USDA loans

Recent customer reviews

The customer reviews posted on Bankrate.com ("Bankrate") are individual, subjective opinions of reviewers, and not of Bankrate. Bankrate does not endorse any of the opinions expressed by reviewers or any responses to reviews. Bankrate cannot guarantee or verify the accuracy of the opinions shared by individual reviewers, and reserves the right to reject or remove any review, at any time, for any reason at Bankrate’s sole discretion, including but not limited to those that Bankrate deems inappropriate, fraudulent, invalid, irrelevant, or otherwise outside the parameters of the Bankrate Review Guidelines, the Privacy Policy, or the Terms of Use.

Read 0 customer reviews for Best Rate USA

At a glance

NMLS: 146296

4.1

Bankrate Score

Loans offered

Conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, fixed-rate, adjustable-rate; rate-and-term, cash-out and streamline refinancing

Nationwide Availability

Min. credit score required

Undisclosed

Best Rate USA overview

Best Rate USA is a direct online mortgage lender affiliated with CrossCountry Mortgage and founded in 2008. The lender operates in several states and offers a variety of mortgage types and a quick application process, with closings in as little as 20 days from the time you apply.

Pros and cons of Best Rate USA

Pros

Variety of loan types
Close on a loan in as little as 20 days
Work with a loan officer throughout the entire process

Cons

Not available in every state
Information related to rates and fees is limited online
No instant online preapproval

Our Editor’s Take on Best Rate USA

Best Rate USA is good for borrowers looking for a quick closing and lower rates overall.

Breakdown of Best Rate USA overall score

Affordability: Best Rate USA makes claims of low rates, but you’ll need to get in touch with the lender directly to learn what you might qualify for.
Availability: Although it’s a stamp of CrossCountry Mortgage, Best Rate isn’t available everywhere like its parent. Be sure to check whether this lender is licensed in your state before you make contact.
Borrower experience: Best Rate USA has earned high marks from customers on Bankrate. It can be tough to get ahold of this lender, however.

Bankrate's expert editorial team collects lender information through a variety of methods. We contact lenders directly, and we also turn to regulatory filings and to assessments by third parties. Our research takes into account three main factors – affordability, availability and borrower experience.

Bankrate's reporters and editors have decades of experience covering the mortgage industry. They're skilled at gathering information through interviews and by scouring regulatory filings. Bankrate evaluates more than 85 lenders for factors relating to affordability, availability and customer experience, assigning each a Bankrate Score out of five stars. Here's how we assess each of the categories:
- Affordability. Loan cost is a deciding factor for many borrowers. We look at two metrics: 1) a lender's 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 and 2) established-customer discounts or incentive pricing, when applicable.
- Availability. Another factor is how quickly your loan application will be approved, and how many loan programs the lender offers. So we evaluate approval and closing timelines and diversity of loan products.
- Customer experience. Finally, we delve into what it's like to deal with the lender as a consumer. We look at the lender's application process and availability of customer service support. We also consider the results of J.D. Power's 2022 Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Survey.
Bankrate's editorial team confirms the accuracy of data at the time of publication. Our team is dedicated to maintaining the timeliness of information – the mortgage industry is changing constantly, so we regularly revisit these reviews to update them.

Bankrate's methodology page spells out our rating process in greater detail.

Affordability: 3/5

You can’t view mortgage rates on the Best Rate USA website. Instead, you’ll need to request a rate quote, which involves providing your contact information, credit score and information about the loan you’re applying for. One of the lender’s loan officers will then contact you to discuss available rates. Best Rate USA’s lender fees can include an origination fee, rate-lock fee and other closing costs.

Availability: 5/5

Best Rate USA offers the basic slate of conventional and government-insured loans (FHA, VA and USDA), some of which have low down payment minimums. You can also refinance through this lender (more on that below). It’s only available to borrowers in about 20 states at this time.

Borrower experience: 4.6/5

CrossCountry Mortgage, which operates Best Rate USA, has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, although it isn’t accredited by the organization. It has highly favorable reviews from customers on Bankrate.Best Rate is an online lender, so you can start the loan process by requesting a rate quote through its website, but you’ll need to await contact from a loan officer to proceed. You can fill out all of the paperwork online to get preapproved for a loan, but there’s no app or chat function to get help if you need it, and a call from Bankrate during business hours to the phone number listed on the lender’s website went unanswered. When you’re ready to apply, you can browse a directory of loan officers and submit your application directly online through CrossCountry’s portal.

Refinancing with Best Rate USA

Best Rate USA offers the option for you to refinance a mortgage, either to adjust the terms of your loan or cash out some of your home equity. The lender doesn’t display its refinance rates and fees, but you can get the process started by requesting a rate quote.

Alternatives to Best Rate USA

Better mortgage review – Offers no fees and 24/7 access to support
Ally Bank mortgage review – Good if you’re looking for a full online banking and home loan experience
Citibank mortgage review – Good for low-down payment loans