Flagstar Bank Mortgage Review 2023

How Bankrate scored Flagstar Bank

To determine Flagstar Bank’s Bankrate Score, Bankrate’s editorial team rated it and other 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.) We derived its overall score by considering three basic factors:

• Affordability: Flagstar Bank’s interest rates on mortgages are slightly above Bankrate’s average. Like most lenders, the bank charges an origination fee, but often runs promotions that waive this cost.
• Availability: Flagstar Bank’s mortgages are available nationwide. Its loan products include the standard suite of conventional and government-insured loans, as well as financing for new builds or renovations.
• Borrower experience: The bank’s website features some helpful information for borrowers, but its customer ratings from the Better Business Bureau could be better.

• Methodology

  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: 4/5

Flagstar Bank’s mortgage rates aren’t the lowest compared to Bankrate’s averages. While the bank charges an origination fee, you might have an opportunity to save on that cost if there’s a promotion. Without the promotion, this fee is typically $1,395. To see Flagstar Bank’s latest mortgage rates online, you’ll have to provide a number of details, including your credit score range, the price range of the property, the size of your down payment and your name and email address.

Availability: 4.8/5

Flagstar Bank caters to a variety of borrowing needs, offering conventional and FHA, VA and USDA loans, as well as jumbo products and home equity and refinancing solutions. The bank can also help with construction financing if you’re building or renovating a home. To qualify, you’ll need to meet minimum credit score standards based on loan type. Notably, the bank accepts just 10 percent down on a jumbo loan, assuming you qualify otherwise.

Borrower experience: 4.7/5

Flagstar Bank has been in business since 1987, with an estimated $1 trillion in loan originations since then. It has an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, but less than favorable reviews on both the BBB and Trustpilot. The bank also ranked near the bottom of the J.D. Power mortgage originator satisfaction survey for 2021. (Flagstar wasn’t ranked in J.D. Power’s 2022 survey.) If you’re buying a home and interested in a mortgage through Flagstar, you can expect an approval in 48 hours (provided you qualify), and to close in an average of 35 days. The bank’s online learning center includes a variety of articles about the basics of borrowing. The lender also has an app that allows customers to monitor their accounts, and it offers e-signature for some documents.

How to apply for a mortgage with Flagstar Bank

You can apply for a purchase loan or a refinance in person at a branch or via the bank’s website.

Here are some tips to prepare for the process:

1. Check your credit report. It’s important to check your credit report before your lender does, in case there are errors that could impact not only whether you get preapproved but also your ability to get the best mortgage rate. Knowing your credit score also helps you decide what type of loan to apply for. If your score is in the very low 600s, for instance, an FHA mortgage might be best for you, as its standards are more lenient than those for conventional loans.

2. Gather personal and financial documents. With any lender, you must supply documentation about your income, assets and debts. This includes pay stubs and W-2s and account and loan statements.

3. Provide details about the property. You’ll need to provide the address of the home and submit to an appraisal. (If you’re refinancing, you might or might not need an appraisal.)

Refinancing with Flagstar Bank

Flagstar Bank can help you refinance your existing mortgage. Before you start, think about your goals. Are you refinancing to adjust your current mortgage’s rate and term? Do you want to tap into home equity? Do you want to change loan programs, such as refinancing out of an FHA loan into a conventional mortgage? Once you’ve settled on those details, you can apply through the bank’s website, its call center or in-person at a branch (limited to certain states).