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Real Genius Mortgage Review 2023

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At a glance

Real Genius
NMLS: 2389303
Editor's take

Real Genius is good for borrowers who appreciate rate transparency and want lender credits to help lower some costs.

Bankrate Score
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4.6
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
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Bankrate Score

Customer Rating
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4.8
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

951 ratings

Mortgage Percent

Loans offered

Conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, fixed-rate, adjustable-rate; rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing; investment property

Credit Good

Min. credit score required

620 for conventional loans, 600 for FHA loans

Location

Nationwide availability

Available in 38 states (not available in California, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont)

At a glance

Real Genius

NMLS: 2389303

4.6

Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
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Bankrate Score

Mortgage Percent

Loans offered

Conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA, fixed-rate, adjustable-rate; rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing; investment property

Location

Nationwide Availability

Available in 38 states (not available in California, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont)

Credit Good

Min. credit score required

620 for conventional loans, 600 for FHA loans

Real Genius overview

Real Genius (formerly ConsumerDirect Mortgage) is an online mortgage lender offering conventional and some government-insured loans for both home purchases and refinances. If eligible, you could be preapproved for a mortgage in as few as 15 minutes with this lender. A division of FirstBank, Real Genius is headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida and serves borrowers in many states across the U.S.

Pros and cons of Real Genius

Pros
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    Convenient rate quote estimate that doesn’t require sharing name and email address

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    Excellent past customer reviews and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau

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    Majority of loans include lender credit to help cover third-party costs

Cons
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    Borrower requirements not listed online

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    No USDA loans

Our Editor’s Take on Real Genius

Real Genius is good for borrowers who appreciate rate transparency and want lender credits to help lower some costs.

Breakdown of Real Genius overall score

  • Affordability: Real Genius is a direct lender that offers competitive rates compared to Bankrate’s averages. Although there are lender fees, you might be eligible for a credit to either offset or eliminate this cost entirely.
  • Availability: Real Genius works with borrowers in the majority of states.
  • Borrower experience: You can easily compare rates and other cost information via the Real Genius website, and the lender has high marks from past customers.

Affordability: 5/5

Real Genius’ mortgage rates are competitive against Bankrate’s averages, easily accessible online and updated regularly. You can obtain estimates based on the amount you’re looking to borrow, your credit score, the type of property and its location without sharing your personal details. The lender’s origination fee runs $675, but lender credits typically offset this cost.

Availability: 4.5/5

Real Genius is available in most states and maintains branch locations in the Southeast. It offers conventional loans as well as some government-insured loans (FHA and VA), along with options to refinance your existing mortgage. It also offers jumbo loans and help with investment property financing.

Borrower experience: 4.5/5

Real Genius has been in business for 10 years (originally as ConsumerDirect Mortgage) and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. The lender was acquired by FirstBank in 2013. It has worked with more than 51,000 borrowers to date on $16 billion in loans. Along with the ability to see custom rate quotes in real time, Real Genius’ technology streamlines the process to allow for faster closings and lower costs. If you have questions about a mortgage, you can call 855-790-7811.

Refinancing with Real Genius

Real Genius offers both rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing options, and rates are advertised on its website. With a cash-out you might be able to tap up to 80 percent of your home’s value (more if you’re doing a VA refinance).

Alternatives to Real Genius

Real Genius customer ratings and reviews

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NMLS: 2389303

4.8

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

951 ratings

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This lender has 0 reviews.

Knowledge
Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
Level of service
Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
Professionalism
Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
Responsiveness
Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5
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95% of customers would recommend this lender.