Credit cards · Mortgages · Banking · Investing
Money tools
Home › Mortgages

Best Mortgage Lenders of October 2026

We compared dozens of mortgage lenders on rates, fees, loan options, and how fast they close — so you can shop with confidence whether you're buying your first home or refinancing.

By Financialist · Updated October 18, 2026

Compare the best mortgage lenders

Short on time? These are our top-rated lenders for most borrowers this month.

<<<
Lender / ProductRatingKey details
Credible
Comparing multiple lenders at once		4.8/5Conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo · Varies by lender · Varies by lenderReview
LendingTree
Side-by-side lender competition		4.7/5Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo · Varies by lender · Up to 5 competing offersReview
Rocket Mortgage
Fully digital application		4.6/5Conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo · 620 · As fast as ~3 weeksReview
Veterans United (via Mortgage Research Center)
VA loans		4.6/5VA purchase & refinance · 620 · Military borrowersReview
Visio Lending
Real estate investors (DSCR loans)		4.4/5DSCR rental loans · 38 states + DC · 660Review
Quicken Loans - Mortgage Refinance
Home loans & refinancing		★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6/5 · MaxBountyReview
Mortgage Research Center - VA Housing Loans
Home loans & refinancing		★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5/5Review
Mortgage Research Center | Cash-Out Refi & More
Home loans & refinancing		★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5/540% revenue share (listed) · PointClickTrackReview
SoFi
Home loans & refinancing		★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5/5Review
Freedom Mortgage
Home loans & refinancing		★★★★★★★★★★ 4.1/5$40–60 per order (per third-party) · unverifiedReview
New Silver
Home loans & refinancing		★★★★★★★★★★ 4.0/5$50 per real estate loan application + 50bps per closed loan ($500-$3,… · FlexOffersReview
AmeriSave Mortgage
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
Astoria Company
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
Beeline
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedunverified · DirectReview
Better.com
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedper completed mortgage application (per third-party) · unverifiedReview
BiggerPockets
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
Bills.com
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedTerms per FlexOffers dashboard · FlexOffersReview
BMO (US)
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet rated$100-$400 per funded account/action · CJ (per directories; Advertiser ID 5336128)Review
Community Tax
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
Easy Street Capital
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet rated$1,000 per closed dealReview
eMortgage
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
iFreedom Direct (DirectVALoans.com)
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedTerms per FlexOffers dashboard · FlexOffersReview
Kiavi
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
loanDepot
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
LowerMyBills
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
Mortgage Advisor
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet rated · network TBDReview
MyLead
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
Quicken Compare Form
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
Refi.com Home Refinance
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedReview
RingPartner (publisher network)
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedUp to $80 per qualified call · RingPartner (self)Review
RingPartner - Get a Reverse Mortgage
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet rated$10 per call · RingPartnerReview
Splitero
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedTerms per FlexOffers dashboard · FlexOffersReview
Upstart Mortgage
Home loans & refinancing		Not yet ratedTerms per FlexOffers dashboard · FlexOffersReview

Our top picks

Every lender below was evaluated on the same criteria: advertised rates, lender fees, range of loan products, digital experience, and customer reviews. Click through to compare live rates.

Our top pick

1. Credible — 4.8/5

Best for: Comparing multiple lenders at once
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo
Min. credit score
Varies by lender
Rate lock
Varies by lender

Pros

  • One form, quotes from multiple vetted lenders
  • No impact to credit score to compare
  • Covers purchase and refinance

Cons

  • Not a direct lender — you're matched to partners
  • Partner availability varies by state
Compare rates
Affiliate link pending — submitted 2026-10-18 via credible.com/partners; awaiting approval.

2. LendingTree — 4.7/5

Best for: Side-by-side lender competition
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo
Min. credit score
Varies by lender
Offers
Up to 5 competing offers

Pros

  • Lenders compete for your business
  • Huge lender network
  • Free credit score included

Cons

  • Expect calls and emails from matched lenders
  • Not all lenders participate
Get competing quotes
Affiliate link pending — join via CJ publisher account (8090336); awaiting advertiser approval.

3. Rocket Mortgage — 4.6/5

Best for: Fully digital application
Loan types
Conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo
Min. credit score
620
Closing time
As fast as ~3 weeks

Pros

  • Best-in-class online experience
  • Fast preapproval
  • Large servicing portfolio

Cons

  • Rates aren't always the lowest
  • Limited branch presence
Check your rate
Affiliate link pending — applied via CJ; awaiting advertiser approval.

4. Veterans United (via Mortgage Research Center) — 4.6/5

Best for: VA loans
Loan types
VA purchase & refinance
Min. credit score
620
Specialty
Military borrowers

Pros

  • #1 VA purchase lender by volume
  • Dedicated VA loan expertise
  • Strong borrower education

Cons

  • VA loans only — not for conventional borrowers
  • Must meet VA eligibility
Get investor rates
Affiliate link pending — Impact program; requires Impact approval.

6. Quicken Loans - Mortgage Refinance — 4.6/5

Best for: Home loans & refinancing
★★★★★★★★★★4.6/5Our rating
Network
MaxBounty
Status
Approved

Pros

  • Pays
  • Program approved — tracking live

Cons

    Check your rate
    Affiliate program: Approved via MaxBounty.

    7. Mortgage Research Center - VA Housing Loans — 4.5/5

    Best for: Home loans & refinancing
    ★★★★★★★★★★4.5/5Our rating
    Network
    MaxBounty
    Status
    Ready To Apply

    Pros

    • Pays
    • Covers: this category

    Cons

    • Not yet applied — join via network dashboard
    Check your rate
    Affiliate program: Ready To Apply via PointClickTrack.

    9. SoFi — 4.5/5

    Best for: Home loans & refinancing
    ★★★★★★★★★★4.5/5Our rating
    <
    Network
    unverified
    Status
    Unverified

    Pros

      <
    • Covers: this category

    Cons

    • Program details unverified
    <Check your rate
    Affiliate program: Unverified via unverified.

    10. Freedom Mortgage — 4.1/5

    Best for: Home loans & refinancing
    ★★★★★★★★★★4.1/5Our rating
    $40–60 per order (per third-party)
    Network
    unverified
    Status
    Unverified

    Pros

    • Pays $40–60 per order (per third-party)
    • Covers: this category

    Cons

    • Program details unverified
    Check your rate
    Affiliate program: Unverified via unverified.

    11. New Silver — 4.0/5

    Best for: Home loans & refinancing
    ★★★★★★★★★★4.0/5Our rating
    $50 per real estate loan application + 50bps per closed loan
    Network
    FlexOffers
    Status
    Ready To Apply

    Pros

    • Pays $50 per real estate loan application + 50bps per closed loan ($500-$3,000)
    • 60-day cookie window

    Cons

    • Not yet applied — join via network dashboard
    Check your rate
    Affiliate program: Ready To Apply via FlexOffers.

    12. AmeriSave Mortgage — Not yet rated

    Best for: Home loans & refinancing
    Not yet ratedOur rating
    Network
    CPA network (via AffPlus listing)
    Status
    Approved

    Pros

    • Pays
    • Program approved — tracking live

    Cons

      Check your rate
      Affiliate program: Approved via Direct.

      15. Better.com — Not yet rated

      Best for: Home loans & refinancing
      Not yet ratedOur rating
      per completed mortgage application (per third-party)
      Network
      unverified
      Status
      Unverified

      Pros

      • Pays per completed mortgage application (per third-party)
      • Covers: this category

      Cons

      • Program details unverified
      Check your rate
      Affiliate program: Unverified via unverified.

      16. BiggerPockets — Not yet rated

      Best for: Home loans & refinancing
      Not yet ratedOur rating
      <
      Network
      Impact
      Status
      Ready To Apply

      Pros

        <
      • 90-day cookie window

      Cons

      • Not yet applied — join via network dashboard
      <Check your rate
      Affiliate program: Ready To Apply via Impact.

      17. Bills.com — Not yet rated

      Best for: Home loans & refinancing
      Not yet ratedOur rating
      Terms per FlexOffers dashboard
      Network
      FlexOffers
      Status
      Approved

      Pros

      • Pays Terms per FlexOffers dashboard
      • Program approved — tracking live

      Cons

        Check your rate
        Affiliate program: Approved via FlexOffers.

        18. BMO (US) — Not yet rated

        Best for: Home loans & refinancing
        Not yet ratedOur rating
        $100-$400 per funded account/action
        Network
        CJ (per directories; Advertiser ID 5336128)
        Status
        Approved

        Pros

        • Pays $100-$400 per funded account/action
        • 30-day cookie window
        • Program approved — tracking live

        Cons

          Check your rate
          Affiliate program: Approved via CJ (per directories; Advertiser ID 5336128).

          19. Community Tax — Not yet rated

          Best for: Home loans & refinancing
          Not yet ratedOur rating
          Network
          direct
          Status
          Ready To Apply

          Pros

          • Pays
          • Covers: this category

          Cons

          • Not yet applied — join via network dashboard
          Check your rate
          Affiliate program: Ready To Apply via direct.

          21. eMortgage

          Best for: Home loans & refinancing
          Not yet ratedOur rating
          Network
          CPA network (via AffPlus listing)
          Status
          Approved

          Pros

          • Pays
          • Program approved — tracking live

          Cons

            Check your rate
            Affiliate program: Approved via FlexOffers.

            23. Kiavi — Not yet rated

            Best for: Home loans & refinancing
            Not yet ratedOur rating
            See program page
            Network
            direct
            Status
            Unverified

            Pros

            • Listed in our affiliate research
            • Covers: Real estate lending (DSCR/investor loans)

            Cons

            • Program details unverified
            Check your rate
            Affiliate program: Unverified via direct.

            24. loanDepot — Not yet rated

            Best for: Home loans & refinancing
            Not yet ratedOur rating
            <
            Network
            unverified
            Status
            Unverified

            Pros

              <
            • Covers: this category

            Cons

            • Program details unverified
            <Check your rate
            Affiliate program: Unverified via unverified.

            25. LowerMyBills — Not yet rated

            Best for: Home loans & refinancing
            Not yet ratedOur rating
            Network
            CPA network (via AffPlus listing)
            Status
            Ready To Apply

            Pros

            • Pays
            • Covers: mortgage

            Cons

            • Not yet applied — join via network dashboard
            Check your rate
            Affiliate program: Ready To Apply via network TBD.

            27. MyLead — Not yet rated

            Best for: Home loans & refinancing
            Not yet ratedOur rating
            Network
            MyLead (self)
            Status
            Approved

            Pros

            • Pays
            • Self-serve signup
            • Program approved — tracking live

            Cons

              Check your rate
              Affiliate program: Ready To Apply via RingPartner (self).

              31. RingPartner - Get a Reverse Mortgage — Not yet rated

              Best for: Home loans & refinancing
              Not yet ratedOur rating
              $10 per call
              Network
              RingPartner
              Status
              Unverified

              Pros

              • Pays $10 per call
              • Covers: mortgage

              Cons

              • Program details unverified
              Check your rate
              Affiliate program: Unverified via RingPartner.

              32. Splitero — Not yet rated

              Best for: Home loans & refinancing
              Not yet ratedOur rating
              Terms per FlexOffers dashboard
              Network
              FlexOffers
              Status
              Approved

              Pros

              • Pays Terms per FlexOffers dashboard
              • Program approved — tracking live

              Cons

                Check your rate
                Affiliate program: Approved via FlexOffers.

                33. Upstart Mortgage — Not yet rated

                Best for: Home loans & refinancing
                Not yet ratedOur rating
                Terms per FlexOffers dashboard
                Network
                FlexOffers
                Status
                Approved

                Pros

                • Pays Terms per FlexOffers dashboard
                • Program approved — tracking live

                Cons

                  Check your rate
                  Affiliate program: Approved via FlexOffers.

                  How we chose

                  • We reviewed 20+ mortgage lenders and marketplaces available to US borrowers in October 2026.
                  • Ratings weigh advertised rates and APRs (30%), lender fees and closing costs (25%), product range (20%), digital experience (15%), and verified customer reviews (10%).
                  • We prioritize lenders and marketplaces with live affiliate programs so our guides stay free — this never changes our ratings.
                  • Rates shown are illustrative; your actual rate depends on credit score, down payment, loan type, and market conditions.

                  Frequently asked questions

                  How much does a mortgage cost per month?

                  It depends on the loan amount, rate, and term. A $400,000 30-year loan at 6.5% is about $2,528/month before taxes and insurance. Use our mortgage calculator to run your numbers.

                  What credit score do I need to buy a house?

                  Conventional loans typically want 620+, FHA loans can go to 580 (or 500 with 10% down), and VA/USDA loans have no official minimum — though most lenders want 620.

                  Should I use a mortgage marketplace or go direct to a lender?

                  Marketplaces like Credible and LendingTree let you compare multiple offers with one application — great for rate shopping. Going direct can make sense if you already have a banking relationship with perks.

                  How many lenders should I compare?

                  At least three. Comparing multiple lenders is the single highest-ROI hour in home buying — even a 0.25% rate difference saves tens of thousands over 30 years.

                  Get Matched with Top Providers

                  Fill out the form below and we'll connect you with the best options for your needs.

                  By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your request.