These days, trying to get a mortgage seems more difficult than literally trying to move a mountain by the use of physical force. There was a time when individuals could count on graduating from school, going to college and getting a decent job where they could then afford to buy a home, purchase a car, and support a family. There would even be money left for family vacations and retirement funds.

Unfortunately, that is not the current state of things. At the moment, people are working two, three and even four jobs. They're finding it difficult to put food on the table, much less get a mortgage. That might make the very idea of home ownership seem so far out of reach that the average individual has almost completely stopped considering it.

Working With The Best Mortgage Lender

That being said, it is still possible to get a decent rate on a mortgage. The key is knowing where to look and who to work with. Like anything else, a person who is determined enough to purchase their own home will eventually find one that they can either purchase or build for a rate that fits their budget. It all comes down to doing your homework, knowing the market and being willing to work hard enough to ensure that it all works out.

Another key component is finding the right mortgage lender. Some are definitely easier to work with than others. You want a mortgage lender that will give you a good rate, but that's not the only thing involved here. You also need a lender that you can reach when you have questions and one that will work with you if you run into a few rough patches along the way.

When you take all of these things into consideration, there aren't that many mortgage lenders that prove to be shining examples of the industry. Fortunately, there are a few.

Here are 20 of the best mortgage lenders currently operating. 

20. Chase

There are a number of potential benefits to using Chase as your mortgage lender, not the least of which includes the fact that people with less than perfect credit can often be approved for a loan. In fact, you can apply for a loan through them with a minimum credit score of 620. That's not a terrible score, but it's certainly not considered excellent, either.

They also have competitive rates and they have a number of cash back programs that can get you anywhere from $500 all the way up to $2,500 in cash. That's definitely an incentive for anyone, especially someone who's buying a home.

19. Flagstar Bank

If you're building a brand new home from the ground up, this is one of the best mortgage lenders you can choose, largely because they have a tendency to work with people who prefer new construction more than just about anyone else in the country. You do have to have a pretty good credit score in order to get qualified for a loan through them, as they won't even talk to you if you have a score less than 680.

You might find out whether or not you've been approved for a loan within 7 to 10 business days of applying, but you shouldn't expect to be able to close on a house for a little more than a month at best.

18. Mr. Cooper

This is a mortgage lender that a lot of people have never even heard of, yet they can almost become your best friend during the time that you're going through the home-buying process. You have to have a decent credit score to get approved, but if you have 620 or above, you should be good to go. They typically take anywhere from 30 to 45 days to close your application, longer than some people want to wait.

That being said, they also have rates that are often well below the national average. The truly great thing about them is that when you're borrowing money because you're trying to purchase a home that might be slightly outside your price range, they're usually willing to work with you.

17. PNC Bank

This mortgage lender might seem fairly run-of-the-mill for most people. Like so many of the others on this list, they take about four to six weeks to approve an application. You must have a credit score of at least 620 and they have rates that are slightly below the national average. What makes them special? They have a number of special programs for medical professionals.

If you just happen to be involved in that particular line of work and you're trying to buy a home, this is probably the first place you should look because you might be able to get an excellent deal that you won't find anywhere else.

16. Better.com

These days, people seem to do almost everything online. If you go through this company, you can apply for a mortgage online, too. The very thought of speaking with a mortgage lender either face-to-face or over the telephone can send chills through some people. It's easy enough to understand why.

After all, you're basically telling someone who’s going to control your life for the next 20 or 30 years everything you've done since birth and you're signing your name in blood every time you turn around. For some, it's just less stressful to do it online. This is a company that offers competitive rates, often below the national average. You can qualify for a loan if you have a credit score of 620 or above and you'll usually have an answer in about a month.

15. Ally

Maybe you want to get pre-approved for a loan so you can take some of the stress off your finances. If that's the case, this is a great option for you. They have roughly the same qualifications that the overwhelming majority of lenders discussed so far have. Therefore, you need to have decent credit to apply, but it doesn't have to be great.

The best thing is that you can get pre-approved, something that gives you real buying power. If you know how much money you’re approved for, then you know what type of offer you can put on a house without putting yourself in a bad position. Furthermore, that pre-approval doesn't necessarily count against your credit score like it would if it were a hard inquiry.

14. Bank of America

Some people can't stand the idea of using a big bank for the mortgage and others wouldn't have it any other way. There's no doubt that Corporate America can be frustrating beyond words. However, it's also true that you might get some perks with a big bank as your mortgage lender that just aren't available through any other means.

Think about the potential to be able to reach someone after hours or pay everything online as opposed to doing business the old-fashioned way. If you are interested in using a big bank as your mortgage lender, Bank of America is the clear favorite. You need a credit score of 620 or above and you can typically close on a new home in four to six weeks. At the moment, they also have rates that are below the national average.

13. Guaranteed Rate

What if you're trying to buy a home, but you simply don't qualify through the traditional three major credit bureaus? Maybe you had a bankruptcy that occurred fairly recently or perhaps you've had more than your fair share of credit problems that have essentially marred your credit rating for the next several years.

Maybe you don't really have any credit to speak of. Some people who have been in bad marriages or failed relationships find themselves in these types of situations, largely through no fault of their own. If you're looking for a company that will look at the whole picture and not just your credit rating, this is a great place to start. They also have a tendency to close on homes faster than most. In fact, you might get approved and be able to close on a new home in less than a month.

12. Northpointe Bank

Let's say that you make enough money to comfortably pay for a mortgage every month, but you don't have a significant amount of money saved up as a down payment. Does that necessarily preclude you from getting a mortgage at all? Fortunately, the answer is no. However, not all mortgage lenders will be willing to talk to you if you don't have $10,000, $20,000 or even more to put forth as a down payment.

Northpointe Bank will talk to you. They are well known as the foremost mortgage lender for individuals who don't have a down payment. That's right, some of their clients are only capable of putting a few thousand dollars down. Others don't have a down payment at all and they still get approved.

11. PenFed Credit Union

Sometimes, there are a lot of benefits to doing business through a credit union. The biggest benefit here is that you won't spend nearly as much in application and administrative fees as you will practically everywhere else. In some cases, they waive these fees entirely. They have good rates, better than the national average.

Moreover, you can qualify for a loan with a credit score of 620 or better. It usually takes them anywhere from four to six weeks to close on a home but if you and the person selling the home really need something done faster, they'll work to accommodate those needs.

10. Rocket Mortgage

There are several things about this company that are different from most of the others on the list. For starters, people with less than ideal credit can qualify. In fact, you only need a credit score of 580 or higher to apply for a loan. They have flexible loan terms which work well for individuals who are either building or rebuilding their credit.

Their rates are slightly higher, as they tend to match the national average. That being said, it's easier to qualify here and you can usually close on a new home in five to six weeks.

9. North American Funding

This is another company that specializes in helping people with lower credit scores qualify for a mortgage. In this case, your score needs to be 580 or better. The other thing that really sets them apart is that they have rates below the national average so you're not being penalized for having a lower credit score. They also tend to close on new loans in about two weeks, far faster than most.

8. Truist

This is another company that's great for those who prefer to apply for a mortgage online. Everything can be done online from start to finish. Your credit score should be at least 620 and you can expect rates that are slightly below the national average. It takes about a month to close a deal, maybe a little more. On average, they're competitive with virtually every other company out there and you can do everything from the comfort of your own home.

7. loanDepot

If you need to move fast, this is the company that you want to talk to first. They can usually close on a new home in as little as 20 days. That's far superior to waiting four to six weeks (or even longer) like you will with so many of the companies on this list. They have rates below the national average. Also, you'll need a credit score of at least 620 in order to qualify.

6. Pennymac

If you don't have great credit, this is another option for you. In fact, people with a credit score as low as 580 can qualify for a home loan here. Their rates are fairly competitive, typically about the same as the national average. You'll have to have a down payment in order to qualify, but it's not excessive. In fact, you can get by with one as low as 3.5%. That's a lot better than the 10% or even 20% required by some lending companies.

5. Bethpage

This is a good option because it is a credit union, meaning that you can save tens of thousands of dollars on fees throughout the life of the loan. You have to have decent credit in order to qualify, 620 or better. The good thing is that your down payment can be relatively low. In fact, they only require 3% of the purchase price.

4. Veterans United

Aside from the obvious fact that you have to be a veteran, you'll need a credit score of 620 or better in order to qualify here. The reason that this particular company is so popular is because they don't require a down payment at all. It's a solid option for people who know they can bring in enough income to pay for a mortgage. 

3. Quicken Loans

The thing that makes this one stand out is that they have all kinds of loan options to fit your needs. That makes them the perfect fit for anyone who is dealing with some type of special circumstances. You can also qualify with a credit score of 580 or better.

2. Caliber Home Loans

What if you're self-employed and you want to purchase a home? Anyone who's ever tried to go through a traditional lender as a self-employed individual knows that most won't even talk to them and the ones that do make it an absolute nightmare.

This particular lender specializes in dealing with only those who are self-employed. They have rates below the national average. Also, you can typically qualify for a loan with a credit score of 620 or better. They also have loads of repayment options available as well as flexible terms to fit your needs.

1. AmeriSave

Maybe you're looking for someone who can essentially tailor a home loan to fit your exact specifications as opposed to you trying to fit into something that's used as a one-size-fits-all solution. This particular lender exists for this sole purpose. They'll customize everything to your exact needs and they'll do it all with nothing more than a soft inquiry.  It won't count against your credit rating.

This gives you the chance to find out whether or not you’re pre-approved. It also gives you a chance to know exactly what you’ll be required to pay each month.  This also does no damage to your credit score.

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