Best Mortgage Lenders in South Carolina

Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions is widely regarded as one of the premier Mortgage Lenders in South Carolina.

Ready to explore your mortgage options in South Carolina? With Benzinga’s guide, it’s easy to find the perfect lender whether you’re planning to buy in Charleston or Hilton Head.  

Take a look at our top South Carolina mortgage lenders.

Quick Look at the Best Mortgage Lenders in South Carolina:

• Best for Bank Statement Loans: Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions
• Best Online Lender: Quicken Loans®
• Best for First-Time Home Buyers: Wells Fargo
• Best for FHA Loans in South Carolina: Better.com
• Best for Self-Employed Professionals: CrossCountry Mortgage
• Best for VA Loans: Veterans United

It’s all about finding the right fit. Your mortgage company should help you find the right mortgage, help you look into home buyer programs, and will offer great customer service, too.  

Here are some of the best South Carolina mortgage lenders on our list.

1. Best for Bank Statement Loans: Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions

Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions is a full-service mortgage lender offering traditional and portfolio mortgage loans. Among their many customized loan solutions is their Bank Statement product for self-employed borrowers in South Carolina. This loan does not require tax returns and includes a 1099 Income option for 1099 earners. 

• Loan amounts up to $3 million
• 12 or 24 months of personal or business bank statements
• Two years out of bankruptcy, short sale, foreclosure, or deed-in-lieu
• Owner-occupied, non-owner occupied, second homes located in South Carolina
• 1099 option available
• 40-year fixed interest only
• Delayed financing available
• Non-warrantable condos allowed

Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions offers a wide range of loan options allowing you to obtain any mortgage as long as qualification requirements are met. South Carolina residents can also refinance into any of these loans. The customer service team is easy to reach via email, phone, or the online contact form, and you can begin your journey by searching for a local advisor right on the website.

Quicken Loans lets you start your mortgage process right from its website. Use its interactive site to compare and select mortgage options. You’ll also find additional resources to answer questions about the home loan process. 

Not sure which loan is right for you? Start with the Quicken Loans mortgage loan calculator. Quicken Loans also offers customer service support to answer your questions.

3. Best for First-Time Home Buyers: Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo is a great option if you’re a first-time home buyer. It offers the familiarity and customer service that you would expect from a traditional bank. It also offers online resources to help answer your questions about the mortgage process.

Wells Fargo offers its First Mortgage loan program to help low-to-moderate income borrowers. This program provides low down payment options and assistance with closing costs. 

Wells Fargo can provide the support you need both online and in person.

4. Best for FHA Loans in SC: Better.com

Better, an online lender dedicated to helping you no matter your circumstance, understands that the mortgage process can be confusing, especially if you’re a self-employed professional. 

Its website resources can guide you through the mortgage process and what is required as a self-employed professional. Better also promises complete transparency and does not charge lender fees or commissions. 

Its customer service team is ready to help you by phone or by email at your convenience.

5. Best for Self-Employed Professionals: CrossCountry Mortgage

Confused about FHA loans? CrossCountry Mortgage can take some of the confusion away. Visit its website to explore the benefits and qualifications of an FHA loan and take advantage of its quick start form. 

The form asks for your basic information and an estimated price of the home you plan to buy. CrossCountry Mortgage uses this information to provide a quote and suggest the best mortgage options for your needs. 

Apply online once you’ve found the right option. 

6. Best for VA Loans: Veterans United

Veterans United specializes in helping qualified service members and veterans find the right mortgage. 

You can use its website to explore the service requirements and benefits of VA loans. You’ll also find the current VA loan rates and an affordability calculator. Request a quote from Veterans United while you’re online.

You’ll benefit from 24/7 customer service if you choose this lender. Veterans United also has military advisors on staff to help raise awareness and educate you about VA loans and homeownership.

It’s important to understand not all mortgages are the same. The right mortgage depends on a wide variety of personal factors. 

You should get familiar with common mortgage options to understand which option is best for you. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• You’ll need to choose a mortgage type. This is the mortgage program you use. Conventional mortgage or government-backed options are available.
• The mortgage type you choose will also come with a mortgage term. Your mortgage term is the length of time you’ll be repaying your mortgage. It will also include the type of interest you’ll pay on your mortgage.

Mortgage Types

Here are a few common mortgage types you should know about:

Conventional Loans

Conventional loans are loans that aren’t affiliated with any specific government program. There is no single set of guidelines or requirements for conventional loans. Talk with your lender about what each conventional loan requires. You can typically expect a required credit score of 620 or above and a debt-to-income ratio of 50% or less to qualify for a conventional loan.

FHA Loans

FHA loans are part of a mortgage program regulated and insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The benefits of an FHA loan include lower credit score requirements than most conventional loans and a down payment as low as 3.5%. FHA loans come with maximum loan limits that vary by county.

VA Loans

VA loans are government-backed loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. You must meet the service requirements set by the VA to qualify. The benefits of VA loans include lower interest rates, more lenient borrowing requirements and no down payment requirement in some cases.

Mortgage Terms

Here are the most common mortgage terms to become familiar with:

30-Year Fixed Loan

A 30-year fixed loan is a loan you repay over 30 years. The interest rate will not change during the lifetime of your home loan. This allows you to rely on monthly mortgage payments that will never change.

15-Year Fixed Loan

A 15-year fixed loan is similar to a 30-year fixed loan. It is a fixed-rate loan, so your interest rate won’t change during the lifetime of your loan. This mortgage term is repaid over a period of 15 years. You can expect higher monthly payments since you’re repaying the loan over a shorter period of time. You can also expect to pay less total interest because you’ll be making fewer total mortgage payments.

5/1 Adjustable-Rate-Mortgages (ARMs)

This is a hybrid mortgage term that offers the benefit of a fixed-rate loan for 5 years of your mortgage. Then your interest rate can change once per year until your mortgage is paid off. Other common ARMs include a 3/1, 7/1 and 10/1.

Which Mortgage Lender is Best for You?

Finding the right mortgage lender can make all the difference. Here are a few things to look for:

• Honesty: Your lender should be upfront with you about the costs and fees associated with getting a mortgage. Some lenders may charge more fees than others, so take this into consideration when comparing lenders.
• Good customer service: You’ll want to feel comfortable reaching out to your lender when you have a question and you can expect to receive a helpful answer from a good lender. Each lender should have a strong customer service system in place. 
• Information about your options: A good lender will want to help you find the right mortgage for your needs. You should be able to count on your lender to help you understand your options.

Lender Credit Score Minimums in South Carolina

You can expect lenders to take a close look at your credit score when you apply for your mortgage. Your credit score is based on information collected about you from creditors through the 3 major credit bureaus — Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. 

The information used to create your credit score comes from your credit report. Credit reports show important financial information like your payment and borrowing history. It also shows how much total debt you currently owe. 

Current Mortgage Rates in South Carolina

Mortgage rates are based on the current market, so you can expect them to change frequently. The personal mortgage rate a lender will offer you will also depend on factors such as your credit score, mortgage type and down payment amount. We constantly monitor current mortgage rates and update our mortgage rate tables to reflect the most recent data.

Average Days to Close on a Loan

You’ll enter the closing process after you’ve placed an offer on your home and it is accepted. Then you’ll need to obtain a homeowner’s insurance policy and show proof of it to your lender. 

Your lender will require you to make payments such as your down payment and any required closing costs. You’ll have paperwork to look through and sign before you can move into your new home.

Closing time can vary. Here are the average days to close on a loan from our recommended lenders.

Find Your Mortgage Today

Start comparing lenders to find a mortgage to help you buy or refinance a home in South Carolina. 

Research the mortgage types you qualify for and ask lenders to help you understand terms before you commit. Start with our online tool to compare your options now. 

Frequently Asked Questions