Best Mortgage Lenders in Texas

Texas is truly a place like no other. It’s the 2nd largest state in the U.S. in terms of area and each region has its own vibe and personality. Whether you like urban living, lounging on the beach or prefer a country lifestyle, you can find a home in the Lone Star State. Here’s your guide to the best mortgage lenders in Texas so you get a home just where you want it. Don’t start with a mortgage broker when you can do your own research and start the homebuying process today.

Best Mortgage Lenders in Texas

• Best for Bank Statement Loans: Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions
• Best for Online Loans: Rocket Mortgage
• Best for Online: guaranteed Rate
• Best for Service Members: Veterans United
• Best for the Self-Employed: CrossCountry Mortgage

The 5 Best Mortgage Companies in Texas

Ready to find a mortgage? You have lots of options in the Lone Star State. Here are the 6 best mortgage companies in Texas, based on our extensive research of these financial institutions. Remember, mortgage interest rates will vary depending on your situation, and loan options, origination fees and the type of loan may shift depending on your needs.

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

Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions is a full-service mortgage lender offering traditional and portfolio Non-QM mortgage loans. Angel Oak is licensed in 45 states and offers competitive mortgage rates and quick closing times. 

Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions offers a wide range of mortgage solutions for various needs. Whether you are looking to purchase a home, cash-out on your current property, or refinance at a different rate, they have options for you.

With loan amounts available up to $3.5 million, they can support you in financing properties of different values. They cater to primary residences, second homes, and investment properties, and accommodate various types of properties such as single-family homes, townhomes, and condos.

As an added convenience, they offer options for self-employed borrowers and real estate investors who may not have tax returns readily available. They also provide opportunities for those with 1099 income and offer government loan products like FHA, USDA, and VA loans.

With competitive rates on conventional purchase and refinance, Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions ensures that you have options to suit your financial goals.

Rocket Mortgage® keeps things simple. The website is easy to navigate. It outlines the mortgage process clearly and you can complete the whole process online.

It offers an extensive library of educational materials, and it has won several awards for its customer service. Rocket Mortgage® offers mortgages for refinancing, conventional and proprietary mortgages and FHA, VA and USDA mortgages. 

3. Best for Online: guaranteed Rate

guaranteed Rate offers a straightforward online mortgage experience. You can complete the whole process without speaking to a single person if that’s your preference.

guaranteed Rate boasts high customer ratings. Its rates are posted online so you can compare it with other Texas lenders. guaranteed Rate offers extensive educational resources and conventional mortgages, jumbo loans, FHA loans and VA loans. 

4. Best for Service Members: Veterans United

If you’ve logged some time in the military, Veterans United’s loans will likely be the best deal. Unlike other veteran-marketed loan programs, Veterans United only accepts active duty and veteran military members.

In addition to no-down-payment loans, you’ll also eliminate the private mortgage insurance you’ll have to pay with other mortgages.

Veterans United is also more forgiving of lower credit scores. Interest rates are lower than average.

5. Best for Self-Employed: CrossCountry Mortgage

CrossCountry Mortgage makes it easy for all types of home buyers to get approved for a mortgage. Their flexible requirements can help you get financing, with no employment or income verification and no minimum DTI. CrossCountry Mortgage offers traditional loan terms, as well as more flexible home payment plans with their 40-year loan program.

It's also easier to get approved if you're self-employed. Tax returns are not required and you'll only need one year of self-employment income history and a minimum credit score of 580. CrossCountry Mortgage can also help you get approved on assets alone, like your bank statements, stocks and bonds, or retirement accounts.

Browse Best Mortgage Lenders by City

You’ll be able to see several options when you purchase or refinance quotes. You’ll see different mortgage types and mortgage terms.

Dallas
Houston
Austin
San Antonio
McAllen

Mortgages Explained

A mortgage type refers to whether or not a government agency insures your mortgage. Your mortgage term is the maximum amount of time your mortgage will last. Remember, your monthly mortgage payment depends on the property taxes, mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance and other costs you’ll incur.

Types of Mortgages

Here are some common mortgage types and terms for potential homebuyers. Remember, loan approval depends on a range of things, including the purchase price. At the same time, your monthly income is just one part of the process because these loans can make it easier or harder to get approved depending on your credit score and other factors.

Conventional Mortgages

A conventional mortgage is a mortgage that isn’t backed by the federal government. Conventional mortgages usually require higher credit scores than a government-backed mortgage. Planning to make a down payment of less than 20%? You may need to pay for mortgage insurance as well. Mortgage insurance is insurance that protects a lender if a borrower stops paying on a mortgage. 

FHA Mortgages

Private lenders offer FHA mortgages. The Federal Housing Administration sets the rules for these mortgages and helps insure them. These mortgages have relatively low credit score requirements and you may be able to make a down payment as low as 3.5% if you qualify. You must pay for mortgage insurance if you get an FHA loan.

VA Mortgages

VA mortgages help current service members, veterans and certain spouses purchase homes. The Department of Veterans Affairs oversees these mortgages and backs them, but private lenders offer these loans. VA mortgages typically have no down payment requirement and no mortgage insurance requirement. 

30-Year Fixed Mortgages

A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage lasts for 30 years. You can speed up the process if you make extra payments. The fixed rate refers to your mortgage rate, which stays the same for the life of your mortgage. Your monthly payment stays the same, too. 

15-Year Fixed Mortgages

A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage lasts for 15 years. This means that your monthly payments are higher than they would be for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. You pay less in interest over the life of the mortgage. 

5/1 ARM

An ARM is an adjustable-rate mortgage. As the name indicates, ARMs have an interest rate that changes. Lenders change the rate in response to economic conditions. These mortgages usually start at a fixed rate. A 5/1 ARM has a 5-year period with a fixed rate. After that, lenders can change your interest rate once per year. This means that your monthly payment may go up or down as well. 

Everyone’s situation is different. The mortgage that’s right for one borrower might not be right for another. Get multiple quotes, review them carefully and go with the mortgage that’s right for you. There are different upfront costs and mortgage preapproval rules depending on the product and the lender. You can use mortgage calculators to learn which loan is best for you, but you also want to consider average mortgage rates and other related costs as they can vary.

Use a mortgage calculator or affordability calculator to factor in things like property taxes, private mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance, etc.

Which Mortgage Lender is Best for You?

As you decide on the right type of mortgage, you also need to decide on a lender. Here are a few things to consider as you evaluate potential lenders:

Reputation

Is this a lender your family or friends have worked with? What kind of experiences have they had? What kind of reviews does the lender have? Does it have complaints with the Better Business Bureau? How were those complaints addressed? Look for a lender with a solid reputation. You should have your own level of risk tolerance. Remember that mortgage debt is safer with a more solid lender.

Service

How does the lender respond to your quote request? Did the lender ask questions to get to know you and what you were looking for? Do you feel valued, or do you feel like just another customer? Your mortgage is one of the most significant financial transactions you will ever make. You deserve to feel valued during every step of the process. 

Options

Does the lender offer the type of mortgage you’re interested in? If you’re a first time home buyer, does it have options that are geared toward you? If you’re refinancing, what options does it have? Take a look at the options the lender has and see whether it will be able to meet your needs. 

Technology

Do you want to complete the application process online? Do you want to stay connected with a mobile app? Look for lenders who have the technology options that can fit your lifestyle. 

Programs

A quality mortgage lender offers programs to its customers often, allowing you to reduce your rates or payments. There are several hardship programs that could help you, programs that will lower your rates and even programs that will help you catch up without spending more money on extra fees.

Keep looking if you get a sense that a lender isn’t right for you. There are plenty of lenders out there and it’s worth it to find the perfect fit for you. 

Lender Credit Score Minimums in Texas

Lenders consider how you’ve handled credit in the past when they approve you for a mortgage. Your credit history also impacts your interest rate. One measurement lenders look at is your credit score. A computer model generates your credit score. The model takes into account:

• Your debt payment history
• How long you’ve had your accounts
• Whether you’ve had accounts in collections
• The percentage of credit you’re using
• Whether you’ve filed for bankruptcy

The computer model generates a 3-digit number between 300-850. The higher your credit score, the better. Here are several Texas lender minimum credit scores:

Current Mortgage Rates in Texas

Several factors impact your mortgage rate. These include your credit history, the size of your down payment and your mortgage amount. Rates change daily and lenders adjust rates up or down to reflect changes in the economy and in the housing market. We update mortgage rates frequently to reflect the most relevant information. 

Average Days to Close on a Loan

Closing signals the end of your mortgage journey. Your lender has approved you for your mortgage, and all that’s left is your final paperwork. You, your real estate agent and your lender decide on a closing date. Your closing paperwork must be ready at least 3 days before that date. Look for any changes from your original loan estimate. If anything is unexpected or confusing, contact your lender. 

At your closing meeting, you’ll sign all the documents and pay your closing costs and down payment. Lenders take time to review your documents and make a decision about your mortgage. Here are the average closing times for several Texas lenders: 

Buying Your Texas Home

Are you worried about coming up with a down payment? Consider one of Texas’ home buyer programs. The Home for Texas Heroes loan program offers low interest rates and down payment assistance for teachers, firefighters, police officers and veterans. The Home Sweet Texas Home program offers assistance to home buyers with low or moderate incomes.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs offers a first time home buyer program. These are just a few of the programs Texas offers to help you buy a home. Look for both state and local programs to help you purchase or refinance your home. 

Frequently Asked Questions