You can get a VA loan with just about any lender anywhere, right?
Possibly.
But some VA lenders are just better than others.
Yes, many mortgage lenders offer VA loans, but they don’t specialize in the loan type.
For that reason, we’ve compiled this list of the best VA loan companies and/or lenders available in the marketplace. We’ve selected them based on their specialization in VA loans, as well as – in some cases – other financial services they provide.
The list is presented in no special order, but we have given the top three slots to lenders who specialize in loans and/or financial services for consumers with military service backgrounds.
10 Best VA Loan Lenders in 2018
- Veterans United*
- USAA*
- Navy Federal Credit Union*
- Quicken Loans
- JG Wentworth
- Loan Depot
- FlagStar
- Wells Fargo
- Prime Lending
- LendingTree
*represent lenders who specialize in those with military service backgrounds
If you want to see VA loan rates, here’s a quick look:
Veterans United Home Loans
The biggest advantage of Veterans United is that it’s a mortgage lender established specifically for the benefit of providing VA loans to veterans. The company was founded in 2002, in Columbia Missouri – where it’s still located.
The company now has more than 2,400 employees operating in 25 offices across the country.
Not only do they have in-house processing, underwriting and closing teams, but they also work with former senior enlisted members from each branch of the armed forces.
These military advisers have made it their mission to educate veterans about homeownership and the benefits of VA loans.
They offer mortgages for both purchases and refinances of existing VA loans. They currently offer fixed rate mortgages with terms of 15 years, 30 years, and adjustable-rate VA mortgages.
They also provide 24/7 customer service, which is unusual in the mortgage industry.
Veterans United’s website is extremely comprehensive, walking the veteran through the entire VA mortgage process. They offer related services, such as Veterans United Realty, which represents a network of veteran-friendly real estate agents.
As well, they offer the Veterans United Lighthouse program, which is a free service designed to help homebuyers improve their financial profile in advance of the homebuying process.
USAA
USAA is another financial services company set up with the military in mind. In fact, USAA was founded in 1922 by a group of 25 US Army officers, primarily to provide mutual self-insurance for automobile coverage.
They’ve since expanded to many other financial services, including mortgages, and especially VA loans.
The service claims nearly 12 million members. In order to work with the company, you have to meet certain military service requirements, or be the spouse or child of a current member.
USAA offers VA fixed rate mortgages, with 30, 20, 15 and 10-year terms. They also offer the VA 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage. Loans are available for both purchase and refinance.
But in addition, USAA also offers conventional mortgages.
This could be important because there are certain situations where a conventional mortgage may be preferable to a VA loan, in addition to the fact that the veteran may want to retain VA eligibility for a different property.
One of the major advantages to getting a VA loan through USAA is the wide variety of other financial services they provide. You can start out with a mortgage, and then add services as you need them.
Or you could be a current USAA customer with another financial product, taking advantage of the VA loan programs they offer.
In addition to mortgage financing, USAA offers banking services, many insurance products, as well as investing and financial planning.
Navy Federal Credit Union
Navy Federal Credit Union, or simply Navy Federal, was founded in 1933, specifically to work with members of the Navy. However, it has since expanded to cover all members of the military, regardless of branch.
It even extends to members of the Army and Air National Guard, Delayed Entry Program (DEP), DoD Officer Candidate/ROTC, DoD Reservists, veterans, retirees and annuitants.
One of the major advantages of dealing with Navy Federal is that it is a credit union. In fact, it’s the largest credit union in the US, in terms of both asset size and membership.
Navy Federal currently has more than 7.5 million members, and over $90 billion in assets. And as a credit union, they also offer complete banking services, IRAs, credit cards, car loans, personal loans and student loans.
For VA loans, Navy Federal offers both 15 year and 30 year fixed rate loans, but no adjustable-rate loans.
They also offer VA Streamline Refinances, which enable you to do an interest rate reduction refinance loan (IRRRL) on an existing VA mortgage to lower your rate. One of the benefits of the streamline refinance is that no appraisal or inspections are required on your home.
The credit union has nearly 300 branches across the country, and nearly 580 ATMs. They also maintain 24/7 customer service through their call centers.
Quicken Loans
Based in Detroit, Michigan, Quicken Loans, along with its Rocket Mortgage arm, is the largest retail mortgage lender in the country. They’ve closed more than $400 billion in mortgage volume between 2013 and 2017.
The company operates in all 50 states, and has more than 24,000 employees nationally.
If it has a significant drawback, it’s that it has no local branches. Quicken Loans operates entirely online. But that also has its advantages. You can make application online, and get a loan decision issued in a matter of minutes after completing your application.
Quicken Loans offers VA mortgages. They’ll work directly with the Veteran’s Administration to get your Certificate of Eligibility, and other paperwork needed to qualify for the loan.
One big advantage with Quicken Loans is that they service nearly all of their loans in-house. That means the servicing on your loan is unlikely to be sold to another company, as is usually the case with most mortgage lenders.
Quicken Loans offers fixed rate, 30, 20 and 15 year loans, as well as the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage for VA loans. They even offered Jumbo VA loans for as much is $1.5 million. They do require a minimum credit score 620.
And like some of the other lenders on this list, they also offer conventional and FHA mortgages, in case you want to save your eligibility for another property.
JG Wentworth
JG Wentworth is a direct mortgage lender, in business since 1992. They maintain a policy of “customer-first” mortgage lending, helping the borrower to feel in control during every step of the process.
The company also offer some of the lowest interest rates in the industry. The company has an A+ rating (ranging from A+ to F) with the Better Business Bureau, where they have been accredited since 1996.
As a full-service mortgage lender, JG Wentworth offers conventional and FHA mortgages, in addition to VA loans. The company offers VA loans for both purchases and refinancing.
On the refinancing side, they offer the interest rate reduction refinance loan, as well as cash-out refinances.
They offer fixed rate VA loans with terms of 30, 20 and 15 years, as well as adjustable-rate mortgages. The company has more than 20 branch locations located around the country.
loanDepot
You’re not reading that name wrong – it’s loanDepot, beginning with a lowercase “l”, with an uppercase “D” in the middle. But the peculiar name aside, loanDepot is one of the largest mortgage lenders in the country.
They’re headquartered in Southern California, but they have more than 6,500 employees across the country, operating in more than 180 local loan locations nationwide.
They’ve funded more than $100 billion in loans, including $70 billion in refinances.
As a full-service mortgage lender, loanDepot offers a full range of mortgage products, including conventional and FHA mortgages, as well as home equity lines of credit.
VA loans include VA cash out refinance loans, interest rate reduction refinance loans, and loans for purchases.
One disadvantage with loanDepot is limited customer service availability. They’re available only Monday through Friday, from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, all times Pacific. They are not available on Sundays.
Flagstar Bank
Flagstar Bank is a Michigan-based bank, with branches in the Midwest, but they offer mortgages in all 50 states.
As a bank, they offer the advantage of the various banking services they provide, including, checking, savings, credit cards, health savings accounts, IRAs, auto loans, recreational loans, and both online and mobile banking.
They’re also a full-service mortgage lender, and one of the more prominent mortgage companies in the country. They offer conventional loans, FHA, Jumbo loans, and even construction and renovation loans.
And yes, Flagstar offers VA loans. They’re available for both purchase and refinance.
They offer the VA fixed rate mortgage, ranging in terms from 10 years to 30 years. They also offer two types of the VA adjustable-rate mortgage, with a three year and a five-year initial fixed rate term (then converting to a one-year adjustable).
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is one of the very largest banks in the United States (#3 to be precise). As of the end of 2017, they had total deposits of $1.3 trillion, and $2 trillion dollars in total assets.
The bank also has 70 million customers, 8,300 branch locations, and 13,000 ATMs.
The bank naturally provides all of the services you would expect, including checking and savings accounts, credit cards, auto loans, student loans and mortgages and home equity lines of credit.
Mortgages include conventional and FHA loans, as well as VA mortgages. On VA loans, they offer both fixed and adjustable-rate loans.
One of the big advantages of Wells Fargo is the many thousands of branches they have available. That will enable you to initiate and complete the mortgage application process on a face-to-face level.
It may, in fact, be a preferred lender for anyone who prefers the traditional mortgage loan application process, complete with a human face.
PrimeLending
PrimeLending may not be a household name, but it is one of the top mortgage lenders in the country, with an ”A” rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Based in Dallas, Texas, the company has almost 1,500 loan officers located throughout the country.
The company is strictly a mortgage lender, and offers conventional, Jumbo and FHA mortgages, as well as VA mortgages.
They offer the VA fixed rate mortgage with terms of 15 and 30 years, as well as the VA adjustable-rate mortgage. You can also apply for a VA Jumbo loan, enabling you to purchase a home for as much is $1 million.
Lending Tree
Lending Tree is a bit different than the other lenders on this list. For starters, Lending Tree isn’t even a lender. It’s actually an online lending exchange, that gives borrowers an opportunity to obtain financing from a wide variety of lenders.
The company was founded in 1998, and has participated in more than 32 million loan requests since.
Lending Tree offers virtually every type of financing available. In addition to home mortgages, they also offer personal loans, auto loans, business loans, and home equity loans.
They also offer credit cards, student loans, insurance and credit repair. Over the years, Lending Tree has developed into a well-diversified financial platform, offering every type of service needed.
You’ll find loan programs available for every type of mortgage as well. This includes conventional and FHA financing, in addition to VA loans. VA loans are available for both purchase and refinance.
In order to get the process going, you will fill out a series of questions on the website.
You’ll then be directed to various lenders who can provide for your loan needs. This will create competition between lenders, enabling you to choose the one you feel will work best for you.
Final Thoughts on Our Top VA Loan Lenders
If you search the web, or ask friends, coworkers and others, who the best VA loan companies are, most of the companies on this list are likely to come up. Choose the one with the most personal recommendations, and then investigate the specific service levels they provide.
Virtually hundreds of mortgage lenders offer VA loans, but few specialize in the field.
A VA loan is a very specific type of mortgage, and best handled by lenders who do them most frequently. Some of the lenders on this list even have current or former members of the military on staff in an advisory capacity. This will help to deal with the specific requirements that active duty military members in particular are likely to have.
Not all mortgage lenders are the same, and when it comes to VA loans, you’re best to go with the companies that specialize in these programs.
Not only will there be a greater likelihood of loan approval, but you’re likely to find the loan application process faster and much more pleasant.