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Cityworth mortgage review
A direct lender that works with nontraditional borrowers.
Cityworth could offer those with poor credit or other nontraditional borrowers an opportunity for loan approval. It considers your rent, mortgage and credit card payments in place of a credit score. And its bank statement loans provide a pathway for homeownership for self-employed borrowers. But you’ll need to speak to a loan officer to find out about its rates.
Details
| Loan types | Conventional, Refinance, FHA, VA |
|---|---|
| Minimum credit | 740 |
| Origination fee | 1% of the loan amount |
| Other fees | Application fee: $250 to $350 |
| Available States | AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, MD, MI, MN, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI |
Pros
- Considers alternative credit
- Streamlined preapproval
- Loans for poor credit
Cons
- No published rates
- No home equity loans
Many customers praise Cityworth for friendly, helpful agents, and many felt the process was efficient and professional. The main complaint was that, despite helpful loan officers, its underwriters requested last-minute documents threatening a later closing date.
What types of loans does Cityworth offer?
Like most lenders, Cityworth offers both conventional and government-backed loan options.
- Conventional. 30-year loan with a fixed rate and a minimum 5% down payment.
- FHA. Loans for first-time homebuyers, with a 3.5% minimum down payment and more flexible credit qualifications.
- VA. Guaranteed by the government, VA loans provide active service members, veterans and military families home loans with no-down-payment options.
Other loans offered by Cityworth
- Refinance. Cityworth can refinance your existing home loan with different loan terms and cash-out options.
- Streamline home improvement. Homebuyers can finance up to an additional $35,000 for repairs into their mortgage purchase.
- Bank statement. Designed for self-employed borrowers, the bank statement loan evaluates your cash flow based on bank statements as an alternative to tax returns for loan amounts up to $2.5 million.
Cityworth fees
Although Cityworth mortgage doesn’t list all of its fees online, a few standard fees include:
- Application: $250 to $350
- Origination: 1% of the loan amount
- Attorney fee
- Rate lock fee
- Document preparation fee
- Land survey
- Appraisal fee
- Title search and insurance
Requirements
| Loan-to-value | Debt-to-income | Minimum credit score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 95% | Varies | 740 |
| FHA | 96.3% | 41% | 580 |
| VA | 100% | 41% | 580 |
| Bank Statement | 90% | 50% | 680 |
Documentation
Here are a few documents you’ll need to submit to get started. Depending on your situation, your loan officer may request additional documentation.
- Paystubs covering the most recent 30-day pay period, including year-to-date earnings
- W-2 forms for the past two years
- Employment history for the last two years
- Award letter if you receive Social Security income, disability or VA benefits
- Tax returns and Profit and Loss statements covering the last two years, if self-employed
- Divorce decree or court order stating the amount of alimony or child support and proof of receipt of funds for the last year, if applicable
- Bank statements for the last three months
How to get a home loan with Cityworth
Start a home loan application with Cityworth by getting preapproved on its website:
- On Cityworth’s homepage, click Apply Now at the header.
- Click Get Started to begin the application process.
- Fill in your name, email and phone number. Click Next.
- Input the loan information, such as the type of loan and your credit history.
- Fill out your current address and answer a few questions about your income. Click Accept and Submit. A loan officer should contact you within three business days.
Pros and cons of Cityworth
Pros
- Considers alternative credit. If you have no or limited credit history, you may still be approved by providing three types of alternative lines of credit. You’ll need to show regular payments on these bills for the last 12 to 24 months.
- Streamlined preapproval. An underwriter will review your loan application before the official application process begins. This speeds up the process overall.
- Loans for poor credit. Its VA and FHA loans accept borrowers with credit as low as 580.
Cons
- No published rates. You won’t find rates on its site — you’ll need to submit a full application to find out what your rate could be.
- No home equity loans. Cityworth doesn’t offer any home loans to tap into the equity you’ve built.
Compare other mortgage lenders
What is Cityworth?
Cityworth was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Fairfax, VA. This direct lender is licensed with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) and uses in-house underwriting. It is an affiliate business with Cityworth Properties, a real estate agency.
Frequently asked questions
Expert review
Review by
Kimberly Ellis
kimberly.ellis@findercrew.comKimberly Ellis is a writer at Finder specializing in home loans. She hails from New York City with a BA from Queens College. She has written extensively about the real estate and finance industries. Kimberly is also a language lover and aspiring polyglot.
Expert review
Cityworth is a good option for borrowers with no or low credit history, and it has solid ratings from current customers. Its application process and borrower criteria are comparable to other lenders. But since it doesn’t publish its rates online and many users report last-minute underwriting requests, you may want to consider other options.