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LendingTree mortgage service review
Compare rates and fees from hundreds of mortgage lenders on this leading marketplace.
LendingTree is a free online mortgage marketplace — not a direct mortgage provider. Rather than funding home financing products itself, LendingTree can connect you with partnered lenders after you complete an online form.
Details
| Type | Marketplace/Broker |
|---|---|
| Loan products offered | Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, Home Equity, HELOC, Reverse, Refinance |
| Minimum credit score | Conventional: 620 FHA: 500 VA: 620 USDA: 640 Jumbo: 800 |
| Minimum down payment (Conventional) | 3% |
| State availability | Available in all states |
| NMLS # | 1136 |
Our take on LendingTree
LendingTree is a loan marketplace that matches borrowers to lenders nationwide. Instead of searching lenders yourself, the LendingTree website asks you some questions and searches its database of 500 lenders nationwide to find the best ones based on your credit profile and needs.
The application took us five minutes to complete and didn’t ask for a Social Security number. After qualifying, we were matched to potential lenders and had the option of applying or waiting to be contacted. LendingTree claims borrowers may get a more competitive rate since lenders are competing against each other.
LendingTree’s strong point is convenience, making it best for people who want to be matched to suitable lenders quickly. But you won’t know which lenders you’ll get until after you’ve given out your information, which may result in more calls and emails than you want.
If you don’t mind researching your own financing, you can still find competitively priced loans through lenders that aren’t partnered with LendingTree, and you won’t have to deal with your information being shared.
LendingTree requirements
Unlike direct mortgage lenders that require you to satisfy a certain set of criteria to get approved, the requirements on LendingTree vary from lender to lender. But in general you need a credit score of at least 500, though some lenders require a higher score.
Your down payment also depends on what type of mortgage you choose. For example, you can get a VA mortgage with a $0 down payment, but you may need anywhere from 5% to 20% for some conventional and jumbo loans.
Documentation
You’ll need to provide your:
- Full name and personal contact information
- Social Security number
- Credit score and/or report
- Date of birth
- Current address
Costs and fees
LendingTree itself is free to use, but the lenders the platform connects you with will almost certainly charge fees to process your mortgage. Many lenders charge a one-time origination fee, which typically ranges from 0.5% to 1% of the amount you borrow.
Depending on your lender, you may also need to pay other fees, including:
- Application fee
- Underwriting fee
- Rate-lock fee
- Third-party fees
- Other ongoing fees
How to compare mortgage rates through LendingTree
To compare mortgage rates in your area using LendingTree:
- Go to LendingTree’s site, then choose Home Loans and then Home Purchase.
- Select the type of property you’re interested in buying and choose how the property will be used.
- Enter the city and state where you’re interested in living. Then choose whether you’ve already found a home and if you’re working with a real estate agent.
- Choose an option for when you intend to buy, provide an estimated purchase price and declare how much of a down payment you can make.
- Select any banks with which you have an account. Then, answer a couple of questions about your homeownership status and whether you have a coborrower.
- Provide information about your annual income, employment, credit score, date of birth, military service and any bankruptcy or foreclosures in the last seven years.
- Enter your current residential address, name and email address, then create a password and provide your phone number to review a list of lenders and their rates.
What types of mortgages can I get through LendingTree?
- Conventional
- FHA
- VA
- USDA
- Jumbo
Other mortgage products
Because LendingTree connects you with lenders and is not a direct lender, you may be able to find a lender for other mortgage products, including:
- Reverse mortgages
- Home equity loans and lines of credit
- Investment property mortgages
Alternatives to LendingTree
LendingTree’s marketplace lets you choose from hundreds of lenders offering a wide variety of home loans — whether you’re looking for a conventional loan on a first home or hunting for a jumbo loan on a secondary residence.
Though it’s one of the originals, LendingTree isn’t the only digital marketplace for home loans. Morty and Credible are comparable platforms. Both are well-reviewed, and neither charge you to compare mortgage rates and lenders.
But if you want to avoid lending marketplaces altogether because you don’t want to risk getting spammed by countless lenders, you might consider a digital lender like Better or Beeline. Both are highly rated digital lenders that offer streamlined application processes, fast preapprovals and no lender fees.
Alternatively, compare top brands by home loan type, state availability and credit score. Select See rates to provide the lender with basic property and financial details for personalized rates.
Compare LendingTree to other companies
LendingTree reviews and complaints
As of November 2021, LendingTree has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on more than 10,300 reviews on Trustpilot. Borrowers say they like the simplicity and convenience of finding a loan through this platform. All that’s required is completing a single online form, after which you’re given multiple lenders and loan offers to choose from.
On the other hand, LendingTree is only rated 1.53 out of 5 stars from 76 customers on the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) website. The most common complaint is the volume of phone calls and emails customers receive after inputting their information to get a quote. LendingTree shares your contact information with a variety of third-party loan providers, and some of these lenders may contact you more often than you’d like.
LendingTree pros and cons
Pros
- 1,500+ lenders with reviews. LendingTree gives you access to a massive number of lending options, allowing you to compare lender ratings and verified customer reviews.
- Competitive loan offers. LendingTree surfaces your most competitive loan offers, allowing you to quickly evaluate your mortgage rates and options.
- Alerts on better deals. If LendingTree finds a lower rate compared to your current loan, it sends an alert to your LendingTree account.
Cons
- Contact info shared with lenders. LendingTree shares your contact info with potential lenders that may email and call you with mortgage offers — even after you’ve chosen a lender.
What is LendingTree?
Founded in 1996, LendingTree is one of the leading online brokers for home loans, refinancing, reverse mortgages, home equity loans and other financial services. But LendingTree is not a direct lender, so it can’t provide you a loan for your home. Rather, it will connect you with a lender that can.
Frequently asked questions
What services does LendingTree offer for other types of loans?
LendingTree can also connect you with lenders that offer auto loans, personal loans, business loans, student loans and debt consolidation loans.
How long will it take for LendingTree to connect me with a lender?
Qualifying applicants can receive multiple customized loan offers in as little as two minutes after completing the online form and registering for an account.
