9 best mortgage lenders in Massachusetts

Better is a no-commission, 100% digital lender offering a streamlined application process. It claims you can get a preapproval letter in only a few minutes, lock in your rate in under an hour and close up to two times faster than the industry average.

Better is available to take loan applications 24/7. So, if you're comfortable with technology and would prefer a digital lender with human support along the way, Better might be a good option.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No origination fees. Better doesn't charge commissions or origination fees.
  • Track your loan status. With Better, you can log in to your account at any time and check your loan's status.
  • Informative website. Better's website is packed with information, including current interest rates, calculators and homebuying guides.

  Cons

  • No first-time homebuyer programs. Besides FHA loans, Better doesn't offer any specialized first-time homebuyer loans.
  • Loans not listed. The Better website doesn't specifically list what types of loans it offers.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	Refinance: 680 All other loans: 620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Not available in: HI, MA, MN, NV, NH, VT, VA
  NMLS #	330511

Looking for multiple quotes at a time? If so, LendingTree could suit your needs. Instead of having to research and prequalify for lenders yourself, the free LendingTree service will match you to lenders from its database of over 1,500 partners nationwide.

Simply call or fill out a form with some information about yourself, then sit back and wait for lenders to contact you. Because lenders are competing for your business, LendingTree claims you may get a better rate by using its service.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Wide range of loans available. LendingTree offers a variety of loans, including conventional, government-backed loans, reverse mortgages and HELOCs.
  • Saves time and effort. Instead of having to prequalify with multiple lenders, simply fill out a single form with LendingTree.
  • Selective process. You'll be matched to lenders that are willing to work with your credit score and loan preferences.
  • Finds the lowest rates. LendingTree will search for the lowest rates and notify you when it finds a lower rate.

  Cons

  • You may get flooded with calls. Some users report being inundated with calls after signing up for the service.
  • You may get pressured. Loan officers may pressure you, but make sure to get multiple quotes before settling on a lender.

• More details

  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

Since 2016, Rocket Mortgage has been the online arm of Quicken Loans. As a fully digital lender, Rocket Mortgage is available all hours of the day, allowing you to apply for a loan and lock in a rate without having to wait for a loan officer to call you back.

Using the Rocket Mortgage interface, you can apply for a home or refinance loan, have your assets electronically verified and check your loan's status. And after your loan is funded, you can access your loan documents and make monthly payments using the app.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • On-demand help. While working with a loan officer is optional, on-demand support is available if you have questions or need help.
  • Current rates listed. The Rocket Mortgage website advertises its current mortgage rates so you can quickly compare.
  • Serviced by Quicken Loans. Quicken Loans owns Rocket Mortgage and services the majority of loans it originates.

  Cons

  • Loans not listed. To see your loan options, you'll need to fill out the application or call the company first.
  • May ding your credit. Your Rocket Mortgage application may lower your credit score by three to five points.
  • No HELOCs available. Rocket Mortgage doesn't offer HELOCs at this time.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	Conventional: 620 FHA: 580 VA: 620 Jumbo: 700
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Available in all states
  NMLS #	3030

With consistently great reviews from clients, Synergy One Lending is our choice for best customer service. The company has a 4.9 out of 5 rating on both Zillow and Google reviews, where customers report being extremely satisfied with the service and communication from their loan officers.

Synergy One Lending's Modern Mortgage Experience combines digital processing with its loan teams to create a more streamlined, customer-centric experience. Call, apply online or use the S1 Connect app to apply for a home or refinance loan.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Wide range of loans. The company offers a solid range of loan products for borrowers with different circumstances.
  • Fully digital processing. Apply for a loan, upload documents, eSign and electronically track your loan's progress.
  • 10-day close offer. The company's 10-day close offer for Fannie Mae purchase loans can help you compete with all-cash offers.

  Cons

  • May require logins. While using them is optional, you may be asked for login credentials to your financial accounts.
  • Don't list costs. Synergy One Lending doesn't list its loan costs and fees on its website.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, Reverse, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NM, OH, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY
  NMLS #	1907235

If you're looking for a lender with credit score flexibility, Mr. Cooper may be able to help. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Mr. Cooper offers a wide range of home loans and participates in government programs, including the Hardest Hit Fund and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

While the company doesn't have the best reputation among lenders, Mr. Cooper offers a mobile app that many customers find convenient for making payments digitally and tracking their home's value and equity.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Close On Time Guarantee. If your qualifying loan doesn't close on time, you'll get a check equal to your first month's mortgage payment.
  • Possible rate discounts. Existing Mr. Cooper customers may be eligible for rate discounts on a new mortgage.
  • Won't sell your loan. Mr. Cooper will continue to service your loan after closing.

  Cons

  • No USDA loans. Mr. Cooper doesn't offer USDA loans at this time.
  • Mixed customer reviews. While many customers report positive experiences with Mr. Cooper, others complain of poor service.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	Conventional: 620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	5%
  State availability	Available in all states
  NMLS #	2119

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in San Francisco, First Republic offers a range of financial products, including residential loans. On average, First Republic has the lowest interest rates of all the lenders we compared in Massachusetts, making it a smart choice if you're looking to buy or refinance.

First Republic offers a range of mortgage products, including single-family, co-op and condo loans, construction loans, vacation and second home loans, as well as HELOCs. To get started, you can browse the company's loan requirements or call a loan officer.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Requirements listed. First Republic lists its document requirements, so you can see what's needed to apply for a mortgage.
  • Eagle Community Home Loan Program. This new homebuyer program offers a one-time fee waiver per property address of up to $7,000.
  • HELOCs available. Apply for a HELOC and pay no additional closing costs if closed at the same time as a First Republic mortgage.

  Cons

  • Website lacks usability. The First Republic website is more formal than user-friendly.
  • Mixed reviews. First Republic has a 3.8 out of 5 rating on WalletHub, with some customers complaining about poor service.
  • Limited availability. Only available in California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Oregon.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, HELOC, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Only available in: CA, CT, MA, NY, OR

Prefer to give a regional lender in Massachusetts your business? Since 2002, Leader Bank has been serving the greater Boston area by providing customer-centric banking products, including mortgages and special loan programs for both first-time and experienced borrowers.

Besides the standard offers of conventional and government-backed loans, the bank can help with a variety of first-time and low-income homebuyer programs, including the MHP One Mortgage Program, MassHousing fixed-rate mortgages, FNMA HomeReady's low down payment program and more.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • First-time homebuyer programs. Leader Bank offers an impressive range of first-time homebuyer programs with lower eligibility requirements.
  • User-friendly website. Leader Bank clearly lists its loan programs and available loan officers with contact information.
  • Excellent reviews. Leader Bank has a 5 out of 5 star rating from hundreds of customers on Zillow, where clients rave about the service from their loan officers.

  Cons

  • Limited branch locations. Leader Bank only has branch locations in downtown Boston and the greater Boston area.
  • Costs not listed. While the website offers loan information, Leader Bank's costs and fees aren't listed.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, HELOC, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Only available in: MA

Founded in 1926, Metro Credit Union's priority is to provide its customers with low-fee or no-fee services with lower rates on loans. This credit union offers an impressive array of mortgages, with some of the best refinancing rates and terms we found in Massachusetts.

It also has a refinance calculator on its website, so you can quickly see how much you could save with a lower rate. Whether you're a first-time or experienced homebuyer, Metro Credit Union offers more types of loans than many lenders and competitive rates, making it worth a look.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • View rates online. Fill out a short form and you can view your available interest rates in seconds. No personal information is required.
  • Wide range of loans. Metro Credit Union offers a multitude of loans for borrowers with different situations.
  • Biweekly mortgage. Pay half your monthly mortgage payment every two weeks and you may qualify for discounted interest rates.

  Cons

  • Must be a member. Membership is only available to residents that live, work or have a place of business in Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk or Worcester county in Massachusetts, or Hillsborough or Rockingham county in New Hampshire.
  • No USDA loans. Metro Credit Union doesn't offer USDA loans at this time.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, Home Equity/HELOC, Reverse, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Only available in: MA

Founded in 1991, RMS is an independent lender of residential mortgage loans. The company offers a full range of integrated loan processing and underwriting services under one roof, as well as a fully digital loan application process you can complete from any device.

Whether you're someone who prefers a digital loan process or would rather work with a loan officer at each step, RMS lets you choose the approach to your mortgage. To get started, simply call, apply online or download the mobile app.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Mobile app available. Get prequalified, apply for a loan and stay informed at each step with the RMS Ready Mobile Mortgage App.
  • Resources for first-time homebuyers. The RMS website offers a range of resources, including calculators, borrower checklists and more.
  • Excellent reviews. The company has a 5 out of 5 rating on Zillow from thousands of customers and zero complaints registered with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

  Cons

  • Doesn't list loans. The RMS website doesn't clearly list all the types of loans it offers.
  • Costs and fees not listed. If you're looking for cost and fee information, you'll need to contact the company.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	Conventional 620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WV