9 best mortgage lenders in North Carolina

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • User experience. Better's website is optimized for screens of all sizes, and first-time home-buyers are likely to feel comfortable with the intuitive application process.
  • Price-matching. If a competing lender approves you for a lower rate or more enticing terms, Better will either match that other offer or give you $100.
  • Fewer fees. Better doesn't charge origination fees or application fees for home loans like many other lenders on this list do.

  Cons

  • Limited loan types. Better doesn't provide home-equity loans or government-backed FHA, VA or USDA loans.
  • No mobile app. Several lenders on this list offer standalone apps, but Better only has a website.
  • No physical locations. Better doesn't have any brick-and-mortar branches, so you can't meet with a loan officer face to face.

• 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

Unlike the other companies on this list, which are direct lenders, LendingTree is a mortgage marketplace that lets you compare rates from hundreds of home loan providers across the country. Simply answer a few questions on LendingTree’s site, then you’ll see a list of North Carolina lenders and their respective rates.

Using this site can save you a substantial amount of time while shopping for a mortgage, but LendingTree will share your contact information with third parties — so be prepared for an influx of unsolicited calls and emails.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Hundreds of lenders. LendingTree's marketplace features rates from more than 500 mortgage lenders.
  • Free to use. It doesn't cost anything to use LendingTree, and the lenders featured on the site don't ask for upfront payments.
  • Helpful alerts. LendingTree can notify you when mortgage rates in North Carolina drop.

  Cons

  • Unsolicited calls and emails. By using LendingTree, you agree to let the company share your contact information with third parties that may contact you.
  • Hurts your credit. When you use LendingTree, the company performs a hard inquiry upon your credit history, which will lower your credit score and stay on your credit report for two years.

• 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

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Speedy service. It only takes a few minutes to get a conditional prequalification from Rocket Mortgage, and if everything goes smoothly, your home loan could close in less than one week.
  • You're in control. Rocket Mortgage offers you more flexibility with your home loan's terms, so you have more control over your monthly payment.
  • No prepayment penalty. Other lenders in North Carolina assess additional fees if you manage to pay off your mortgage early, but Rocket Mortgage doesn't.

  Cons

  • Mandatory deposit. Rocket Mortgage charges $400 to $750 to process your mortgage application, while other lenders don't charge a fee for this.
  • Not all options are available. Rocket Mortgage doesn't offer loans for new builds or mobile homes.
  • No branches. This lender doesn't have any physical locations you can visit, so you can't meet with a loan officer face to face.

• 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

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Competitive rates. BNC National Bank offers some of the lowest mortgage rates in North Carolina.
  • Good for veterans. This bank is among the nation's top lenders for government-backed VA loans.
  • Quality customer service. As of December 2020, BNC National Bank is rated 4.69 out of 5 on Zillow, and it only has two complaints in the past three years according to the BBB.

  Cons

  • No online preapproval. You can prequalify for a mortgage on this lender's website, but you can't get preapproved until a loan officer manually reviews your application.
  • No branches in North Carolina. BNC National Bank doesn't have any branches in North Carolina, so you can't meet with a loan officer in person.
  • Rates aren't available online. This lender doesn't publish its mortgage rates online.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	Conventional: 620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Available in all states
  NMLS #	418467

Some of the lenders on this list exclusively help aspiring homeowners buy places to live, but others, like Freedom Mortgage, allow current homeowners to refinance their mortgages and reduce their monthly payments.

Freedom Mortgage offers a variety of refinancing options for homeowners with conventional or government-backed home loans. And if you choose to refinance through this lender, you can look forward to a lower interest rate and more flexibility with your loan terms.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Multiple refinancing programs. Freedom Mortgage offers rate-and-term refinances for conventional mortgages and streamline refinances for VA, FHA and USDA home loans.
  • Bad credit isn't a deal-breaker. You can still get approved for a mortgage even if your credit score is as low as 540.
  • Unsteady income isn't a problem. If your income varies from one month to the next, Freedom Mortgage may still approve you for refinancing.

  Cons

  • Limited locations. Freedom Mortgage only has two brick-and-mortar branches in North Carolina, one in Wilmington and the other in Burlington, so it may be inconvenient to meet with a lender in person.
  • No online application. To apply for refinancing, you must contact a Freedom Mortgage loan officer directly.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	Conventional: 620 FHA: 540 VA: 580 USDA: 640
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Available in all states
  NMLS #	2767

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • 24/7 customer support. Veterans United offers phone-based customer service all day, every day.
  • Employees were enlisted. A significant portion of this lender's employees are current or former members of the military.
  • Variety of loans. Veterans United provides government-backed loans and refinancing options.

  Cons

  • Mediocre rates. This lender's conventional loans aren't competitive compared to others on this list.
  • Limited locations. Veterans United only has two branches in the state: one in Fayetteville and one in Jacksonville.
  • No home equity loans. Veterans United doesn't offer home equity loans or lines of credit.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, Refinance
  Minimum credit score	Conventional: 620 FHA: 620 VA: 620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	0%
  State availability	Available in all states
  NMLS #	1907

The average credit score in North Carolina is 686, but many hopeful homeowners have scores well below that number. If your credit score isn’t anything to brag about, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation may still approve you for a home loan.

This Wisconsin-based lender provides various mortgage options, including some specialty programs most other lenders don’t offer. And unlike some companies on this list, Fairway will approve applicants with credit scores as low as 580 for VA and FHA loans.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Specialized loans. This lender provides unique mortgage programs for educators and medical professionals in North Carolina.
  • Mortgage diversity. Fairway Independent provides reverse mortgages and renovation mortgages in addition to most standard home loans.
  • Bad credit is OK. Fairway may approve you for a VA or FHA loan if your credit score is as low as 580.

  Cons

  • Hurts your credit. This lender conducts hard credit inquiries that reduce your credit score even if you don't get approved.
  • Vague website. Fairway Independent's website doesn't mention many of the fees this lender charges.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, Refinance, Reverse
  Minimum credit score	Conventional: 620 VA: 580 FHA: 580
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Available in all states
  NMLS #	2289

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Fewer fees. This lender doesn't charge fees for your application or to pull your credit report.
  • Transparency. SECU publishes its lending rates and APRs on its website.
  • Assistance program. If you fall behind in your payments, SECU will help you catch up.

  Cons

  • No government-backed loans. SECU doesn't provide FHA, USDA or VA loans.
  • Must be a member. You must be a member of the credit union to qualify for a mortgage.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Refinance, HELOC
  Minimum credit score	620
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	0%
  State availability	Only available in: GA, NC, SC, TN, VA
  NMLS #	430055

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Most branches in NC. Between SunTrust and Branch Banking and Trust branches, Truist has more locations in North Carolina than any other lender.
  • Premier loans. Truist has specialized mortgage programs for medical professionals and high-income entrepreneurs.
  • Great for first-time buyers. Truist has programs designed to help first-time homebuyers.

  Cons

  • Above-average interest rates. Truist's rates trend slightly above most other lenders.
  • Application required. To view your custom rate, you'll first need to fill out an application.
  • Merger messiness. Despite the new name, Truist continues to operate as both Branch Banking and Trust and SunTrust, which may confuse some borrowers.

• More details

  Loan products offered	Conventional, Jumbo, FHA, VA, USDA, HELOC, Refinance
  Minimum down payment (Conventional)	3%
  State availability	Not available in: AK, AZ, HI, OR
  NMLS #	399803