Investopedia’s choice for the best VA loan lender is because of the huge volume of VA loans it originates from and its strong customer service. Based on our analysis, borrowers can al✨so expect lower-than-average interestꦜ rates with Veteran’s United.
Depending on your ne♏eds, another lender may be a better fit, and we have highlighted those with the attributes and features borrowers look for, like fast closing times or thoughtful customer service.
Our research began with an evalua🔴tion of 38 lenders based on 55 factors. We then narrowed our list to lenders that offer VA loans. Among those, we looked for lenders with the best combination of customer service, flexible borrower requirements, and low costs.
Best VA Loan Lenders
- Best Overall: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: Veterans United
- Best for Customer Experience: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: Rocket Mortgage
- Best for Fast Closing: Rate
- Best for Bad Credit: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: American Pacific Mortgage
- Best Big Bank: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: U.S. Bank
- Best Credit Union VA Lender: 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: Navy Federal Credit Union
Best Overall : Veterans United
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Veterans United Home Loans
- Days to Closing: 32
- Min. Credit Score: 620
- Lender Fees: $3,500
Veterans United originates more VA loans than any other VA mortgage lender, and that exp🐭ertise translates to high customer service ratings from the borrow🔯ers it serves.
In-depth experience
Lower-than-average rates
Positive customer satisfaction ratings
High lender fees
Prior legal issues in several states
In-person branches are only avaiꦐlable in 17 states
VA loans only comprise about 5% of the total mortgage lending market. Veterans United originates the lion's share of VA loans in that market. In fact, in 2024, it originated almost 15% of all VA loans funded that year. That expertise translates into strong customer service, which is reflected in positive customer reviews and in recent J.D Power Mortgage Loan Origination Studies.
Our researchers were impressed by the breadth and depth of educational material it offers borrowers on its website. Informed borrowers make more confident choices, and our ranking model rewards lenders that provide customers with accurate i☂nformation and advice.
One thing missing is a low-friction 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:pre-qualification system to help you know what you might be approved for. Instead, you’ll find a form that collec🎐ts financial and꧂ other details for an email that connects you with a loan advisor.
Veterans United Ho♛me Loans was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Columbia, Missouri.
Best for Customer Experience : Rocket Mortgage
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Rocket Mortgage
- Days to Closing: 38 days, on average
- Min. Credit Score: 580 for VA loans
- Lender Fees: $1,350
Rocket Mortgage is our best overall lender for customer experience due to its polished online application an💟d loan-approval 𒈔process and strong customer reviews.
Streamlined online experience
Exceptional customer service ratings
In-house loan servicing
Long closing timelines
Higher than average interest rates
Self-employed people can’t apply solely online
Depending on when you look at the numbers, Rocket Mortgage is the first or second largest 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:originator of mortgage loans in the nation. So it’s🧸 no surprise it is also among the largest VA loan originators.
Rocket Mortgage pioneered online mortgage lending, and most of the lender’s application and approval pꦏrocess, including closing and document signing, can be undertaken over the internet. However, not everything can be handled digitally: Some home appraisals must be conducted in person, and self-employed borrowers must work with a loan advisor.
Rocket Mortgage (formerly known as Quicken Loans) was founded in 1986 and is headquar🅰te꧑red in Detroit, Michigan.
Best for Fast Closing : Rate
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Rate
- Days to Closing: 18 days, on average
- Min. Credit Score: 620
- Lender Fees: $1,740
Rate, formerly known as Guaranteed Rate, says it can approve a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:mortgage application in a few minutes and fund the𓃲 loan as quickly as 10 days later, in some situations. On average, Rate can process a mortgage loan i꧅n just under three weeks, the fastest we recorded in our research.
No cash reserve requirements
Closes in half the time of other lenders
In-person branch locations in all states
Higher rates than average
Poor reputation for customer service
History of lawsuits and legal issues
Rate can approv𓃲e ꧒and fund a mortgage, including VA loans, in as few as 18 days, on average. And while most lenders require borrowers to have a few months of cash in reserve after the transaction, Rate has no such requirement, which makes buying a home that much easier.
Rate also stands out with its many loan officers (over 2,000) and its many brick-and-mortar locations (over 450). Combine its real-world presence with its robust digital offering, and borrowers have plenty of ways to stay on top of their loans, including knowing when they can expect them to close.
Unfortunately, this combination has not translated to high customer service scores. In the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study, Rate placed 17th out of 22 lenders. Also troubling are fines and lawsuits by state𓆉-level regulator🎃s.
Rate was founded in 2000 and is headquartered ওin Chicago, Illinois.
Best for Bad Credit : American Pacific Mortgage
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- Days to Closing: 21 days, on average
- Min. Credit Score: 560
- Lender Fees: Not disclosed
American Pacific Mortgage offers flexible 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:credit score requirements for its mortgages (including VA Loans). Unfortunately, it doesn’t pꦫrovide much detail about rat꧋es and other terms to help you shop around.
In business since 1996
Faster-than-average closing times
Many local branches around the country
Not available in New York state
Not open and transparent about costs
No mortgage pre-qualification
There’s no fixed minimum credit score requirement for VA loans—lenders set their own underwriting requ♊irements, including credit score requirements. American Pacific Mortgage has easier credit standards than other lenders we researched. That could mean an easier time getting approved for a VA loan.
With over 1,700 loan officers and more than 400 locations nationwide, the lender h൲as the infrastructure to handle yo෴ur loan efficiently. According to our research, its average closing time is 21 days, which is among the fastest we measured.
Unfortunately, many key details,💎 like rates and fees, are missing from its website. That’s challenging for our researchers and also challenging for borrowers shopping around for a loan. The lender’s loans aren’t available in New York, either.
American Pacific Mortgage was founded in 1996 and is headquart🔜ered in Roseville, California.
Best Big Bank : U.S. Bank
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U.S. Bank logo
- Days to Closing: Not disclosed
- Min. Credit Score: Not disclosed
- Lender Fees: Not disclosed
U.S. Bank is the highest-rated nation♋al bank offering VA loans in our database. If you value the convenience of having all your financial services with a single bank, consider U.S. Bank.
Offers prequalification
Branch locations in 27 states
Banking benefits for military members
Many details are not disclosed
No biweekly payment option
U.S. Bank is the fifth-large♈st bank in the nation, with about 2,000 branches in 27 states and 14,000 loan officers. So it has the infrastructure in place to process mortgages efficiently. Despite its footprint, it was just the 60th most active VA loan lender in 202𓂃4.
The bꦡank offers a few tools and resources for military🐻 members and veterans, including a rate boost on savings accounts.
U.S. Bank was founded in 1863,⭕ and itꦐs headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Best Credit Union VA Lender : Navy Federal Credit Union
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Navy Federal Credit Union
- Days to Closing: 30 days, on average
- Min. Credit Score: Not disclosed
- Lender Fees: $552
Navy Federal Credit Union is the nation’s largest credit u🌜nion. As a not-for-profit financial institution, it can offer VA loans at lower-than-average rates along with highly regarded great customer service.
Affordable VA loan rates and fees
Great customer service reputation
Flexible with underwriting criteria
Must join the credit union
Lengthy closing timelines
Not open to the general public
Navy Federal Credit Union is the nation’s largest 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:credit union and one of the most active VA loan lenders, issuing the fifth most in 2024. It has branches worldwide and thousands of loan officers to process loans. That infrastructure translates to positive customer reviews. In the 2024 J.D. Power Mortgage Originator Satisfaction Study, its score would have placed it in the top quarter of lenders if it were eligible.
You must be a member♚ of the credit union to be e🐻ligible for a loan, and you must be a member of the military, a veteran, or a family member to join NFCU. You must also be a member to get a pre-approval. That’s unfortunate because some loan details aren’t available otherwise, so comparing offers with other lenders without joining the credit union is difficult.
If you’ve used up your VA loan entitlement, you can opt for a “Military Choice Loan,” which has some features of a VA loan, like no minim൩um down payment requirement and no private mortgage insurance💞 requirement.
Nav𝄹y Federal Credit Union was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Vienna, Virgin𓄧ia.
Compare the Best VA Loan Lenders
Average Days to Close | Min. Credit Score | Lender Fees | |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | 32 | 620 | $3,500 |
Best for Customer Experience | 38 | 580 | $1,350 |
Best for Fast Closing | 16 | 620 | $1,740 |
Best for Bad Credit | 21 | 640 | Not disclosed |
Best Big Bank | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Best Credit Union VA Lender | 30 | Not disclosed | $552 |
Why Trust Us
Investopedia collected and analyzed over 2,000 key data points from 38 leading mortgage lenders to evaluate the most important factors for readers looking for a mortgage loan. We used this data to review each𝓰 company based on customer experience, 😼reputation, cost, and other factors. Investopedia developed this process to provide an unbiased, comprehensive review to ensure our readers make the right decision for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999 and has been helping readers find the best mortgages since 2020.
How We Choose the Best VA Loan Lenders
To begin our research, we conducted a consumer survey of 500 current or prospective homebuyers and mortgage borrowers. We asked them 41 questions about their home-buying and mortgage-shopping experience and learned what features and services were most important to them. Our research team analyzed the rꦉesults, which fueled our list of 38 mortgage lenders and 55 criteria for our rubri💦c.
We then collected over 2,000 data points, surveying mortgage lenders and collecting data via websites, media contacts, and customer service. To develop our list of the best VA loan lenders, we weighted 36 of the 55 individual criteria, giving higher weight to those criteria that mean the most to borrowers. The score for each company’s overall star 💜rating is a weighted average of those criteria in the following categories:
- Customer Experience: 48%
- Operational Features: 16%
- Reputation: 14%
- Loan Types: 11%
- Loan Costs and Requirements: 11%
To maintain the integrity of the data following collection an🌺d analysis, Investopedia’s compliance team monitors changes to key details, like interest rates and fees. Complianc🐭e team members then update our pages to ensure they are accurate as of the date on the byline.
Read more about our process in our full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:mortgage lender methodology.
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Investopedia / Tara Anand
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