What we look at in this category
The lenders on this page cover online applications, VA financing, and bank-based home loans. Use them as a starting list, then get a Loan Estimate from each one using the same house, down payment, and loan term so the numbers line up.
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Pricing on an identical scenario | 30% |
| Lender fees and points | 20% |
| Loan programs offered | 15% |
| Who can apply, and where | 15% |
| Service through closing | 10% |
| Licensing and plain disclosures | 10% |
Questions every profile has to answer
- What's the rate, the APR, and the points behind it?
- Which of your loan programs do I actually qualify for?
- How long is the rate lock, and what does extending it cost?
Collect evidence you can compare
For each company we identify the legal entity and official site, collect written pricing and terms, check the relevant registrations, and note the date and source of every fact that matters. When pricing depends on the customer, we compare on an identical scenario.
Anything a company says about itself is labeled as the company’s claim. On its own it doesn’t prove quality, service, or results.
Show the upside and the catch together
Every profile should tell you who the service suits, what it costs, and when another option fits better. If we couldn’t verify something, we say so instead of counting it for or against the company.
Score only when the evidence is there
Our model is a 100-point rubric with weights set per category. Each criterion gets a documented 0 to 5 rating, multiplied by its weight and divided by five. No company gets a published number until the evidence is complete and a reviewer has signed off.
Identity, availability, core costs, and material terms are mandatory. Contradictions get resolved before anything is scored. Customer ratings, our editorial score, and a company’s position on the page are three different things.
Keep the record correctable
We go back to the source when a fee, product, restriction, or company status changes. Readers and companies use the same correction form.
Send a correction