Best Mortgage Lenders for First-Time Buyers

If you’ve decided it's time for a first-time home buyer mortgage and you fit the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of a first-time home buyer, many of the best mortgage lenders will offer you competitive terms on a home loan.

First-time home buyers are typically younger than those looking to purchase their second or third home. Because of their age, first-timers usually have less funds for a down payment and might also have student debts, poor credit, or financial worries that make it hard to finance a purchase. This makes it important to examine the best mortgages for first time buyers specifically. 

Top First-Time Home Buyer Lenders Compared & Explained

Lender	Loan Types	APR	Get an Offer
	FHA, VA, Conventional	4.086%	View Rates
	FHA, Conventional	4.312%
	Conventional fixed and adjustable	4.250%
	FHA, VA, USDA, Conventional	Various quotes
	FHA, VA, USDA, ARM, Conventional	Various quotes	View Rates

1. Quicken Loans

• Conventional 30-year loans at 4.375% interest
• Down payments of as low as 3%
• Minimum credit score of 620 for conventional mortgages
• Offers FHA home loans

Quicken Loans is one of the best mortgage lenders for first-time home buyers. It offers conventional 30-year fixed-rate loans at interest rates of as low as 4.375% (or 4.623% APR, encompassing interest and fees) and with down payments of as low as 3% of the value of your new home. Loan amounts vary from as low as $25,000 to as high as $3 million.

Quicken is one of the largest mortgage lenders for first time buyers to offer mortgages under the FHA home-buyer program, which accepts down payments as low as 3.5%. It also offers access to VA loans, which offers military veterans and active service members (who meet certain conditions) better rates and no down payment.

One of the great things about Quicken Loans is that you can apply online through Rocket Mortage by Quicken Loans. Rocket Mortgage claims to do everything quicker than your average mortgage provider. If you have a lot of questions and would rather talk things over, Quicken Loans’ experts are also available to speak by phone.

Best for: Calculating your budget and monthly payments

Biggest perk: Fast application

View Quicken Loans Rates

2. First Internet Bank

• Do everything online
• FHA loans at 3.875% interest and 3.5% down payment
• Closure in 40 days or less

First Internet Bank is another of the mortgage providers that allows you to do everything online, making it a popular choice among first-time buyers. This bank offers an FHA 30-year fixed rate loan at 3.875% interest, with the usual 3.5% down payment and federal government requirement of monthly mortgage insurance.

First Internet Bank offers rates of as low as 4.25% (or 4.312% APR) for a conventional 30-year fixed-rate loan, and 3.75% (at 3.858% APR) for a conventional 15-year fixed-rate loan. First IB says it can typically close the majority of home-purchase mortgages in 40 days or less. Although business is conducted online, it has a loan team that works together with its clients to identify the documents they need to meet their closing date.

Best for: Phone on-the-go access

Biggest perk: Closure in 40 days or less

3. Better Mortgage

• Available 24/7
• Instant loan estimate
• Clear communication and transparency

Better mortgage is changing the mortgage industry through technology. Get 3 minute pre-approval with no impact on your credit and take your mortgage with absolutely no application, processing, origination or underwriting fees. Better has an investor matching algorithm, matching your loan with the right investor, saving you money. The entire process for your first-time home mortgage is streamlined, sending you the savings and saving you time. Borrowers save an average of $3500 on transaction costs alone. Better mortgage also offers a comprehensive F.A.Q. section and clear rate estimates right on the website. 

Best for: High-tech mortgage borrowing

Biggest Perk: No comission or origination fees

4. LendingTree​

• Dedicated FHA loan search
• Lowest rates on the market – by city
• See results instantly

LendingTree​ is another online marketplace that enables a comparison between different lenders. It has a specially dedicated search tool for FHA loans, which allows the user to see up-to-date interest rates for the portal’s top-rated FHA lenders. Users can search for FHA loans by city.

Users can also conduct a quick, free search for 30-year, 15-year, and other conventional fixed-rate loans. Conduct a simple search by city, or fill in advanced parameters to find the best rates and fees from the perspective of a first-time buyer.

Best for: National loan programs and financial assistance for first-time buyers

Biggest Perk: Instant search results by city

View LendingTree Rates

5. J.G. Wentworth

• Excellent educational resources
• Submit application documents digitally
• Minimum credit score of 620 for conventional mortgages

J.G. Wentworth issues loans for specific needs, including service of first-time buyers’ loans. They offer FHA and VA loans, and provide educational resources for potential borrowers, which is useful for people who are branching into the market.

Like other forward-thinking lenders, J.G. Wentworth streamlined their application process, allowing customers to fill out paperwork through its online portal and to submit documents digitally. This lender only requires a minimum credit score of 620 for conventional mortgages, an advantage for young buyers.

Best for: Low interest rates and loans without points for first-time buyers

Biggest Perk: Low lender fees

View J.G. Wentworth Rates

HUD First-Time Home Buyer Requirements

• You (or your spouse) have has not owned a principal residence for at least 3 years
• You are a single parent who has only owned with a former spouse while married
• You are a homemaker who has only owned with a spouse, but are no longer financially supported by your spouse
• You have only owned a principal residence not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with applicable regulations
• You have only owned a property that was not in compliance with state, local or model building codes and which cannot be brought into compliance for less than the cost of constructing a permanent structure

Because of the unique circumstances of first-time home buyers, lenders might offer incentives such as low rates or small down payments. Many lenders offer FHA mortgages, which are home loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. An FHA home loan requires a down payment of just 3.5% and has flexible requirements and an easier qualification process than a conventional loan. However, it does require that the borrower pay monthly mortgage insurance.

First-Time Homebuyer Programs

There are several programs specifically geared for first-time home buyers, though you are free to use any home purchase loan that you qualify for. 

These programs include:

• FHA Loans

FHA loans are like many other mortgages and are made by private lenders, such as Quicken Loans. Your FHA loan, unlike a conventional loan, will be gauranteed by the federal government. This means that your lender will consider you, even if you might not qualify for a conventional mortgage. 

• USDA Loans

​This program, run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, focuses on rural homes and allows 100% financing (which means 0% down payments) to low income borrowers without stable housing. 

• VA Loans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs helps service members, veterans, and surviving spouses buy homes with full financing. These loans do not require PMI, which can save a bundle. Private lenders can add their own requirements, but generally VA loans are a tremendous bennefit for military personel. 

• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Both Fannie Mae (the Federal National Mortgage Association, FNMA) and Freddie Mac (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, FHLMC) purchase home loans from private lenders, enabling lenders to make more mortgages for borowers like you. They purchase conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans and gaurantee loans. 

• Good Neighbor Next Door Programs

This program, originally intended for teachers, now includes law enforcement, EMTs, and firefighters. It's sponsored by HUD and allows 50% discounts on the list price of homes in certain areas. If you qualify, you have to commit to living in the place you are interestd in buying for at least 3 years. 

Check out these reviews of the leading mortgage lenders to see who can help you realize your dream of buying a home.