Safe Rate Rankings

Best Conventional Mortgage Lenders in California

Updated June 4, 2026
⚖️ The 4 PsRankings are calculated based on observed lender differences on closed loans across Pricing, Pull-through, Product, and Place.
🛡️ No Pay to PlayLenders cannot buy their way to the top. Rankings are 100% earned.
📊 HMDA 2024Built using publicly available originated loan data from the federal government.
🎯 Peer BenchmarkedPerformance is normalized and benchmarked against peer institutions.
Total Lenders452
Total Loans284,401
Median Rate Spread0.24%

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RankLenderOverallPricingProductPull ThroughPlaceAvg FeesRate Spread# of LoansAction
1
U.S. Bank National Association
BankDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$820Credit
0.142%Below
8,858
2
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,807Fees
0.135%Above
41,870
3
ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,583Fees
0.180%Above
26,634
4
Bank of America, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$518Credit
0.287%Below
5,011
5
Citibank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$1,742Credit
0.289%Below
3,776
6
NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$580Fees
0.539%Below
1,546
7
GOOGAIN, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
$754Credit
0.002%Above
714
8
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,238Fees
0.068%Above
7,658
9
SCHOOLSFIRST
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$374Fees
0.013%Below
1,736
10
PNC Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$791Credit
0.009%Above
1,452
11
Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Sound
Strong
$305Fees
0.471%Below
1,247
12
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$241Fees
0.196%Below
6,267
13
PROVIDENT FUNDING ASSOCIATES, L.P.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Exceptional*
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$927Fees
0.121%Below
1,006
14
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,524Fees
0.036%Above
6,417
15
STAR ONE Credit Union
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Sound
Strong
$116Credit
0.643%Below
591
16
NMSI, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,670Fees
0.276%Above
2,049
17
General Mortgage Capital Corporation
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Strong
$1,677Fees
0.124%Above
951
18
THE LOAN STORE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,442Fees
0.279%Above
3,591
19
GUARANTEED RATE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,308Fees
0.142%Above
4,046
20
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,918Fees
0.201%Above
2,821
21
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,818Fees
0.246%Above
2,514
22
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,852Fees
0.324%Above
1,883
23
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$1,668Credit
0.198%Below
1,592
24
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,608Fees
0.430%Above
6,498
25
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,777Fees
0.321%Above
3,038
26
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,187Fees
0.393%Above
2,207
27
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$1,574Fees
0.078%Above
3,610
28
BMO Bank National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$405Credit
0.030%Below
2,800
29
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,938Fees
0.315%Above
637
30
Zions Bancorporation, N.A.
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Sound
Strong
$1,167Fees
0.201%Below
634
31
FIRST COLONY MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,295Fees
0.151%Above
598
32
KIND LENDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,199Fees
0.335%Above
3,338
33
AMWEST FUNDING CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
2,519
34
Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,493Fees
0.251%Above
2,398
35
BAY EQUITY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,745Fees
0.185%Above
824
36
First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Sound
Strong
$551Credit
0.117%Below
660
37
AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,461Fees
0.438%Above
3,541
38
PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,972Fees
0.349%Above
978
39
Charles Schwab Bank, SSB
BankWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Strong
Strong
Strong
$633Fees
0.277%Below
821
40
NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$3,287Fees
0.424%Above
2,962
41
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$2,558Fees
0.295%Above
2,476
42
GOLDEN EMPIRE MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,902Fees
0.361%Above
2,371
43
PLAZA HOME MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,344Fees
0.432%Above
729
44
ALAMEDA MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,554Fees
0.492%Above
1,702
45
AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,746Fees
0.439%Above
1,343
46
NATIONS DIRECT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Strong
Strong
Strong
$3,193Fees
0.407%Above
642
47
NexBank
BankWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Strong
Strong
Strong
$1,429Fees
0.399%Above
602
48
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,725Fees
0.420%Above
2,887
49
THE GOLDEN 1
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$264Credit
0.044%Above
1,163
50
MASON MCDUFFIE MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Strong
$3,495Fees
0.440%Above
836

How We Rank Lenders

Our rankings use a weighted average of scores across equally-weighted categories to evaluate lenders on a linear, raw performance scale.

Our Point System (Max 40 Points)

10
Pricing
Rate and fee competitiveness (25%)
10
Pull Through
Reliability in closing loans (25%)
10
Product
Specialization in the loan type (25%)
10
Place
Local market expertise (25%)

Data Integrity & Updates

Data is updated quarterly based on the latest HMDA filings and proprietary SafeRate analysis. All metrics are calculated using standardized methodologies to ensure fair comparison across lenders.

⚖️ Licensing & Disclosures

Lender rankings and market statistics are created by Dylan Hall, licensed mortgage loan officer (NMLS #1658740). Safe Rate is a mortgage technology platform; mortgage lending services are provided by PartnerOwn LLC dba Safe Rate Mortgage, a licensed mortgage broker and lender (NMLS #1590949). Safe Rate Mortgage is a lending partner of some of the lenders ranked on this page, and Safe Rate Inc. has software or service customers on this list; however, all rankings are calculated using objective, public Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) datasets, completely independent of any corporate partnerships, client relationships, or compensation.