Safe Rate Rankings

Best VA Mortgage Lenders in Baltimore

Updated June 4, 2026

Rankings are a starting point, not a verdict. Safe Rate recommends speaking with 2-3 lenders to find the right fit for your home loan!

⚖️ 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.

Market

Total Lenders212

Total Loans31,415

Median Rate Spread0.28%

Baltimore Market Insights

United Wholesale Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked VA lender in Baltimore, leading on pricing, pullthrough, VA product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Baltimore, Navy Federal Credit Union and Guaranteed Rate scores highest on VA pricing while First Home Mortgage and Nfm leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #1 in Baltimore, serving as the platform behind many independent local brokers who live and work in the community. A local broker knows the neighborhoods, the local market, and is personally invested in your outcome. Real estate agents often prefer referring local brokers for their accessibility and responsiveness, qualities that matter when a deal is moving fast. Pricing and experience can vary by broker.
Popular names in Baltimore: Rocket Mortgage (#7) and First Home Mortgage (#8).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Baltimore

Need rankings for a different loan product?

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By Institution Type

Banks Credit Unions Mortgage Companies

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Rank	Lender	Overall	Pricing	Product	Pull Through	Place	Avg Fees	Rate Spread	# of Loans
1	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Exceptional	Strong*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,993Fees	0.096%Above	1,767
2	NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$636Fees	0.456%Below	685
3	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,219Fees	0.102%Above	202
4	NFM, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$4,273Fees	0.392%Above	1,197
5	Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,630Fees	0.309%Above	506
6	Ameris Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$3,171Fees	0.249%Above	255
7	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$4,143Fees	0.282%Above	2,545
8	FIRST HOME MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$4,875Fees	0.376%Above	1,754
9	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,372Fees	0.164%Above	537
10	First National Bank of Pennsylvania BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,543Fees	0.039%Above	357
11	CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,707Fees	0.251%Above	321
12	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,472Fees	0.266%Above	468
13	GUARANTEED RATE AFFINITY, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,217Fees	0.219%Above	263
14	First Heritage Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,891Fees	0.096%Above	170
15	MERIDIAN BANK BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,057Fees	0.194%Above	723
16	Towne Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,593Fees	0.161%Above	642
17	Truist Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$629Credit	0.066%Below	494
18	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,032Fees	0.367%Above	591
19	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,585Fees	0.097%Below	308
20	SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$3,361Fees	0.393%Above	209
21	HOMESPIRE MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$4,627Fees	0.637%Above	171
22	ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$1,244Fees	0.364%Above	96
23	KEYSTONE FUNDING, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$2,594Fees	0.342%Above	80
24	Sandy Spring Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,144Fees	0.231%Above	268
25	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,284Fees	0.114%Above	261
26	PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,933Fees	0.150%Above	162
27	Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$844Fees	0.079%Above	398
28	United Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,838Fees	0.225%Below	186
29	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$349Fees	0.019%Above	109
30	AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,619Fees	0.700%Above	90
31	NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,477Fees	0.318%Above	349
32	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,704Fees	0.417%Above	435
33	Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,675Fees	0.456%Above	409
34	DAS Acquisition Company, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,177Fees	0.114%Above	374
35	BAY CAPITAL MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,832Fees	0.175%Above	334
36	EMBRACE HOME LOANS, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Strong	Strong	$3,406Fees	0.290%Above	253
37	Presidential Bank, FSB BankDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$3,958Fees	0.253%Above	177
38	Atlantic Coast Mortgage, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$3,408Fees	0.133%Above	124
39	FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$1,474Fees	0.322%Above	120
40	USAA Federal Savings Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,607Fees	0.112%Below	89
41	PENTAGON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Credit UnionDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$3,221Fees	0.187%Below	81
42	BAY EQUITY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,144Fees	0.089%Above	237
43	Shore United Bank, N.A. BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$2,590Fees	0.144%Above	193
44	Plains Commerce Bank BankWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,607Fees	0.208%Above	152
45	Vellum Mortgage, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Strong	$3,300Fees	0.235%Above	102
46	WesBanco Bank, Inc. BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Sound	Strong	$1,650Fees	0.222%Above	100
47	ATLANTIC BAY MORTGAGE GROUP, L.L.C. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,867Fees	0.476%Above	86
48	Wells Fargo Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,934Fees	0.029%Above	259
49	Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,060Fees	0.253%Above	168
50	AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$5,131Fees	0.632%Above	136

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Baltimore?+

Safe Rate ranks lenders using the 4 Ps framework, derived entirely from HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) data: Pricing (how competitively a lender prices loans vs. the market benchmark), Pullthrough (how effectively a lender closes applications), Place (the lender's depth of expertise in Baltimore), and Product (performance on specific loan types). Each lender receives a composite Safe Rate Score from 0–100. No lender pays to appear in the rankings.

What is the Safe Rate Score?+

The Safe Rate Score is a 0–100 composite index measuring a lender's performance across Pricing, Pullthrough, Place, and Product. Scores of 80 or above earn Champion status; scores of 60–79 earn Superstar status. All scores are calculated from verified HMDA data — no lender can pay to improve their position.

How many mortgage lenders are active in Baltimore?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 212 lenders originated a combined 31,415 loans in Baltimore. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

What does the rate spread tell me about a lender in Baltimore?+

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Baltimore is 0.28%. Lenders in Safe Rate's top rankings consistently price below this median, meaning borrowers typically pay less interest over the life of their loan.

What is HMDA data and why does Safe Rate use it?+

HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) is a federal law requiring every mortgage lender to disclose every loan application annually — including rates, amounts, approvals, and denials. Safe Rate uses HMDA because it is government-verified, covers all lenders equally, and cannot be gamed. It is the most objective foundation available for lender rankings.

Does Safe Rate accept payment from lenders to appear in rankings?+

No. Safe Rate rankings are strictly data-driven. No lender can pay to appear in or improve their position in Safe Rate's rankings. The only factor that determines a lender's rank is their verified HMDA performance data.

What is the difference between a bank, credit union, and independent mortgage company?+

Banks and credit unions offer mortgages alongside checking, savings, and other products. Independent Mortgage Companies (IMCs) focus exclusively on originating loans and often offer more product variety and speed. In Baltimore's rankings, all three institution types are evaluated on the same HMDA performance metrics.

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)

Pricing

Rate and fee competitiveness (25%)

Pull Through

Reliability in closing loans (25%)

Product

Specialization in the loan type (25%)

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.