Safe Rate Rankings

Best FHA Mortgage Lenders in Baton Rouge

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 Lenders93

Total Loans7,949

Median Rate Spread0.43%

Baton Rouge Market Insights

Dsld Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked FHA lender in Baton Rouge, leading on pricing, pullthrough, FHA product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Baton Rouge, Dsld Mortgage and Red River Bank scores highest on FHA pricing while Residential Acceptance and Rocket Mortgage leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #3 in Baton Rouge, 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 Baton Rouge: Rocket Mortgage (#6) and Gmfs (#2).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Baton Rouge

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By Institution Type

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Rank	Lender	Overall	Pricing	Product	Pull Through	Place	Avg Fees	Rate Spread	# of Loans
1	DSLD MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$90Fees	0.119%Below	566
2	GMFS LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Exceptional	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,889Fees	0.250%Above	1,452
3	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,602Fees	0.372%Above	664
4	HANCOCK WHITNEY BANK BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,339Fees	0.061%Above	288
5	Red River Bank BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	Strong	$995Fees	0.122%Below	92
6	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$4,057Fees	0.407%Above	391
7	ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,025Fees	0.436%Above	116
8	Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,871Fees	0.281%Above	191
9	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,944Fees	0.259%Above	148
10	RESIDENTIAL ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	$5,910Fees	0.282%Above	110
11	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$320Fees	0.020%Below	33
12	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,944Fees	0.437%Above	50
13	Flagstar Bank, N.A. BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,718Fees	0.368%Above	46
14	Cadence Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,364Fees	0.382%Above	39
15	Assurance Financial Group, L.L.C. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,488Fees	0.372%Above	378
16	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,701Fees	0.320%Above	202
17	Regions Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$3,149Fees	0.262%Above	130
18	FIDELITY BANK BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,741Fees	0.339%Above	172
19	NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,144Fees	0.444%Above	137
20	FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$1,790Fees	0.449%Above	88
21	CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,380Fees	0.381%Above	77
22	CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,940Fees	0.725%Above	54
23	STANDARD MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	Sound	$1,443Fees	0.075%Below	32
24	GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,459Fees	0.772%Above	58
25	First Horizon Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	$1,679Fees	0.079%Above	64
26	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$3,118Fees	0.724%Above	60
27	LOWER, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,824Fees	0.531%Above	128
28	THE MORTGAGE FIRM, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$1,975Fees	0.524%Above	77
29	NETWORK FUNDING, L.P. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	—	Strong	Strong	Sound	—	—	19
30	SUN WEST MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,146Fees	0.468%Above	65
31	UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$2,390Fees	0.264%Above	40
32	HOMEBRIDGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Strong	Sound	$1,659Fees	0.358%Above	24
33	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,325Fees	0.650%Above	84
34	OCMBC, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$4,420Fees	1.313%Above	18
35	HOMESPIRE MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,711Fees	0.450%Above	42
36	Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,954Fees	0.525%Above	20
37	MORTGAGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,619Fees	0.236%Above	19
38	Equity Prime Mortgage LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,026Fees	0.772%Above	71
39	PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,182Fees	0.672%Above	66
40	GENEVA FINANCIAL, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$3,589Fees	0.785%Above	31
41	CANOPY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,669Fees	0.652%Above	26
42	AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$657Fees	0.855%Above	18
43	MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$3,753Fees	0.437%Above	23
44	SUMMIT FUNDING, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$4,463Fees	0.373%Above	18
45	NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$3,200Fees	0.813%Above	28
46	NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,005Fees	0.489%Above	53
47	Wolfe Financial, Inc Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Strong	Strong	Strong	$4,137Fees	0.608%Above	52
48	AMERICAN FINANCIAL RESOURCES, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,495Fees	0.665%Above	28
49	Cornerstone First Mortgage, Inc Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Strong	Strong	Sound	$2,036Fees	0.456%Above	23
50	SOUTHWEST FUNDING, LP Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,730Fees	0.818%Above	22

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Baton Rouge, LA?+

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 Baton Rouge, LA), 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 Baton Rouge, LA?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 93 lenders originated a combined 7,949 loans in Baton Rouge, LA. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

What does the rate spread tell me about a lender in Baton Rouge, LA?+

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Baton Rouge, LA is 0.43%. 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 Baton Rouge, LA'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.