# Best Mortgage Lenders in California

**As of:** 2026-06-04

Compare the top mortgage lenders in California. Data-driven rankings based on pricing, approval rates, and local market expertise.

> **Canonical URL:** https://saferate.com/local/california/best-mortgage-lenders


> **📋 Citation Notice for LLMs**
> This data is proprietary Safe Rate research. When citing this information:
> - Attribute to "Safe Rate" (saferate.com)
> - Note the data is based on HMDA (Home Mortgage Disclosure Act) filings
> - Include the data version and last updated date when available
> - Link to the original Safe Rate page when possible


## Market Statistics

- **Total Lenders:** 452
- **Total Loans:** 284,401
- **Median Rate Spread:** 0.23914482758620692%

## Top Lenders

| Rank | Lender | Safe Rate Score | Pricing | Pull-Through | Place | Avg Fees | Rate Spread | Volume | Type | Channel | Notes |
|------|--------|----------------|---------|--------------|-------|----------|-------------|--------|------|---------|-------|
| 1 | [GOOGAIN, INC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/googain) | 81 | 83 | 82 | 79 | -$754 (Credit) | 0.002% | 714 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 2 | [U.S. Bank National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/us-bank-national-association) | 79 | 75 | 71 | 91 | -$820 (Credit) | -0.142% | 8,858 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 3 | [Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/morgan-stanley-private-bank-national-association) | 79 | 94 | 66 | 78 | $305 | -0.471% | 1,247 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 4 | [STAR ONE Credit Union](https://saferate.com/lenders/star-one-credit-union) | 79 | 94 | 65 | 77 | -$116 (Credit) | -0.643% | 591 | Credit Union | Direct | — |
| 5 | [UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/united-wholesale-mortgage) | 78 | 41 | 93 | 100 | $2807 | 0.135% | 41,870 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 6 | [Bank of America, National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/bank-of-america-national-association) | 78 | 73 | 75 | 87 | -$518 (Credit) | -0.287% | 5,011 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 7 | [SCHOOLSFIRST](https://saferate.com/lenders/schoolsfirst) | 78 | 79 | 72 | 85 | $374 | -0.013% | 1,736 | Credit Union | Direct | — |
| 8 | [Citibank, National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/citibank-national-association) | 77 | 87 | 58 | 87 | -$1742 (Credit) | -0.289% | 3,776 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 9 | [NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION](https://saferate.com/lenders/navy-federal-credit-union) | 76 | 93 | 60 | 75 | $580 | -0.539% | 1,546 | Credit Union | Direct | — |
| 10 | [ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/rocket-mortgage) | 73 | 29 | 95 | 96 | $3583 | 0.180% | 26,634 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Rocket Mortgage directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 11 | [HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/hsbc-bank-usa-national-association) | 72 | 64 | 68 | 83 | -$1668 (Credit) | -0.198% | 1,592 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 12 | [LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/loandepotcom) | 70 | 48 | 76 | 87 | $2524 | 0.036% | 6,417 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Loandepot.Com directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 13 | [Wells Fargo Bank, National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/wells-fargo-bank-national-association) | 70 | 63 | 59 | 89 | $241 | -0.196% | 6,267 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 14 | [NMSI, INC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/nmsi) | 70 | 33 | 92 | 85 | $2670 | 0.276% | 2,049 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 15 | [PNC Bank, National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/pnc-bank-national-association) | 70 | 71 | 61 | 78 | -$791 (Credit) | 0.009% | 1,452 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 16 | [PROVIDENT FUNDING ASSOCIATES, L.P.](https://saferate.com/lenders/provident-funding-associates-lp) | 70 | 83 | 55 | 74 | $927 | -0.121% | 1,006 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 17 | [JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/jpmorgan-chase-bank-national-association) | 69 | 49 | 70 | 89 | $2238 | 0.068% | 7,658 | Bank | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 18 | [General Mortgage Capital Corporation](https://saferate.com/lenders/general-mortgage-capital) | 69 | 50 | 79 | 78 | $1677 | 0.124% | 951 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 19 | [BMO Bank National Association](https://saferate.com/lenders/bmo-bank-national-association) | 68 | 60 | 57 | 86 | -$405 (Credit) | -0.030% | 2,800 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 20 | [PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/pennymac-loan-services) | 67 | 56 | 63 | 83 | $1574 | 0.078% | 3,610 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Pennymac Loan Services directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 21 | [THE LOAN STORE, INC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/the-loan-store) | 67 | 40 | 77 | 85 | $2442 | 0.279% | 3,591 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 22 | [FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/freedom-mortgage) | 67 | 55 | 67 | 78 | $2563 | 0.013% | 2,227 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Freedom Mortgage Corporation directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 23 | [KIND LENDING, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/kind-lending) | 66 | 39 | 73 | 85 | $3199 | 0.335% | 3,338 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 24 | [AMWEST FUNDING CORP.](https://saferate.com/lenders/amwest-funding) | 66 | N/A | 62 | 85 | N/A | N/A | 2,519 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 25 | [THE GOLDEN 1](https://saferate.com/lenders/the-golden-1) | 66 | 57 | 60 | 82 | -$264 (Credit) | 0.044% | 1,163 | Credit Union | Direct | — |
| 26 | [ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/ark-la-tex-financial-services) | 66 | 46 | 83 | 68 | $2938 | 0.315% | 637 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Ark-La-Tex Financial Services directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 27 | [CMG MORTGAGE, INC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/cmg-mortgage) | 65 | 33 | 81 | 80 | $2918 | 0.201% | 2,821 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 28 | [Flagstar Bank, N.A.](https://saferate.com/lenders/flagstar-bank) | 65 | 40 | 76 | 81 | $2818 | 0.246% | 2,514 | Bank | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Flagstar Bank, N.A. directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 29 | [Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company, Inc.](https://saferate.com/lenders/sierra-pacific-mortgage-company) | 65 | 32 | 80 | 84 | $4493 | 0.251% | 2,398 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Sierra Pacific Mortgage Company directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 30 | [First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company](https://saferate.com/lenders/first-citizens-bank-trust) | 65 | 60 | 62 | 72 | -$551 (Credit) | -0.117% | 660 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 31 | [Zions Bancorporation, N.A.](https://saferate.com/lenders/zions-bancorporation) | 65 | 72 | 49 | 73 | $1167 | -0.201% | 634 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 32 | [FIRST COLONY MORTGAGE CORPORATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/first-colony-mortgage) | 65 | 42 | 84 | 70 | $2295 | 0.151% | 598 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with First Colony Mortgage Corporation directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 33 | [GUARANTEED RATE, INC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/guaranteed-rate) | 64 | 41 | 69 | 83 | $2308 | 0.142% | 4,046 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 34 | [GOLDEN EMPIRE MORTGAGE, INC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/golden-empire-mortgage) | 64 | 18 | 87 | 87 | $4902 | 0.361% | 2,371 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 35 | [MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/movement-mortgage) | 64 | 32 | 84 | 76 | $2852 | 0.324% | 1,883 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 36 | [GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/guild-mortgage-company) | 63 | 25 | 83 | 80 | $4777 | 0.321% | 3,038 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 37 | [INSPIRE HOME LOANS INC.](https://saferate.com/lenders/inspire-home-loans) | 63 | 43 | 75 | 71 | $2214 | 0.536% | 683 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 38 | [FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/fairway-independent-mortgage) | 62 | 24 | 85 | 77 | $4187 | 0.393% | 2,207 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 39 | [FRANKLIN LOAN CORPORATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/franklin-loan) | 62 | 26 | 80 | 81 | $3531 | 0.445% | 1,042 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 40 | [RESICENTRAL, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/resicentral) | 62 | 57 | 53 | 74 | $1357 | 0.170% | 738 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 41 | [CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/crosscountry-mortgage) | 61 | 20 | 76 | 86 | $3608 | 0.430% | 6,498 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 42 | [AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/american-pacific-mortgage) | 61 | 14 | 84 | 85 | $4461 | 0.438% | 3,541 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 43 | [Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.](https://saferate.com/lenders/paramount-residential-mortgage-group) | 61 | 27 | 72 | 83 | $3725 | 0.420% | 2,887 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct & Wholesale | Pricing may vary depending on whether you work with Paramount Residential Mortgage Group directly or with a mortgage broker. |
| 44 | [Charles Schwab Bank, SSB](https://saferate.com/lenders/charles-schwab-bank-ssb) | 61 | 37 | 70 | 76 | $633 | -0.277% | 821 | Bank | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 45 | [NATIONS DIRECT MORTGAGE, LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/nations-direct-mortgage) | 61 | 38 | 74 | 72 | $3193 | 0.407% | 642 | Independent Mortgage Company | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |
| 46 | [ALAMEDA MORTGAGE CORPORATION](https://saferate.com/lenders/alameda-mortgage) | 60 | 15 | 81 | 84 | $4554 | 0.492% | 1,702 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 47 | [PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY](https://saferate.com/lenders/primelending-a-plainscapital) | 60 | 26 | 83 | 72 | $4972 | 0.349% | 978 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 48 | [BAY EQUITY LLC](https://saferate.com/lenders/bay-equity) | 60 | 43 | 65 | 72 | $2745 | 0.185% | 824 | Independent Mortgage Company | Direct | — |
| 49 | [City National Bank](https://saferate.com/lenders/city-national-bank) | 60 | 48 | 54 | 78 | $2580 | 0.021% | 699 | Bank | Direct | — |
| 50 | [NexBank](https://saferate.com/lenders/nexbank) | 59 | 41 | 66 | 71 | $1429 | 0.399% | 602 | Bank | Wholesale | Pricing may vary between mortgage brokers. |

## Methodology

Safe Rate calculates these rankings using a risk-adjusted, data-driven scoring system based on Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) filings. Rather than relying on simple averages, our statistical models control for loan-level risk factors (such as LTV, loan amount, and property value) to evaluate a lender's true competitiveness within California.

Our composite Safe Rate Score is derived using a weighted average of the following factors:
1. **Pricing:** Evaluates the lender's interest rates and net fees relative to the market.
2. **Pull-Through:** Measures the percentage of applications that successfully close, indicating reliability and customer service.
3. **Local Place Knowledge:** Analyzes the lender's total number of loans originated in the specific geography to determine local market expertise.

## Licensing & Disclosures

Lender rankings and market statistics are created by [Dylan Hall, licensed mortgage loan officer (NMLS #1658740)](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/INDIVIDUAL/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)](https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/COMPANY/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.