Safe Rate Rankings

Best VA Mortgage Lenders in New Jersey

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.
Total Lenders310
Total Loans85,018
Median Rate Spread0.30%
New Jersey Market Insights
  • United Wholesale Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked VA lender in New Jersey, leading on pricing, pullthrough, VA product expertise, and local knowledge.
  • There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In New Jersey, Nbkc Bank and Navy Federal Credit Union scores highest on VA pricing while Nation One Mortgage and United Wholesale Mortgage leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #1 in New Jersey, 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 New Jersey: Rocket Mortgage (#8) and Crosscountry Mortgage (#17).

Explore Rankings by Type

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RankLenderOverallPricingProductPull ThroughPlaceAvg FeesRate Spread# of LoansAction
1
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,539Fees
0.175%Above
4,989
2
GUARANTEED RATE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,386Fees
0.126%Above
2,925
3
NJ LENDERS CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$1,597Fees
0.013%Above
2,180
4
NATION ONE MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,253Fees
0.627%Above
896
5
NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Credit UnionDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$553Fees
0.435%Below
493
6
NBKC BANK
BankDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$416Fees
0.243%Below
180
7
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,572Fees
0.396%Above
1,443
8
ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$4,433Fees
0.239%Above
6,687
9
Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,893Fees
0.330%Above
1,034
10
GUARANTEED RATE AFFINITY, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,546Fees
0.207%Above
887
11
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,883Fees
0.137%Above
2,270
12
MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,746Fees
0.385%Above
1,407
13
U.S. Bank National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$211Fees
0.090%Below
959
14
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$2,377Fees
0.057%Above
2,089
15
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,337Fees
0.204%Above
1,267
16
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,177Fees
0.179%Above
963
17
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,342Fees
0.372%Above
5,464
18
NFM, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$2,959Fees
0.414%Above
1,163
19
Advisors Mortgage Group, L.L.C.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$2,314Fees
0.271%Above
1,736
20
AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD MORTGAGE ACCEPTANCE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,958Fees
0.507%Above
1,716
21
AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,878Fees
0.503%Above
300
22
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$1,979Fees
0.317%Above
198
23
Citizens Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
$694Fees
0.045%Below
862
24
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$3,699Fees
0.373%Above
727
25
MORTGAGE ACCESS CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Strong
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$3,273Fees
0.317%Above
465
26
KIND LENDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,940Fees
0.455%Above
246
27
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,709Fees
0.397%Above
975
28
Gateway First Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,858Fees
0.485%Above
541
29
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$1,494Fees
0.101%Below
1,556
30
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,422Fees
0.535%Above
1,100
31
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,984Fees
0.362%Above
297
32
EMBRACE HOME LOANS, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$2,530Fees
0.304%Above
491
33
EMM LOANS LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,847Fees
0.464%Above
467
34
GREENTREE MORTGAGE COMPANY, L.P.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$2,576Fees
0.463%Above
1,384
35
Mortgage Research Center, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,674Fees
0.774%Above
560
36
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,833Fees
0.420%Above
526
37
MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$640Fees
0.113%Below
346
38
PLAZA HOME MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,666Fees
0.478%Above
331
39
PINNACLE MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$1,088Fees
0.054%Above
231
40
NATIONS DIRECT MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$1,593Fees
0.222%Above
195
41
Plains Commerce Bank
BankWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,944Fees
0.136%Above
172
42
CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,115Fees
0.517%Above
336
43
OceanFirst Bank, National Association
BankDirect
Strong
Strong
Sound
Sound
Exceptional
$303Credit
0.225%Below
1,006
44
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,620Fees
0.290%Above
672
45
1st Colonial Community Bank
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
$1,972Fees
0.218%Above
271
46
Nations Lending Corporation
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$4,137Fees
0.577%Above
225
47
ABSOLUTE HOME MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$3,564Fees
0.473%Above
1,540
48
NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$3,114Fees
0.515%Above
697
49
ALLIED MORTGAGE GROUP, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$3,223Fees
0.396%Above
416
50
Acre Mortgage & Financial, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Strong
Exceptional
Exceptional
$3,732Fees
0.585%Above
332

Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in New Jersey?+

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 New Jersey), 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 New Jersey?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 310 lenders originated a combined 85,018 loans in New Jersey. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in New Jersey is 0.30%. 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 New Jersey'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)

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.