Safe Rate Rankings

Best FHA Mortgage Lenders in New Orleans

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 Lenders83

Total Loans6,170

Median Rate Spread0.37%

New Orleans Market Insights

United Wholesale Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked FHA lender in New Orleans, leading on pricing, pullthrough, FHA product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In New Orleans, Dsld Mortgage and Pennymac Loan Services scores highest on FHA pricing while Americas Mortgage Resource and Rocket Mortgage leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #1 in New Orleans, 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 Orleans: Rocket Mortgage (#5) and Fidelity Bank La (#7).

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in New Orleans

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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	UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale	Exceptional	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,218Fees	0.375%Above	533
2	DSLD MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$166Fees	0.096%Below	94
3	GMFS LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Exceptional	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,585Fees	0.297%Above	380
4	HANCOCK WHITNEY BANK BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,579Fees	0.141%Above	247
5	ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Exceptional	$3,814Fees	0.424%Above	499
6	Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$1,948Fees	0.329%Above	359
7	FIDELITY BANK BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$3,701Fees	0.334%Above	429
8	FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,042Fees	0.307%Above	131
9	America's Mortgage Resource, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Exceptional	$2,045Fees	0.187%Above	117
10	PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$798Fees	0.140%Above	65
11	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,745Fees	0.457%Above	291
12	First Horizon Bank BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$2,044Fees	0.123%Above	253
13	Flagstar Bank, N.A. BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,177Fees	0.308%Above	54
14	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,730Fees	0.555%Above	53
15	INTERLINC MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,907Fees	0.417%Above	29
16	STANDARD MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	Strong	$1,731Fees	0.001%Below	79
17	Regions Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,729Fees	0.410%Above	107
18	JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$2,184Fees	0.202%Above	285
19	CMG MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,953Fees	0.558%Above	53
20	PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$1,247Fees	0.600%Above	30
21	NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,265Fees	0.420%Above	63
22	T2 FINANCIAL LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$3,897Fees	0.335%Above	46
23	CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,329Fees	0.551%Above	24
24	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,053Fees	0.598%Above	130
25	THE MORTGAGE FIRM, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$2,922Fees	0.554%Above	60
26	PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$4,101Fees	0.494%Above	48
27	Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$1,978Fees	0.523%Above	121
28	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$3,979Fees	0.667%Above	18
29	Equity Prime Mortgage LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,395Fees	0.922%Above	67
30	LOWER, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,726Fees	0.485%Above	32
31	MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS OF COLORADO, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,188Fees	0.604%Above	20
32	Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,070Fees	0.644%Above	17
33	Nations Lending Corporation Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$1,595Fees	0.576%Above	14
34	NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,443Fees	0.635%Above	66
35	AMERICAN FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Sound	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$2,662Fees	0.801%Above	26
36	Assurance Financial Group, L.L.C. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$3,358Fees	0.570%Above	20
37	SOUTHWEST FUNDING, LP Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$4,427Fees	1.032%Above	80
38	SUMMIT FUNDING, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Exceptional	Sound	$3,447Fees	0.998%Above	27
39	MUTUAL OF OMAHA MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$2,721Fees	0.235%Above	29
40	LOANSTEADY LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Sound	Strong	Strong	Sound	$2,617Fees	0.555%Above	16
41	NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$4,296Fees	0.290%Above	42
42	PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	$3,161Fees	0.620%Above	19
43	CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Sound	$4,820Fees	0.735%Above	18
44	Click n' Close, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$6,561Fees	1.840%Above	48
45	Goldwater Bank, N.A. BankDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	Sound	Sound	$3,061Fees	0.359%Above	30

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in New Orleans?+

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 Orleans), 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 Orleans?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 83 lenders originated a combined 6,170 loans in New Orleans. 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 Orleans?+

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in New Orleans is 0.37%. 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 Orleans'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.