Safe Rate Rankings

Best USDA Mortgage Lenders in Ohio

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 Lenders350

Total Loans133,713

Median Rate Spread0.39%

Ohio Market Insights

United Wholesale Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked USDA lender in Ohio, leading on pricing, pullthrough, USDA product expertise, and local knowledge.
There is often a pricing vs. pullthrough tradeoff in mortgage lending. In Ohio, Fifth Third Bank National Association and Ark La Tex Financial Services scores highest on USDA pricing while First Community Mortgage and Ruoff Mortgage Company leads on likelihood to close. That is why we encourage speaking with multiple lenders.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #1 in Ohio, 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.

Explore Rankings by Type

Overall Rankings

All lenders in Ohio

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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	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,404Fees	0.296%Above	5,780
2	RUOFF MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,213Fees	0.372%Above	1,958
3	NEWREZ LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,861Fees	0.535%Above	1,398
4	FIRST COMMUNITY MORTGAGE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Exceptional	Strong	$3,000Fees	0.461%Above	999
5	Union Savings Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	$984Fees	0.172%Above	3,119
6	Fifth Third Bank, National Association BankDirect	Strong	Exceptional	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$610Fees	0.329%Above	3,118
7	ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Strong*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$1,154Fees	0.448%Above	298
8	EQUITY RESOURCES, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$1,605Fees	0.389%Above	728
9	The Huntington National Bank BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$299Fees	0.429%Above	8,206
10	LOWER, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,803Fees	0.616%Above	1,789
11	U.S. Bank National Association BankDirect	Strong	Strong	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$1,057Fees	0.311%Above	1,603
12	GUARANTEED RATE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$2,386Fees	0.294%Above	2,530
13	CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$3,360Fees	0.722%Above	8,629
14	UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Mediocre*	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$3,254Fees	0.761%Above	3,651
15	FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$3,004Fees	0.585%Above	2,217
16	PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,635Fees	0.591%Above	1,028
17	T2 FINANCIAL LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,186Fees	0.547%Above	552
18	Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,777Fees	0.642%Above	455
19	Flagstar Bank, N.A. BankDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Sound*	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,341Fees	0.583%Above	642
20	FIRST OHIO HOME FINANCE, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	—	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	—	—	638
21	Nations Lending Corporation Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,137Fees	0.514%Above	512
22	WesBanco Bank, Inc. BankDirect	Strong	Sound	Strong	Sound	Strong	$1,462Fees	0.199%Above	414
23	LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale	Strong	Acceptable*	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$2,299Fees	0.566%Above	1,927
24	HOWARD HANNA FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$2,332Fees	0.349%Above	1,621
25	DAS Acquisition Company, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,790Fees	0.697%Above	855
26	POLARIS HOME FUNDING CORP. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Exceptional	$3,591Fees	0.761%Above	670
27	Mortgage Research Center, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Exceptional	$1,522Fees	0.698%Above	2,573
28	The Union Bank Company BankDirect	Strong	Strong	—	Sound	Strong	$1,024Fees	0.221%Above	274
29	NFM, INC. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Acceptable	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$3,704Fees	0.644%Above	2,434
30	Ixonia Bank BankDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,422Fees	0.871%Above	890
31	MOVEMENT MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Strong	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$2,835Fees	0.529%Above	389
32	NATIONS RELIABLE LENDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Strong	Strong	$3,146Fees	0.621%Above	284
33	BAYSHORE MORTGAGE FUNDING, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$2,921Fees	0.588%Above	293
34	Click n' Close, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Exceptional	Sound	Strong	$5,349Fees	1.651%Above	534
35	LIBERTY HOME MORTGAGE CORPORATION Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$3,253Fees	0.866%Above	652
36	RAPID MORTGAGE COMPANY Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Strong	Sound	Exceptional	$3,835Fees	0.680%Above	625
37	Synergy One Lending, Inc. Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Acceptable	Sound	Sound	Exceptional	$3,266Fees	0.544%Above	850
38	GO MORTGAGE, LLC Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect	Sound	Mediocre	Sound	Acceptable	Strong	$2,781Fees	0.570%Above	454

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Ohio?+

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 Ohio), 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 Ohio?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 350 lenders originated a combined 133,713 loans in Ohio. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Ohio is 0.39%. 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 Ohio'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.