Safe Rate Rankings

Best USDA Mortgage Lenders in Texas

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 Lenders575
Total Loans348,941
Median Rate Spread0.32%
Texas Market Insights
  • Velocio Mortgage is Safe Rate's top-ranked USDA lender in Texas, leading on pricing, pullthrough, USDA product expertise, and local knowledge.
  • Velocio Mortgage and Plains Commerce Bank leads on both USDA pricing and pullthrough, with competitive rates and a strong track record of closing.
  • United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) ranks #2 in Texas, 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 Texas

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RankLenderOverallPricingProductPull ThroughPlaceAvg FeesRate Spread# of LoansAction
1
VELOCIO MORTGAGE L.L.C.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
Exceptional
$1,122Fees
0.789%Below
2,479
2
UNITED WHOLESALE MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,559Fees
0.137%Above
28,295
3
GUILD MORTGAGE COMPANY LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,075Fees
0.465%Above
5,244
4
ARK-LA-TEX FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$1,886Fees
0.086%Above
4,738
5
LENDLO MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Exceptional
Strong*
Exceptional
Exceptional
Strong
$2,716Fees
0.375%Below
1,011
6
CMG MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,066Fees
0.215%Above
7,909
7
NEWREZ LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,724Fees
0.385%Above
1,993
8
V.I.P. MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,277Fees
0.177%Above
1,083
9
Plains Commerce Bank
BankWholesale
Strong
Strong*
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$2,903Fees
0.292%Above
927
10
KIND LENDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$2,619Fees
0.337%Above
1,517
11
INTERLINC MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,315Fees
0.128%Below
1,267
12
ALLIANCE CREDIT UNION
Credit UnionDirect
Strong
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
Exceptional
$1,177Fees
0.165%Above
832
13
PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,048Fees
0.203%Above
5,576
14
Equity Prime Mortgage LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,376Fees
0.818%Above
1,273
15
LOWER, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,933Fees
0.427%Above
2,838
16
Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,338Fees
0.302%Above
2,180
17
FAIRWAY INDEPENDENT MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,480Fees
0.437%Above
6,671
18
GUARANTEED RATE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,013Fees
0.219%Above
3,216
19
Flagstar Bank, N.A.
BankDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$2,696Fees
0.252%Above
2,694
20
Gateway First Bank
BankDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,700Fees
0.465%Above
2,008
21
SWBC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,164Fees
0.308%Above
1,549
22
T2 FINANCIAL LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$2,856Fees
0.392%Above
1,478
23
PLAZA HOME MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyWholesale
Strong
Sound*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,086Fees
0.270%Above
1,202
24
LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$2,220Fees
0.003%Above
7,812
25
CARDINAL FINANCIAL COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Acceptable*
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,840Fees
0.504%Above
2,225
26
MORTGAGE FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$2,478Fees
0.430%Above
1,649
27
CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,501Fees
0.575%Above
5,161
28
HIGHLANDS RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE, LTD.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,575Fees
0.480%Above
2,580
29
NATIONS RELIABLE LENDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$4,195Fees
0.523%Above
2,241
30
CORNERSTONE CAPITAL BANK, SSB
BankDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,496Fees
0.105%Above
2,043
31
INSPIRE HOME LOANS INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Sound
Exceptional
Sound
Exceptional
$1,574Fees
0.762%Above
1,364
32
UNION HOME MORTGAGE CORP.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect & Wholesale
Strong
Mediocre*
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$3,802Fees
0.476%Above
1,056
33
RIGHT START MORTGAGE, INC.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Strong
Strong
Exceptional
$4,289Fees
0.772%Above
1,525
34
AMERICAN PACIFIC MORTGAGE CORPORATION
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,461Fees
0.470%Above
1,170
35
DAS Acquisition Company, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Strong
$4,044Fees
0.427%Above
718
36
NEW AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Mediocre
Exceptional
Strong
Exceptional
$3,644Fees
0.572%Above
2,793
37
SFMC, LP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Strong
Acceptable
Strong
Exceptional
$4,176Fees
0.281%Above
3,353
38
Click n' Close, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Exceptional
Sound
Strong
$5,798Fees
1.743%Above
1,284
39
SOUTHWEST FUNDING, LP
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Strong
Sound
Strong
$4,752Fees
0.738%Above
813
40
NETWORK FUNDING, L.P.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Sound
Acceptable
Exceptional
2,103
41
Synergy One Lending, Inc.
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Acceptable
Sound
Sound
Strong
$4,517Fees
0.428%Above
721
42
SECURITYNATIONAL MORTGAGE COMPANY
Independent Mortgage CompanyDirect
Sound
Mediocre
Sound
Acceptable
Exceptional
$4,859Fees
0.776%Above
1,203

Frequently Asked Questions

How are mortgage lenders ranked in Texas?+

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 Texas), 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 Texas?+

Based on 2024 HMDA data, 575 lenders originated a combined 348,941 loans in Texas. Safe Rate's rankings evaluate all of them — not just a curated shortlist.

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

Rate spread measures how much above the Average Prime Offer Rate (APOR) a lender charges. The median rate spread in Texas is 0.32%. 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 Texas'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.