Better Mortgage
All-digital direct lender in all 50 states with 3-minute online pre-approval and FHA, VA and jumbo loans
Lender terms checked October 14, 2026See lender siteThe Bottom Line
- Min. credit score
- 580 (verified Oct 14, 2026). All rates and fees
Key facts
- Min. down (non-VA): 3.5%
- Loan types: Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
- Online pre-approval: Yes
Pros
- Online pre-approval in as little as 3 minutes with a soft credit check
- VA loans with no down payment; FHA from 3.5%; conventional from as little as 5%
- Jumbo loans up to $3 million in all 50 states and DC
- States it usually closes between 3 and 6 weeks after a rate lock
Cons
- The example rates on its page include about 2 discount points, so each APR is well above its rate
- Its own pages disagree on the minimum conventional credit score (620 in its FAQ, 580 in a 2025 article)
- The mortgage origination fee and rate lock fee are not published
- Jumbo needs a 700 credit score and 10.01% down
At a glance
Lender terms checked October 14, 2026- Lender type
- Online lender (direct lender)
- Loan purposes
- Purchase, Refinance, Cash-out refinance
- Loan types
- Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
- Minimum credit score
- 580 (580 for FHA, 620 for conventional (its FAQ) and VA, 700 for jumbo)
- Minimum down payment
- 0% (0% on VA, 3.5% on FHA, as low as 5% on conventional, 10.01% on jumbo)
- Minimum down payment without VA
- 3.5%
- Maximum DTI
- FHA: below 50%. Jumbo: no higher than 43%.
- Loan amounts
- Up to $3 million
- States served
- All 50 states and DC
- Online pre-approval
- Yes. In as little as 3 minutes, with a soft credit check
- Lender fees
- Better says it never charges unnecessary fees. No mortgage origination fee amount is published on the pages we read; third-party fees apply.
- Rate lock
- Typically 30 to 60 days (general guidance on its rates page). No lock fee is published.
- Closing time (lender's claim)
- Usually closes loans 3 to 6 weeks after the rate is locked
- NMLS ID
- 330511
Sources: better.com/mortgage-rates, better.com/faq/conventional-loans-faqs/what-cre…, read October 14, 2026
Sample pricing the lender publishes
Last verified October 14, 2026This is the lender's own example, not a quote for you. Stated as of October 14, 2026 (no year shown on the page). Its assumptions: Closing costs paid out of pocket, debt-to-income below 35%, single-family primary residence, 20% down, credit score 760 or higher. The page showed ZIP code 75011 and did not state the loan amount.
| Loan | Rate and APR | Points and payment |
|---|---|---|
| 30-year fixed | 6.990% rate, 7.253% APR | 2.18 points ($7,619) |
| 15-year fixed | 6.125% rate, 6.531% APR | 2.11 points ($7,399) |
| 30-year FHA | 6.500% rate, 7.563% APR | 2.27 points ($7,933) |
Things to know before you apply
- Every example rate on its page includes roughly 2.1 to 2.4 discount points, so the APRs run well above the rates.
- The rate table is built for a ZIP code and assumes a 760 or higher score, 20% down and debt-to-income under 35%. Better says your actual rate, payment and costs could be higher.
- Better's pages give two different minimum credit scores for a conventional loan: 620 in its FAQ and 580 in a 2025 article.
- Jumbo loans need a 700 score, 10.01% down and debt-to-income no higher than 43%.
Regulatory record
We found no CFPB enforcement action about mortgage lending by this lender on consumerfinance.gov. Searched the CFPB enforcement actions list on October 14, 2026 for Better Mortgage. That is not a clean bill of health: other regulators, courts and state agencies also act on lenders.
Where these numbers come from
Everything in the table above was read from the lender's own pages, listed here with the day we read them.
- Mortgage rates read October 14, 2026
- FAQ: conventional credit score read October 14, 2026
- FAQ: FHA credit score read October 14, 2026
- FAQ: states read October 14, 2026
- FAQ: jumbo loan amounts read October 14, 2026
- FAQ: closing time read October 14, 2026
- VA loans read October 14, 2026
NMLS ID 330511, as the lender prints it on its own site. Confirm its licenses in your state on NMLS Consumer Access (that site blocks automated checks, so we have not confirmed the lookup ourselves).
What is Better Mortgage?
Better Mortgage is an online direct lender that offers loans for buying a home, refinancing and cash-out refinancing. Where it lends: all 50 states and DC. On its own site it lists Conventional, FHA, VA and Jumbo loans.
Who can borrow, as the lender publishes it: Minimum credit score: 580 (580 for FHA, 620 for conventional (its FAQ) and VA, 700 for jumbo). Minimum down payment: 0% (0% on VA, 3.5% on FHA, as low as 5% on conventional, 10.01% on jumbo). Debt-to-income: FHA: below 50%. Jumbo: no higher than 43%.
Costs and timing: Better says it never charges unnecessary fees. No mortgage origination fee amount is published on the pages we read; third-party fees apply. Rate lock: Typically 30 to 60 days (general guidance on its rates page). No lock fee is published. Closing time (its own claim): Usually closes loans 3 to 6 weeks after the rate is locked.
Better Mortgage publishes an example rate table with its assumptions (shown on this page, dated October 14, 2026 (no year shown on the page)). It is the lender's illustration, not a quote for you: your own rate depends on your credit, down payment, property and state.
We read these figures from Better Mortgage's own pages on October 14, 2026; the pages are listed under 'Where these numbers come from'.
Key details
Conventional, FHA, VA and jumbo (up to $3 million)Online pre-approval in as little as 3 minutesAll 50 states and DCNMLS ID 330511
Explore more
Better Mortgage FAQ
What credit score does Better Mortgage require?
Better Mortgage publishes a minimum credit score of 580 (580 for FHA, 620 for conventional (its FAQ) and VA, 700 for jumbo). That is the lowest figure the lender states, not a promise of approval. Your own offer depends on your whole credit profile, so ask the lender.
How much do you need to put down at Better Mortgage?
The lowest down payment Better Mortgage publishes is 0% (0% on VA, 3.5% on FHA, as low as 5% on conventional, 10.01% on jumbo). Without VA eligibility, the lowest figure it publishes is 3.5%. Under 20% down, conventional loans usually add private mortgage insurance.
Does Better Mortgage charge fees?
Better says it never charges unnecessary fees. No mortgage origination fee amount is published on the pages we read; third-party fees apply. Rate lock: Typically 30 to 60 days (general guidance on its rates page). No lock fee is published. Closing costs also include third-party charges such as an appraisal and title services.
Can you get pre-approved online with Better Mortgage?
Yes. In as little as 3 minutes, with a soft credit check. A pre-approval is not a commitment to lend.
Is Better Mortgage licensed?
Better Mortgage prints NMLS ID 330511 on its own site. You can look up its licenses in your state on NMLS Consumer Access (nmlsconsumeraccess.org). We could not confirm the lookup ourselves because that site blocks automated checks.
Will Better Mortgage quote my rate here?
No. Financeradar is not a lender and we do not quote personal rates. We show what the lender publishes, with the date we checked it. Your own rate comes from an official offer from the lender.
Source: better.com