loanDepot mortgage rates
loanDepot does not show current mortgage or refinance rates on its website, loandepot.com. Home buyers will have to ask for a quote to see loanDepot’s mortgage rates, which requires you to add personal details and contact information.
However, we did get a sense of how loanDepot rates stack up by looking at average 30-year mortgage rates from 2021 (the most recent data available).
On average, it seems that loanDepot mortgage rates are a little bit lower than the competition, while its lender fees are middle of the line.
Average mortgage rates at major lenders
| Better Mortgage | Rocket Mortgage | Wells Fargo | Freedom Mortgage | |
| Avg 30-Yr Interest Rate, 20211 | 2.99% | 3.00% | 3.14% | 2.66% |
| Median Total Loan Costs, 20211 | $4,390 | $4,670 | $3,600 | $3,880 |
| Median Origination Fee, 20211 | $1,600 | $2,430 | $1,330 | $0 |
Average rate and fee data sourced from public rate and fee records required by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Mortgage interest rates have risen since 2021, and the rates you’ll get today will likely be higher, too. But this data can still help you compare rate offerings between mortgage providers.
Find your lowest mortgage rate. Start hereLoanDepot mortgage review for 2024
Despite being a relatively new mortgage company, loanDepot has quickly grown into a serious player.
From its headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California, loanDepot is licensed to operate in all 50 states and has almost 200 branches or “lending stores.” It’s also one of America’s largest mortgage lenders according to data filed under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.
So, what’s loanDepot’s secret to success? Many borrowers choose the company for its innovative technology and good customer support.
From loan application to closing, your entire loan process can be managed online. Furthermore, loanDepot says it “matches borrowers through technology and high-touch customer care with the credit they need to fuel their lives.” That makes it sound like a dating website for money, which isn’t a bad analogy.
The company’s main proprietary technology, called “mello smartloan,” pairs borrowers with loans based on their income, employment, and assets — all of which happens online. Ideally, this should make the process of getting a home loan simpler and faster.
But with loanDepot’s decision not to post rates online, you’ll have to commit to a preapproval application in order to learn whether it’s the cheapest lender for you.
Working with loanDepot
Unless you happen to live near one of loanDepot’s few branches, you’ll likely end up handling the majority of your home financing online, backed up by phone calls with one of the company’s thousands of licensed loan officers.
Of course, this digital-first method won’t be a drawback for the sort of tech-savvy customers loanDepot means to attract.
The loanDepot website feels modern and welcoming. It lets you apply online, upload documents securely and check your application’s status. Ultimately, you’ll be put in touch with a loan officer to finish the process.
What is mello smartloan?
loanDepot’s Mello smartloan digitizes and automates many of the steps involved in processing a loan application.
It verifies your income, assets, and employment; checks your credit; organizes your appraisal, title insurance, and flooding status; and lets you close online. The company estimates its technology could shave up to 17 days off normal closing times.
loanDepot customer service reviews
Customers are generally satisfied with their loanDepot mortgage or refinance experience.
The company scored 856 out of 1,000 points on J.D. Power’s most recent customer satisfaction survey and has fewer than one complaint per thousand customers registered with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Mortgage-related complaints at major lenders
| CFPB Complaints, 20214 | Complaints Per 1,000 Mortgages, 20215 | J.D. Power Satisfaction Score, 20216 | |
| loanDepot | 213 | 0.38 | 856/1,000 |
| Rocket Mortgage | 376 | 0.24 | 876/1,000 |
| Wells Fargo | 488 | 0.58 | 832/1,000 |
| Freedom Mortgage | 262 | 0.35 | 829/1,000 |
Mortgage loan products at loanDepot
loanDepot has a broader range of mortgage programs than some of its competitors. That means different types of home buyers and homeowners should be able to find a fitting loan — from those with low down payments and challenging credit to multi-million dollar borrowers.
loanDepot offers the following types of mortgage loan programs:
- Conventional loan: This loan option conforms to loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which are currently $ in most parts of the country. In some instances, home buyers can qualify for a conventional mortgage with as little as 3% down payment and a FICO score of 620
- FHA loans: Backed by the Federal Housing Administration, this type of loan lets you borrow with down payments as small as 3.5% of the purchase price and have more flexible credit requirements. FHA loans are popular with first-time home buyers, but they are available to all. Note that mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) are required for the life of the loan
- VA loans: This loan program is backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and it allows eligible service members and veterans to borrow with zero down payment, no continuing mortgage insurance payments, and easier credit hurdles
- FHA 230(k) loans: These are special loans for fixer-upper homes that let you finance up to $35,000 more than the home’s value for necessary repairs
- Jumbo loans: This type of loan offers a higher cap than conforming loans, generally for mortgages over $. LoanDepot lets you borrow loan amounts up to $3 million
- Fixed-rate mortgages: Most borrowers opt for a 30-year mortgage with a fixed rate, though fixed-rate loan options are available with 10-, 15- or 20-year loan terms
- Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs): Offers a lower rate, which is fixed for an initial period of 3, 5, 7, or 10 years, and a floating rate for the rest of the loan term
If you can’t decide which home purchase loan will suit you best, a loanDepot loan officer can help you choose.
loanDepot home improvement financing
At the time of writing, loanDepot didn’t offer home equity loans or home equity lines of credit (HELOCs). Although the company announced plans to offer a HELOC sometime in 2022.
However, it does have a few types of home improvement financing including FHA 203k renovation loans, cash-out refinancing, and personal loans.
The FHA 203k combines a home mortgage and renovation costs into a single loan. It’s a great option for people buying older homes or fixer-uppers that will need major improvements right off the bat. You can also use an FHA 203k from loanDepot to refinance.
Cash-out refinancing is another way to finance home improvements. Using a cash-out refinance, you can tap your home’s equity and put the cash to work however you choose. You can also lock in a lower mortgage rate if rates have fallen since you first took the loan out.
loanDepot also offers personal loans, which can be used for home improvements. Personal loans might be a good option if you don’t have enough equity in your home to use a cash-out refinance.
However, interest rates for personal loans are typically a lot higher than mortgage rates. So weigh your options carefully.
Refinancing with loanDepot
Homeowners who do not want to cash out home equity can still use a rate-and-term refinance loan to lower their interest rates or mortgage payments.
Refinancing is when a homeowner gets a new mortgage loan to replace their current one. The new loan should help them save money or meet another financial goal.
Keep in mind that a mortgage refinance involves going through the loan application process again and paying another round of underwriting fees and closing costs. However, those with an FHA loan can avoid appraisal fees when using an FHA Streamline Refinance with loanDepot.
loanDepot lifetime guarantee program
LoanDepot claims that with its Lifetime Guarantee homeowners will not pay underwriting fees when their original mortgage is a loanDepot loan. Plus, it will reimburse any appraisal fees when refinancing.
From its website:
“After you finance with us the first time, we'll waive our lender fees and reimburse your appraisal fee when you refinance your home with loanDepot in the future.”
Verify your new rateWhere can you get a loan with loanDepot?
NMLS ID: 174457
LoanDepot has over 200 branch locations across the U.S. You can also apply online for a loanDepot mortgage or refinance online in any state.
Overall, the company seems geared more toward tech-savvy borrowers than those who prefer a traditional experience.
That’s not to say you’ll be on your own, adrift in cyberspace. LoanDepot employs thousands of licensed loan officers, and you’ll have one assigned to your mortgage application to help you through the loan process.
Is LoanDepot the best mortgage lender for you?
If you’re gung-ho about getting the whole mortgage process done online, loanDepot is likely a good place to start.
With such a large volume of customers and consistently high satisfaction scores, it’s a safe bet your mortgage or refinance process with loanDepot will go smoothly.
Just remember that rates and costs vary by customer. Make sure loanDepot’s convenience comes hand in hand with a low rate and reasonable closing costs before signing on.
That means checking interest rates from at least three to five lenders before you settle on a mortgage. Comparison shopping often saves borrowers hundreds or thousands of dollars, so don’t skip this step!
Methodology
The Mortgage Reports considers multiple factors when reviewing lenders. These factors include credit and down payment requirements, loan types offered, customer service indicators, and availability of online tools. We then use these factors to rank lenders in four categories:
- Lending flexibility: Includes the number of loan types offered, special programs offered, minimum down payment requirements, and minimum credit score requirements
- Customer service: Includes CFPB complaints per 1,000 loans and average rating from other top rating services
- Ease of application: Includes the availability of an online pre-approval or pre-qualification process
- Online experience: Includes the robustness of the lender’s online offerings, including online chat availability, phone number availability, and learning center/help center availability
