If you are looking to get a home loan, construction loan, or even want refinancing to be done, then this Guild Mortgage Review will be of great use to you.
By the end of this article, you will have a good idea about which type of loans Guild offers, the criteria you must meet to qualify, its pros and cons, along with a few more essential things.
Summary
| Guide | Guild Mortgage Review |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1960 |
| Features | Down payment assistance, Bridge loans, and more |
| Minimum credit score | 540 or above |
| Payout limit | $3 million |
| Downpayment cost | 0% to $3.5% |
| Processing fee | 0 |
| Rating | 4.5\5 |
| Website | Click here |
Key Takeaways
- Guild Mortgage offers services like features like Down payment assistance, Bridge loans, 90-day rate lock, etc.
- Guild can help you with Conventional VA, Jumbo, FHA, USDA loans, etc.
- It does not charge an application fee or origination fee.
- It is best suited for first-time home buyers.
- Guild operates in 32 states except for New York and New Jersey.
- Guild has a 4.7 rating out of 551 reviews on credit karma.
What Is Guild Mortgage?
Founded in 1960, Guild Mortgage is headquartered in San Diego, and ever since then, it has supported millions of people.
Guild offers many varieties of home loan options, and it may be ideal for first-time borrowers or those needing down payment assistance, among many others.
You can choose to apply for a loan application online without needing any paperwork, or you can choose to apply online by going to their office directly.
Guild Mortgage operates in 32 states except for New York and New Jersey and is one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S.
Let’s dig deeper and have a look at more essential things that you should know before jumping to any conclusions.
Also Read: Rocket Mortgage Review
Features and Services
Bridge Loan – Guild offers a short-term Bridge loan option for those who already have their current home under contract and want the new home loan to pay for the downpayment of their new home.
Down payment assistance – Guild helps people get downpayment assistance in the form of loans and non-repayable grants, and they even give the option for you to pay the downpayment when you pay off the primary mortgage or sell your home.
However, note that this assistance is not for your second home or investment home but only for your primary residence home.
A 90-day rate lock – You get the 90-day rate lock along with the float-down feature. For this, you have to lock in the interest rate and start searching for a home; within 45 days, if the rate goes down, then you will pay a lower interest rate, and if the rate goes up, then you have to pay the interest rate locked by you. You also get additional 45 days to close the deal.
Express closing – Guild Mortgage promises to close your loan within 17 days once your house is under contract, and if they fail to do so, they will reimburse you $500.
However, this comes with a few terms and conditions which you must go through once.
No pre-approval or origination fee – Unlike many other banks, Guild does not charge an origination fee or pre-approval fee, which makes it all the more appealing option.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Effortless online application and documentation.
- Affordable lending option and down-payment assistance.
- Offers a wide variety of loan options.
- Assistance and flexibility for first-time buyers.
Cons
- Does not offer home equity loans, commercial loans, and HELOCs.
- Higher origination fees.
Read Detailed Article How Do We Review A Mortgage Refinance Company?
Types of Loans Offered
Let’s have a look at the various kinds of loan options offered by Guild Mortgage:
- Conventional
- VA
- Jumbo
- FHA
- USDA
- Rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing
- Adjustable-rate mortgages
- Investment property
There are a few more unique loan options offered by Guild, unlike its competitors; these include;
- Renovation Loans – You can opt for a homestyle renovation home for FHA 203(K), limited renovation loans, and conventional loans.
- Reverse Mortgage – If you are at least 62 years old and want to pull equity out of your current home, then Guild can help you with it.
- Manufactured Homes – If you have a 620 FICO score and are ready to make a 3% down payment; then you can qualify for this rare manufactured home option.
Borrowing Qualifications
Let’s have a look at the minimum qualification criteria that you must meet in order to be eligible to borrow home loans:
Minimum Credit Score
- FICO score of 620.
- 540 – 580 for an FHA and USDA loan.
- No minimum credit score requirement for VA loans.
- 680 for Jumbo loans.
- 620 for conventional loans.
Minimum Downpayment
- USDA and VA loans for zero down payments.
- 3% for Conventional loans.
- 3.5% for FHA loans.
- 15% for Jumbo loans.
Fees
Guild Mortgage doesn’t charge any fee unless the loan is closed; it also does not charge any application fee or origination fee.
Repayment Term
Like most other loan lenders, Guild offers 10-30 years of repayment terms.
How to Get Started?
If you have decided to go with Guild Mortgage, then you can apply for it either online or offline. Follow these steps for applying:
1) Go to Guild’s website and click on “Get prequalified today.”
2) Now fill out the application by entering your name, email id, ZIP code, and phone number, and click on contact me.
3) Once you submit this form, Guild’s team will get in touch with you to discuss your options.
So if you choose to apply online, then you will need documents including your income proof excluding taxes, monthly debt payment bills such as your student loan, car loan, etc.
You can even visit their official website and check for pre-qualification, which will give you a good idea about how much downpayment you will be required to pay, what kind of loan you are eligible for, etc.
Guild Mortgage’s Financial Hardship Assistance
NPC Guild Mortgage Ratings
| Type | Rating |
| Customer Service | 4.2/5 |
| Responsive | 4.3/5 |
| Affordable | 3.8/5 |
| Quality of service | 4.5/5 |
| Ease of use | 4.4/5 |
Customer Reviews And Ratings
Guild Mortgage has an excellent reputation online, and you will find a lot of positive online reviews.
It has a 3.9 rating out of 275 votes on consumer affairs and a 4.7 rating out of 551 reviews on credit karma.
However, in 2020, the Department of Justice charged an allegation against Guild that it knowingly passed some non-qualifying FHA loans that defaulted later, resulting in an FHA insurance claim. All said and done; you might want to be a little careful there.
What Do Reddit Users Think?
Feedback on Guild mortgage?
by u/alien419 in RealEstate
Our Experience
We understand the importance of having a first-hand experience of something that we recommend, and so we talked to Guild’s Executive to test the waters ourselves.
So we called them to inquire about their conventional loan. They gave us a good idea about the amount of down payment that we will be required to make and the best possible way we will be able to repay the loan in less time without impending our daily cost of living.
Overall, it was a great experience, and we also recommend you either get in touch with them in case of more clarity or simply go to their website to access your loan-taking position.
Also Read: Enterprise Consultants Group Review
What Differentiates It?
The various loan options and the downpayment assistance is what greatly differentiate Guild Mortgage from others.
Guild offers a variety of ways to assist you in making the downpayment in the form of non-repayable grants, less interest, etc., to make it possible for you to buy your dream house.
It is especially an excellent choice for first-time home buyers. Even if we talk about its downpayment interest rate, we see a lot of flexibility there too.
For example, you can get a VA or USDA loan for zero down payments. Similarly, you can get certain loans for a credit score as low as 540.
Customer Support
Guild Mortgage has excellent customer support. If you have taken a mortgage loan from Guild, then you can call at 800-365-4441 from Monday to Friday between 6 am to 5 pm, pacific time.
For new home loans or refinancing, you can call them on 800-971-3864 from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm PT.
You can also email them at explmail@guildmortgage.com if you want to enquire about a new home loan.
Comparison
| Guide | Guild Mortgage | QuickenLoans |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1960 | 1985 |
| Features | Down payment assistance, Bridge loans, and more | Online process, customized loan options, and more |
| Minimum credit score | 540 or above | 580 |
| Downpayment cost | 0% to $3.5% | 0% – 3% |
| Processing fee | 0 | Not disclosed |
| Trustpilot rating | 4.5\5 | 4.8\5 |
| BBB Rating | Not accredited | Not accredited |
Also Read QuickenLoans Review
Final Verdict
Guild Mortgage is an excellent loan mortgage platform that you can go for. Guild offers various common loan options, including VA, Jumbo, USDA, FHA loans, etc.
Also, it does not charge any processing fees and requires you to have a minimum credit score of 540 or above.
However, if you are someone who requires a loan for home improvement or renovation, then you can have a look at LoanDepot. LoanDepot is our second-best pick of mortgage company.
It is available both online and offline.
It offers all loan options similar to Guild but requires you to have a credit score of 580 or above.
If you want the benefit of some unique features or are simply looking to get a loan for home improvement, then LoanDepot should be your choice.
FAQ’s
What is the minimum credit requirement of Guild Mortgage?
It requires a mimimum credit score of 540 for VA and USDA loans.
Guild Mortgage is best for whom?
Guild Mortgage offers a lot of downpayment assistance programs, making it an ideal choice for first-time home buyers. It is also a good choice for construction home loans.
What is the maximum amount of money that I can borrow from Guild Mortgage?
Guild has a maximum payout cap of $3 million for Jumbo Loans.
In how many states does Guild Mortgage offers its service?
Guild offers service in 48 states of the U.S. and Washington DC.
Is Guild a direct lender?
Yes, Guild is a direct lender and does not include third parties to deal with your situation.
Shefali Jain is a Content Editor & Writer at National Planning Cycles.
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes.