Better Review

Overview

Better Mortgage is a lender for the digital age. It’s one thing to offer online applications; Better Mortgage goes a step farther, utilizing a proprietary algorithm to quickly assess and approve home buyers from a diverse range of backgrounds. Thanks to its 100% digital platform, Better is able to save on overheads. This allows it to charge borrowers no commissions or unnecessary fees. This platform really is digital from start to finish. You can log in anytime to see where you are in the process and what can be done to keep things moving.

Suitable For?

All types of borrowers that meet the minimum credit score requirement stand to benefit from Better’s streamlined online mortgage process. However, the group that stands to benefit most are minority borrowers. As Fortune noted in their review, Better’s customer base is dominated by groups like single women, minorities, and LGBT couples who have traditionally found it difficult to get approved by mortgage lenders.

Types of Loans/Products

Better Mortgage offers conforming loans with a choice of fixed or adjustable-rate mortgages. In addition, they offer a HELOC starting from $50,000 up to $500,000 (accessing up to 90% of your home equity) on primary, second, and investment homes. Plus they offer a wide range of other products and benefits.

Other Products:

• Better Real Estate. Matches you with a trusted real estate agent. Tell Better what you’re looking for, then it will match you with a specialist and pass along the savings to you (up to $2,000 off closing costs).
• Better Cover. Whether you’re buying or refinancing, all Better loans need homeowner insurance. Fortunately, Better can match you with the right carrier in seconds, using the information you already provided in your application. You don’t have to do anything except decide whether to accept. You can shop for rates at bettercover.com

The Application Process

Better’s application process is entirely online and takes only 3 minutes to get pre-approved.

1. Answer basic questions about your financial situation, home equity, or prospective property

2. Receive an initial loan estimate

3. Connect with a dedicated loan officer for more in-depth support along the way

4. Complete a checklist of tasks which you’ll receive with your loan estimate

5. Request to lock in a rate.

6. Close on a mortgage loan within 34 days after rate lock, often 10 days faster than the industry average

Rates and Terms

Better’s repayment terms are 15, 20, or 30 years, with 5/1, 7/1, and 10/1 options for adjustable rate loans. Since all of Better’s loans have no prepayment penalties, you can pay the loan back sooner than the end of the repayment term if you wish.

Better’s rates are extremely competitive. Most of all, it offers real-time, transparent rates on its website, without having to make a formal request.

Help & Support

Better offers a single, dedicated loan officer to every applicant to help you through the loan process. In general, you can get in touch with Better’s customer support by email, via phone, or by scheduling a convenient time for a representative to call you back using the online form. Better offers 24/7 support.

Better offers plenty of information on the website with an easy to find and easy to navigate FAQ section and lots of educational resources.

Summary

Better is one of a handful of tech-driven digital mortgage lenders disrupting the traditional mortgage industry. With a speedy loan approval process, competitive APRs, and no commissions or unnecessary fees, it’s an option worth considering if you’re in the market for a loan. Although it imposes the same minimum 620 credit score characteristic of most lenders, or even 580 for FHA loans and VA loans, its algorithm makes it more favorable to people in the 620-700 range than its rivals.

Physical Address

Better Mortgage Corporation

3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich St, 57th floor

New York, NY 10007