Rocket Mortgage, a branch of Quicken Loans, is an online mortgage company that has rocketed into popularity primarily due to its mobile-friendly app. The company entered the mortgage scene in 2016 after a clever Super Bowl commercial and immediately changed the home buying scene.
Want to make sure you’re getting the best rate?
Since then, Rocket Mortgage and Quicken Loans have become the go-to mortgage lender for homebuyers who want a fast, convenient loan process with minimal human interaction. So if you prefer doing things online rather than talking to a person, Rocket Mortgage could be right for you. Plus, there are plenty of built-in tools to answer (and anticipate) any questions you may have.
Learn more about Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans and how you could qualify for a home loan with this mobile-friendly mortgage lender.
Rocket Mortgage Application Requirements
There are a few basic application requirements to be aware of when considering a loan from Quicken Loans. The first is your credit score.
What is the minimum credit score?
It depends on the loan type. For conventional and USDA loans, your credit score could be as low as 620. For FHA and VA loans, you may be able to qualify with a minimum credit score of just 580.
What about the minimum down payment?
That’s certainly a concern for many people because the age-old tradition of a 20% down payment is probably unattainable for most Americans. Luckily, Rocket Mortgage has low down payment options available.
You could qualify for a mortgage with as little as 3% down on the home’s sales price. Of course, the details depend on your credit scores, debt-to-income ratio, and other financial factors.
Types of Home Loans Available from Rocket Mortgage
Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans excels in its different loan types. They offer:
- Conventional loans (fixed and adjustable rates available)
- FHA loans
- VA loans
- USDA loans
- Jumbo loans
- Refinance
This is one of the widest arrays of home loans available on the market, especially for an online mortgage lender. You can also compare your loan options as part of the loan application process. Some have rather limiting requirements. A VA loan, for example, is only available to active military and veterans, while you can only use a USDA loan for a home located in a rural-designated area.
Rocket Mortgage doesn’t offer construction loans,renovation loans, or home equity loans.
Fees and Rates
Origination fees are approximately 0.5% of the loan amount, so for a $300,000 house, a loan through Rocket Mortgage would cost you $1,500. Government-backed loans (such as USDA, VA, or FHA loans) have slightly higher fees but never exceed 1%. So a $300,000 house would have a maximum of a $3,000 fee.
People often go to Rocket Mortgage to get an idea of what interest rate they would get if they went through the company. However, Rocket Mortgage doesn’t post sample interest rates on its website. To get a personalized mortgage rate, you must first create an account and provide basic information about yourself.
Rocket Mortgage’s Mortgage Process
The mortgage process varies depending on whether you’re buying a new home or refinancing your existing mortgage.
Buying a New Home
If the home you’re purchasing is already under contract, Rocket Mortgage will submit an approved loan for processing through one of its many mortgage bankers.
Typically, to go through a full application takes under thirty minutes. Take your time reading through the material, ask any questions you may have, and watch educational videos on topics you’re fuzzy about. It’s wise to take the time to understand what your mortgage options are and why some choices are better than others.
Quicken Loans truly excels in this area. You’re encouraged to go at your own pace, learn what you need to know, and make the best decision possible. At no point are you pushed to choose one loan over another or given a time frame where you need to decide then and there.
Once your mortgage loan is in the underwriting stage, a social network-style wall comes up whenever you log in. It helps you keep up-to-date with your to-do list, allows you to manage and e-sign any paperwork you may have, monitor your loan’s progress, and schedule a date for closing on your loan.
Refinancing Your Mortgage
For Rocket Mortgage refinance loans, you must first choose what your goal is. For most people, their goal is to lower their monthly payment. Once you select your option, enter where you live, and Rocket Mortgage will gather all public data that pertains to your house.
If you need asset information, meaning banks or investment accounts, most U.S. financial institutions have that to be easily downloaded on their website.
Depending on where you work, Rocket Mortgage might also be able to import your employment information.
If at any point you get confused, you can click on question marks that either bring up hyper-relevant FAQs or professionally-made educational videos. Then, if you’re still confused after going through those, you can click on the ‘Talk to Us’ button to talk with a knowledgeable mortgage banker.
Answer just a few more questions and you’ll get to the ‘See Solutions’ page. Here Rocket Mortgage will pull your credit report, process it, and after crunching some numbers, will reveal your loan choices. From there, you can further customize each option, such as the loan term, money due at closing, and interest rate (whether it’s fixed or adjustable).
If you like what you see, click on the “See if I’m approved” button. Rocket Mortgage then verifies whether you are qualified and submits your application to an underwriting system. If you get approved, you can lock in your loan rate right then and there.
Rocket Mortgage Special Features
The best part of Quicken Loans by far (even compared to other online mortgage lenders) is that you can receive the loan amount you qualify for in just a matter of minutes. And it can all be done on your phone. So if you’ve been scrolling through Zillow and find your dream home, you can immediately hop over to the Rocket Mortgage app and check to see if you’d qualify to borrow that amount.
The entire process is easy and intuitive, from start to finish, which is where Rocket Mortgage truly stands out.
Rocket Mortgage Reviews
One of the best ways to research mortgage lenders is by reading third-party reviews. You can discover what actual customers are saying about them before you choose to do business with them.
Rocket Mortgage currently has a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A+, indicating excellent customer service. They also have very few complaints. You can find more Rocket Mortgage reviews at other review sites as well.
Bottom Line
Quicken Loans’s online application is intuitive and educational. So if you never really know what you’re doing and why you’re doing it when it comes to anything finance-related, Quicken Loans takes the time to make sure you understand what’s going on.
Ask a question at any time during the process. Again, not only are the mortgage bankers extremely knowledgeable, but they’re also great at explaining things to anyone.
But, Quicken Loans may not be for you. For example, if you need an alternative credit history to be used, or you’re looking for a home equity loan or HELOC, you might want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, Quicken Loans is a solid home mortgage company with excellent customer service that can’t be found elsewhere.