CrossCountry Mortgage review

Reviewed by the Editorial Team · Updated July 10, 2026 · 6 min read

One of the fastest-growing retail lenders, with a wide branch network and a purchase-heavy loan mix.

CrossCountry Mortgage by the numbers

Source: federal HMDA data (2025), FFIEC/CFPB. *Approval rate = loans originated ÷ (originated + denied). It reflects a lender's channel and borrower mix — wholesale, online and refi-heavy lenders run lower because many applications are rate shops that never close — not how hard it is to work with. See the mortgage-approval data.

CrossCountry Mortgage at a glance

CrossCountry Mortgage is a privately held nonbank lender founded in 2003 by Ron Leonhardt and headquartered in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, where its campus also lends its name to the Cleveland Browns training facility. , and Puerto Rico.

It is approved to sell and service loans for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae.

The company's growth has come both organically and through acquisition, having absorbed lenders such as LendUS and the operator of Costco's former mortgage program.

Its footprint is genuinely national but leans toward large purchase markets: in 2025 CrossCountry originated 125,099 loans worth roughly $49.1 billion, with Florida (19,271 loans) and its home state of Ohio (16,147) leading, followed by California, New Jersey, and Texas. The average loan came in near $392,800.

Where CrossCountry Mortgage's approval rate sits

CrossCountry Mortgage's 2025 approval rate of 94.2% sits against the 76.6% national average. Read it as a signal of channel, not strictness — wholesale, online and refinance-heavy lenders run lower because so many applications are rate shops that never close.

CrossCountry markets an unusually broad product menu, advertising well over a hundred loan solutions that span agency conventional, government, jumbo, and a deep bench of non-QM programs.

Because it runs on a branch-and-loan-officer model rather than a centralized call center, the borrower's experience depends heavily on the individual office and originator, and rates are quoted per scenario rather than posted online.

Who CrossCountry Mortgage is best for

Consider CrossCountry if you want one lender that can handle almost any scenario under a single roof, especially purchase buyers who value working face-to-face with a local branch.

It suits first-time buyers who may qualify for down payment assistance, self-employed or non-traditional earners who need bank-statement or ITIN underwriting, and jumbo borrowers, all of whom benefit from having a specialist originator nearby.

Loan programs at CrossCountry Mortgage

Its most notable programs and specialties:

• Government lending: FHA, VA, and USDA loans, plus FHA HUD $100 Down and Good Neighbor Next Door specialty programs
• CCM Smart Start down payment grant (up to $5,250) for first-time buyers at or below 80% of area median income
• CCM Community Promise grant ($6,500) for qualifying first-time buyers in Chicago, Philadelphia, or Detroit
• Non-QM suite: bank-statement, ITIN, foreign national, and interest-only loans for self-employed and non-traditional borrowers
• Jumbo loans up to $5 million, including options with 10% down and no mortgage insurance
• Renovation, construction-to-permanent, physician, reverse, and home equity (HELOC / cash-out) products

Typical industry minimum down payment by core loan type — CrossCountry Mortgage's own minimums or credit overlays may run higher:

Where CrossCountry Mortgage lends most

By federal HMDA records, CrossCountry Mortgage's largest 2025 markets were Florida, Ohio, California, New Jersey and Texas. Explore local rates, home prices and down-payment assistance for each:

The verdict

CrossCountry is a versatile, purchase-focused retail lender that can accommodate almost any borrower, from first-timers using grant programs to self-employed and jumbo applicants. Its 94.2% HMDA approval rate reflects that heavily retail, purchase-driven mix rather than loose standards.

The trade-off is a decentralized branch model, so your rate, fees, and service will hinge on the specific office and officer. Comparison-shopping several quotes remains essential.

How to compare CrossCountry Mortgage

Shopping a few lenders is the single most reliable way to save. Before you commit to CrossCountry Mortgage:

1. Get three or more Loan Estimates in a two-week window — the bureaus treat it as one inquiry.
2. Compare the APR, not just the headline rate — it folds in the fees.
3. Weigh service and loan-type fit, not price alone.
4. Verify licensing on NMLS Consumer Access (CrossCountry Mortgage's HMDA filer ID: 549300VZVN841I2ILS84).

Benchmark whatever you're quoted against today's average rates by loan type.

This review is editorial and independent — CrossCountry Mortgage did not pay for or approve it, and all figures are from public federal data. It is general information, not a recommendation or personalized advice. Confirm all terms directly with the lender.