DHI Mortgage review

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

The captive lender for D.R. Horton, the nation's largest homebuilder, financing purchases of new Horton homes.

DHI 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 approval odds by state.

DHI Mortgage at a glance

DHI Mortgage Company, Ltd. is the in-house, or "captive," mortgage lender of D.R. Horton, the largest home builder in the United States by volume.

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it is a nonbank subsidiary that exists primarily to finance buyers of D.R. Horton homes rather than to compete for the open mortgage market.

A captive builder-lender works hand in hand with the builder's sales offices, so the loan application, the purchase contract, and the construction timeline are coordinated under one corporate roof.

In 2025 HMDA data, DHI Mortgage originated 69,159 loans worth about $23.4 billion, with an average loan size of $338,583 and an approval rate of 83.5 percent.

Where DHI Mortgage's approval rate sits

DHI Mortgage's 2025 approval rate of 83.5% 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.

That approval rate sits above many retail lenders, but it should be read in context: DHI's applicants are largely buyers the builder's sales team has already screened and pre-qualified for a specific home, so the pool skews toward borrowers who are likely to close.

Its lending tracks D.R. Horton's construction footprint — Texas is by far its largest market, followed by Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama, concentrating in fast-growing Sun Belt communities.

The lender's role is inseparable from D.R. Horton's incentives. To move homes, the builder frequently offers temporary rate buydowns and closing-cost credits, but those perks are typically available only when you finance through DHI.

Federal law (RESPA) prohibits a builder from requiring you to use its affiliated lender, and you are always free to shop your own.

You may forfeit the incentive by doing so, though the builder cannot raise the home's price simply because you used an outside lender.

Who DHI Mortgage is best for

DHI Mortgage is best suited to buyers who have already decided on a D.R. Horton home and want to evaluate the builder's bundled financing package.

Its value is tied to the incentives — chiefly rate buydowns and closing-cost credits — so it makes the most sense for someone weighing those perks against what an independent lender would offer on that same home.

Loan programs at DHI Mortgage

Its most notable programs and specialties:

• Conventional conforming loans for new D.R. Horton and Express Homes construction
• FHA loans, widely used by first-time buyers in Horton communities
• VA loans for eligible active-duty service members and veterans
• USDA rural-development loans, relevant because many Horton developments sit in USDA-eligible areas
• Temporary rate buydowns (such as 2-1 or 3-2-1) and builder-subsidized rate offers available when financing through DHI
• Closing-cost credits and builder incentive dollars applied to homes purchased with DHI financing

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

Where DHI Mortgage lends most

By federal HMDA records, DHI Mortgage's largest 2025 markets were Texas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. Explore local rates, home prices and down-payment assistance for each:

The verdict

For a D.R. Horton buyer, DHI Mortgage offers genuine convenience and access to builder incentives that outside lenders cannot match on that specific home. But convenience is not the same as the best deal.

Treat the incentive as one figure in a comparison, get at least one competing quote, and confirm whether a temporary buydown or a genuinely lower long-term rate serves you better.

How to compare DHI Mortgage

Shopping a few lenders is the single most reliable way to save. Before you commit to DHI 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 (DHI Mortgage's HMDA filer ID: 5493001SXWZ4OFP8Z903).

Benchmark whatever you're quoted against today's current rate averages.

This review is editorial and independent — DHI 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.