Best mortgage lenders in Arizona
No lender is best for everyone, so this page ranks Arizona lenders on what federal records can measure: who makes the most loans here, who leads for FHA and VA, and what their Arizona borrowers paid. All figures are 2025 HMDA data; no lender pays to be listed.
Who leads for what in Arizona
"Most loans" and "Largest average loan" are among the 15 lenders with the most Arizona originations in 2025 (the latter counts lenders with at least 300 loans in the state); FHA and VA leaders count every lender's home-purchase loans.
The 15 lenders that made the most home loans in Arizona
| # | Lender | Type | Loans | FHA | VA | Avg loan | Approval* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Wholesale Mortgage | Nonbank lender | 19,328 | 21.8% | 16.1% | $398,538 | 88.2% |
| 2 | Rocket Mortgage | Nonbank lender | 13,320 | 11.8% | 8.7% | $285,925 | 82.7% |
| 3 | Desert Financial Credit Union | — | 10,566 | 0.0% | 0.0% | $142,307 | 71.9% |
| 4 | CrossCountry Mortgage | Nonbank lender | 4,945 | 30.4% | 14.2% | $366,292 | 94.5% |
| 5 | Fairway Independent Mortgage | Nonbank lender | 4,724 | 25.1% | 9.9% | $356,177 | 92.6% |
| 6 | loanDepot | Nonbank lender | 4,138 | 30.0% | 12.9% | $301,204 | 80.6% |
| 7 | Nova Financial & Investment Corporation | — | 3,560 | 31.5% | 10.6% | $304,250 | 80.4% |
| 8 | Guild Mortgage | Nonbank lender | 3,467 | 23.2% | 9.5% | $311,478 | 94.3% |
| 9 | PennyMac | Nonbank lender | 3,232 | 17.9% | 13.5% | $356,523 | 82.5% |
| 10 | Chase | Bank | 2,864 | 2.4% | 1.2% | $532,364 | 84.8% |
| 11 | Lennar Mortgage | Nonbank lender | 2,623 | 40.7% | 14.6% | $409,125 | 88.3% |
| 12 | Bank of America | Bank | 2,582 | 0.1% | 0.2% | $300,624 | 56.3% |
| 13 | The Loan Store, Inc. | — | 2,579 | 8.1% | 2.8% | $328,579 | 87.8% |
| 14 | DHI Mortgage | Nonbank lender | 2,406 | 58.9% | 13.6% | $403,404 | 84.4% |
| 15 | Arizona Financial Credit Union | — | 2,172 | 1.1% | 0.4% | $153,227 | 69.9% |
Source: 2025 HMDA originations, FFIEC/CFPB. FHA/VA = share of each lender's Arizona loans. *Approval = originated ÷ (originated + denied); it mirrors a lender's channel and borrower mix, not how hard it is to qualify.
Also among the 25 lenders with the most HMDA filings here: Newrez, Freedom Mortgage, U.S. Bank, Spring Eq, LLC, Lakeview Loan Servicing, Mr. Cooper, Figure Lending LLC, Navy Federal Credit Union, OneAZ Credit Union, Guaranteed Rate (Rate).
FHA lenders in Arizona
22,891 FHA home-purchase loans were made in Arizona in 2025 by 256 lenders. The typical FHA buyer here paid $13,594 in loan costs, including the 1.75% upfront mortgage insurance premium, at a median rate of 5.875%. The ten lenders that made the most:
| # | Lender | FHA purchases | Share | Loan costs | APR vs benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Wholesale Mortgage | 2,650 | 11.6% | $14,696 | +0.24 |
| 2 | DHI Mortgage | 1,418 | 6.2% | $11,334 | −1.82 |
| 3 | CrossCountry Mortgage | 1,221 | 5.3% | $14,759 | +0.48 |
| 4 | Lennar Mortgage | 1,067 | 4.7% | $12,762 | −1.89 |
| 5 | loanDepot | 1,016 | 4.4% | $14,055 | −0.96 |
| 6 | Fairway Independent Mortgage | 972 | 4.2% | $14,627 | +0.59 |
| 7 | Nova Financial & Investment Corporation | 957 | 4.2% | — | — |
| 8 | Velocio Mortgage L.L.C. | 765 | 3.3% | $15,134 | −1.91 |
| 9 | Rocket Mortgage | 705 | 3.1% | $14,174 | +0.13 |
| 10 | Guild Mortgage | 646 | 2.8% | $15,370 | +0.60 |
| All Arizona FHA buyers | 22,891 | 100% | $13,594 | +0.10 |
Among them, DHI Mortgage had the lowest median loan costs ($11,334) and Guild Mortgage the highest ($15,370) — $4,036 apart on similar loans, which is why a second Loan Estimate is worth getting. Homebuilder-owned lenders can show far-below-market APRs because builders pay to buy down the rate on their own new homes.
Source: 2025 HMDA loan-level records (FFIEC/CFPB), first-lien FHA home purchases in Arizona. Costs and APR vs benchmark are medians of each lender's 30-year fixed loans here; "—" = fewer than 30. How we measured this.
VA lenders in Arizona
10,235 VA home-purchase loans were made in Arizona in 2025 by 239 lenders. The typical VA buyer here paid $7,069 in loan costs (including the VA funding fee for borrowers who owe it) at a median rate of 5.999%. The ten lenders that made the most:
| # | Lender | VA purchases | Share | Loan costs | APR vs benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Veterans United | 1,214 | 11.9% | $4,614 | −0.41 |
| 2 | United Wholesale Mortgage | 1,007 | 9.8% | $4,831 | −0.47 |
| 3 | CrossCountry Mortgage | 512 | 5.0% | $5,364 | −0.30 |
| 4 | Lennar Mortgage | 384 | 3.8% | $2,685 | −2.61 |
| 5 | loanDepot | 377 | 3.7% | $13,916 | −1.56 |
| 6 | Fairway Independent Mortgage | 365 | 3.6% | $8,251 | −0.30 |
| 7 | Rocket Mortgage | 364 | 3.6% | $9,655 | −0.51 |
| 8 | DHI Mortgage | 327 | 3.2% | $3,967 | −2.32 |
| 9 | Navy Federal Credit Union | 302 | 3.0% | $4,608 | −0.64 |
| 10 | Nova Financial & Investment Corporation | 292 | 2.9% | — | — |
| All Arizona VA buyers | 10,235 | 100% | $7,069 | −0.51 |
Among them, Lennar Mortgage had the lowest median loan costs ($2,685) and loanDepot the highest ($13,916) — $11,231 apart, though VA costs also depend on how many of a lender's borrowers are exempt from the funding fee.
Source: 2025 HMDA loan-level records (FFIEC/CFPB), first-lien VA home purchases in Arizona. Costs and APR vs benchmark are medians of each lender's 30-year fixed loans here; "—" = fewer than 30. Data notes and limits.
How concentrated is the Arizona market?
1,066 institutions reported Arizona home-loan records for 2025 — the 12th-most of any state. The single most active lender accounts for 7.1% of all records and the top five for 25.0%, the 12th-most concentrated market of 51. With volume spread across many lenders, there is plenty of room to shop beyond the biggest names.
How to choose a lender in Arizona
Arizona borrowers took FHA loans 17.4% of the time and VA loans 9.8% (U.S. 13.2% and 8.2%). Every Arizona county uses the $832,750 conforming limit, so loans above it are jumbo and priced separately.
Get Loan Estimates from three or more lenders in the same two-week window (one credit inquiry) and compare APRs. For down-payment help, ask whether they are approved for Arizona IDA's HOME Plus or Arizona Is Home — only participating lenders can offer them (terms and sources).
Arizona checks: state licensing and Home Plus lenders
Arizona law bars anyone from acting as a mortgage broker (A.R.S. 6-903) or mortgage banker (A.R.S. 6-943) without a state license, and an individual loan originator needs a license of their own (A.R.S. 6-991.03). The licenses are granted by the financial institutions division of the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (A.R.S. 6-101). Banks and credit unions that lend under state or federal banking law are exempt from the mortgage banker license (A.R.S. 6-942). Ask a loan officer for an NMLS number and look it up on NMLS Consumer Access.
The Arizona Industrial Development Authority’s Home Plus program pairs a 30-year first mortgage (FHA, VA, USDA, HUD 184 or a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac HFA loan) with down-payment help paid as a second loan that is forgiven on its fifth anniversary. Per its program summary for lenders (version 062026), you don’t have to be a first-time buyer, borrower income is capped at $155,386 in every county (as of April 6, 2026), the minimum credit score is 620, and at least one borrower must finish a homebuyer education course before closing.
Only lenders approved by the Arizona IDA and its master servicer, The Money Source, can offer it. The latest participating-lender list we could retrieve (update v043026b) names 65 lenders. Of the 25 most active lenders in Arizona, six are on it: CrossCountry Mortgage, Fairway Independent Mortgage, loanDepot, NOVA Financial & Investment Corporation, Guild Mortgage and Guaranteed Rate (Rate). The two most active, United Wholesale Mortgage and Rocket Mortgage, are not. Five of the ten biggest FHA purchase lenders in the state are.
Arizona limits what a lender can collect after a home foreclosure
Arizona’s anti-deficiency statutes protect many homeowners from owing the shortfall when a foreclosure sale brings in less than the loan balance. Both cover property of two and a half acres or less that is limited to and used as a single one-family or two-family home:
- If the home is sold at a trustee’s sale under a deed of trust, the lender can’t sue for the difference between the sale price and the debt (A.R.S. 33-814(G)).
- If a mortgage that paid for the purchase is foreclosed in court, the judgment can’t be collected from the borrower’s other property (A.R.S. 33-729(A)), unless the court finds the home lost value through waste the borrower committed or allowed.
- For loans made after December 31, 2014, the protection doesn’t cover a builder’s construction loan on a home built for sale, a home that was never substantially completed, or one never actually used as a dwelling.
The statutes have more conditions than this summary. If you face a foreclosure or are weighing a short sale, ask an Arizona attorney how they apply to your loan.
Arizona-based lenders in the ranking
Three Phoenix-based credit unions rank among Arizona’s 25 most active lenders: Desert Financial Credit Union (3rd), OneAZ Credit Union (20th) and Arizona Financial Credit Union (22nd). Desert Financial originated 10,566 Arizona home loans in 2025, the third-most of any lender, none of them FHA or VA. Credit unions lend to members, so check whether you can join before you apply.
Tucson-based NOVA Financial & Investment Corporation ranked 12th by 2025 records and 7th for FHA purchase loans (957); it is on the Home Plus list.
| Lender | Based in | Type | Rank | 2025 records | FHA purchase rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Financial Credit Union | Phoenix, AZ | Credit union | 3 | 17,115 | — |
| NOVA Financial & Investment Corporation | Tucson, AZ | Nonbank lender | 12 | 5,380 | 7 |
| OneAZ Credit Union | Phoenix, AZ | Credit union | 20 | 4,176 | — |
| Arizona Financial Credit Union | Phoenix, AZ | Credit union | 22 | 3,698 | — |
Rank = position among the 25 lenders with the most Arizona HMDA records in 2025; FHA purchase rank = position among the ten biggest Arizona FHA home-purchase lenders in 2025; "—" = outside those lists. Headquarters from our lender profiles or the lender's GLEIF legal-entity record (linked).
Facts in the Arizona sections above were checked November 6, 2026 against these sources: A.R.S. 6-903 — mortgage broker license; A.R.S. 6-943 — mortgage banker license; A.R.S. 6-942 — exemptions; A.R.S. 6-991.03 — loan originator license; A.R.S. 6-101 — definitions (DIFI); Arizona IDA Home Plus program summary for lenders (v062026); Home Plus participating lenders (update v043026b, archived June 6, 2026); A.R.S. 33-814; A.R.S. 33-729; NMLS Consumer Access. Agency lender lists, program terms and rules change often — confirm with the agency or lender before you rely on them.
Arizona lender FAQ
Who is the biggest mortgage lender in Arizona?
By 2025 federal HMDA data, United Wholesale Mortgage originated the most home loans in Arizona — about 19,328, or 10.5% of the state's originations.
Which lender makes the most FHA loans in Arizona?
United Wholesale Mortgage made the most FHA home-purchase loans in Arizona in 2025 — 2,650, or 11.6% of the 22,891 FHA purchases made by 256 lenders. DHI Mortgage (1,418) was second.
Which lender makes the most VA loans in Arizona?
Veterans United made the most VA home-purchase loans in Arizona in 2025 (1,214, 11.9% of the state's VA purchases). VA loans were 9.8% of Arizona originations, the 22nd-highest VA share among the states.
How much are closing costs on an FHA loan in Arizona?
The typical Arizona FHA buyer in 2025 paid $13,594 in total loan costs on a median $385,000 loan — lender fees, required third-party services and the 1.75% upfront mortgage insurance premium, per the Closing Disclosure.
That figure excludes recording taxes, prepaid interest and insurance, escrow deposits and the down payment.
Do you have to be a first-time buyer to get Arizona down payment assistance?
Not for the Arizona IDA’s Home Plus program. Its 2026 program summary says the borrower doesn’t have to be a first-time homebuyer for any loan product.
The limits are on income ($155,386 for borrowers in every county as of April 6, 2026), credit (a 620 minimum score) and the home (a primary residence; second homes and 3–4 unit properties aren’t allowed), and at least one borrower must take a homebuyer education course before closing.
The help is a second loan forgiven after five years, and you have to get it through a participating lender.
Is Arizona a non-recourse state for mortgages?
For many homeowners, in effect yes. Under A.R.S. 33-814(G), when a home on two and a half acres or less, used as a single one- or two-family dwelling, is sold at a trustee’s sale, the lender can’t sue for the remaining balance; A.R.S. 33-729(A) gives a similar shield for purchase-money mortgages foreclosed in court. There are exceptions, including, for loans made after 2014, homes that were never substantially completed or never used as a dwelling. Ask an Arizona attorney about a specific loan.
Rankings are editorial and independent, built from public federal data — no lender pays to be listed. This is general information, not a recommendation or personalized advice. Confirm all terms directly with the lender.
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