Guild Mortgage Review 2025

Guild Mortgage overview

Established in 1960, Guild Mortgage is an online and brick-and-mortar lender with more than 4,000 employees operating in over 250 branches. It was the nation’s 20th-largest lender in 2023, according to federal data. The lender offers a range of mortgage products, the MyMortgage online portal and local in-house processing, underwriting and funding. It also participates in more than 500 local down payment assistance programs nationwide.

Pros and cons of Guild Mortgage

How Bankrate scored Guild Mortgage

Affordability: 3.4/5

Guild Mortgage doesn’t disclose mortgage rates unless you get in touch with a loan officer or request a preapproval. The lender typically doesn’t charge an origination fee, however. We score it 3.4 out of 5 stars for affordability.

• Interest rates: Guild Mortgage doesn’t feature current mortgage rate offers nor a customizable rate tool on its website. This might make it tougher to compare costs with this lender to others.
• Down payment: Guild Mortgage provides conventional loans to qualified borrowers for a down payment as low as 3 percent. Notably, the lender participates in hundreds of down payment assistance programs.
• Closing costs: Unlike many other lenders, Guild Mortgage usually doesn’t charge an origination fee. You’ll need to contact a loan officer to learn about your specific closing costs.

Availability: 5/5

Guild Mortgage scores 5 out of 5 stars for availability for its near-nationwide presence and a robust slate of loan options.

• Home loans offered: Guild Mortgage originates conventional and government-backed loans (FHA, VA and USDA). It also works with investors.
• Footprint: Guild Mortgage operates in all states except New York, with more than 250 branch locations.
• Where to find: You can apply for a mortgage with Guild Mortgage online, by phone or in person at a branch location.

Borrower experience: 3.2/5

Guild’s fast approvals were offset by less-stellar rate transparency, yielding a score of 3.2/5.

• Preapproval and application process: While Guild Mortgage offers online prequalification and preapproval, you’ll first need to connect with a loan officer to review your options. You can apply for a mortgage or refinance through the lender’s MyMortgage portal, where you can upload documents and manage checklists from any device. You can also submit income and asset information electronically (or this information can be retrieved directly from the source), communicate with a loan officer and receive real-time status updates. The lender  also offers e-closing capabilities, with a 17-day closing guarantee — one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry.  
• Transparency: Guild Mortgage doesn’t display current mortgage rates on its website.
• Customer service: You can reach Guild’s customer service team at 800-971-3864 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

Guild Mortgage reputation

Guild Mortgage is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, but a customer star rating of one out of five (at the time of this review). J.D. Power ranked the lender a bit below average for customer satisfaction in 2024.

What consumers say about Guild Mortgage

Guild Mortgage borrowers who shared their experiences with Bankrate were generally upbeat: “Extremely responsive, professional,” one borrower says. Another adds: “The people at Guild Mortgage were very kind and I enjoy working with them.”

Guild Mortgage special offers

• Homebuyer Protection: Guild’s Homebuyer Protection Package aims to offer some reassurance, with a 120-day rate lock; Credit Approval Protection so you won’t lose all of your earnest money if the lender causes the deal to fall through; and a 17-day closing guarantee.
• 1% Down Payment Advantage: If you’re an eligible lower- or moderate-income borrower, Guild can pay up to 2 percent of the home’s purchase price (up to $5,000) in down payment help.
• 3-2-1 Home Plus: If you’re a first-time homebuyer with low to moderate income, this program provides down payment and closing cost flexibility: You make a 3 percent down payment, and Guild provides a $2,000 Home Depot gift card and up to $2,500 for closing costs.
• Complete Rate: If you don’t have a credit history or score, this program can help you get an FHA, VA or USDA loan by reviewing other types of payment history.
• BuyNow Advantage: This program allows you — with Guild’s help — to make an all-cash offer with no appraisal or financing contingencies. To do this, Guild pays cash for the home and creates a rental agreement. You’ll need a minimum 680 credit score to qualify.

Refinancing with Guild Mortgage

Guild Mortgage offers both rate-and-term and cash-out refinancing options.

How to apply for a mortgage with Guild Mortgage

You can apply for a mortgage with Guild Mortgage in person at a branch location, online or by phone at 800-971-3864.

• Methodology

  To determine a mortgage lender’s Bankrate Score, Bankrate rates lenders on a scale of one (1) to five (5) stars — with five (5) the highest rating — based on a variety of factors relating to the lender’s products and services. To assign our ratings, we assessed each mortgage lender across three core areas:

  • Affordability: Annual percentage rate (APR) - 80%; assistance for first-time homebuyers - 10%; down payment - 10%
  • Availability: Loan products - 50%; licensing - 40%; credit score - 10%
  • Borrower experience: Rate transparency - 35%; customer service - 35%; convenience - 20%; rate locks - 10%; reputation (if applicable)

  Learn more about our methodology.