Guild Mortgage Review 2024
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.
Ratings and reviews are from real consumers who have used the lending partner’s services.
540 to 620
0% to 3.5%
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, home equity, HELOCs
- Rate reduction available for certain loans
- Extensive network of brick-and-mortar locations
- Personalized lending experience
- No online application
- Mortgage rates not disclosed online
- Mortgage products not available in New York
Guild mortgage overview
Guild Mortgage was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in San Diego.
- Areas of service: 49 states (excluding New York) and the District of Columbia
- Digital service: Online and in-person
- Headquarters: 5887 Copley Drive, Floors 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, San Diego, CA 92111
- Website: GuildMortgage.com
Guild rates, terms and fees
Rates
Guild does not share its mortgage rates online, but the lender claims to offer competitive rates.
Recent data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) showed an average interest rate of 6.37% across all loan types, comparable to national average mortgage rates.
In 2022, Guild Mortgage’s rates had a spread of 0.60% above the average prime offer rate (APOR), and in 2023, the spread decreased to 0.31%, according to HMDA figures. This indicates that Guild’s rates have become more competitive relative to the APOR over the past year.
Fees
The Guild Mortgage website provides examples of common loan servicing fees, giving an overview of typical costs. However, specific fees, including the origination fee charged by the lender, are not detailed online. In 2023, Guild’s average loan costs totaled $8,785, including origination charges not specified on the site.
You can confirm fees once you begin the loan application process and connect with a loan officer.
What discounts does Guild offer?
The Payment Advantage and Payment Advantage Plus programs offer promotional rate reductions on conventional mortgages until Dec. 31, 2024. The Payment Advantage program provides a one-year lender-paid temporary rate reduction. With the Payment Advantage Plus program, buyers receive a rate reduction of 2% from the seller for the first year, as well as a 1% rate reduction from the lender for either the first or second year.
What types of mortgage loans does Guild offer?
Guild offers a variety of home loans including:
Conventional loans
Guild Mortgage offers conventional loans with both fixed and adjustable-rate options and financing up to 97% of the purchase price.
Conventional loan qualification requirements
- 620 credit score
- 3% down payment
FHA loans
FHA loans, backed by the Federal Housing Administration, offer financing up to 96.5% of the home purchase price to low-to-moderate income and lower credit scores who are seeking a smaller down payment.
FHA loan qualification requirements
- 540 minimum credit score
- 3.5% down payment (10% if credit score is below 580)
VA loans
Guild’s VA loans, available to veterans, service members and surviving spouses, offer several advantages, including no down payment and no private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirement.
VA loan qualification requirements
- 0% down payment options
- A certificate of eligibility (COE) is required to determine eligibility and VA funding fees. Service members need at least 90 continuous days of active duty, while Veterans, National Guard and Reserve members must meet specific service requirements based on their service dates.
USDA loans
Guild offers USDA loans for rural property buyers, providing 100% financing with zero down payment.
USDA loan qualification requirements
- 540 minimum credit score
- Home located in rural areas, as defined by the USDA
- Low-to-moderate income, based on area
- 0% down payment options
Buyers can confirm property and income requirements and eligibility with the USDA.
Jumbo loans
With Guild’s jumbo loan option, borrowers can secure larger loan amounts that exceed Federal Housing Finance Agency limits.
Jumbo loan qualification requirements
- Property must exceed county limit
Home equity loans
Guild’s home equity options include home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) up to $750,000 and home equity loans up to $500,000, allowing homeowners to access a significant amount of their home’s equity for various purposes.
Home equity loan qualification requirements
- 660 minimum credit score
Guild mortgage qualifications
| Credit score minimum | Conventional: 620FHA: 540VA: Not disclosedUSDA: 540 |
| DTI ratio Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio compares your monthly gross income to your monthly debt payments. maximum | Conventional: Not disclosedFHA: Not disclosedVA: Not disclosedUSDA: Not disclosed |
| Down payment minimum | Conventional: 3%FHA: 3.5% (10% with credit score below 580)VA: As low as 0%USDA: As low as 0% |
Don’t know your credit score? Get your free score on LendingTree Spring today.
How to boost your loan approval odds
To boost your odds of approval with Guild Mortgage, focus on your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.Nationwide data revealed Guild Mortgage has a high approval rate of 95.4%, denying only 4.6% of applicants across all loan types. When considering LTV and DTI, 95.9% of applications with an LTV over 80% and 96.3% of applications with a DTI above 40% were approved. These approval rates are comparable to, or better than, many other lenders which indicates a strong likelihood of approval if you meet the lender’s criteria.
How to apply for a Guild mortgage
1. Choose your loan type
Guild offers the option to start an application online; however, borrowers must work with a loan officer to complete the process.
Start by visiting GuildMortgage.com and choosing “Find your local Guild Mortgage branch” or “Apply Online.” When selecting “Apply Online,” borrowers will be asked to provide basic information such as name, email, loan type and property state before selecting their local branch location, which will allow them to be contacted by a loan officer.
2. Get prequalified
Once homebuyers connect with a loan officer, they can get prequalified and see their potential loan amount.
3. Submit a loan application
Moving forward with an application allows homebuyers to become preapproved, and with Guild’s Lock and Shop program, they can lock in their interest rate for up to 120 days while shopping for a home. However, there is a $1,500 fee and this option is only available for conventional, FHA or VA loans.
Documents you’ll need for prequalification or preapproval
- Identification
- Tax documents
- Bank statement
- Pay stubs
- Debt and asset statements
- Gift letters (if you’re using gifted funds)
Find out more about how to apply for a home loan.Is it safe to get prequalified with Guild?
Other than having to work with a Guild loan officer, the lender does not offer specific details about its prequalification process. This step often involves a soft credit inquiry that won’t affect your credit score, making it safe for homebuyers.
Guild’s customer service experience
New and current customers can contact Guild Mortgage Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT or use the website to locate a loan officer or local branch.
- Mail: Guild Mortgage Company, LLC, Attn: Customer Service Department, 5887 Copley Drive, 3rd Floor, San Diego, CA 92111
- Phone: 800-971-3864
Live chat isn’t an option, but customers can fill out an online form requesting for a loan officer to contact them.
How does Guild compare to other lenders?
|  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| LendingTree’s rating | Back to our Guild Mortgage summary |  Read our Guild vs. AmeriSave comparison |  Read our Guild vs. Pennymac comparison |
| Minimum credit score | 540 to 620 | 500 to 620 | 580 to 620 |
| Minimum down payment | 0% to 3.5% | 0% to 3.5% | 0% to 3.5% |
| Rate spread Rate spread is the difference between the average prime offer rate (APOR) — the lowest APR a bank is likely to offer any private customer — and the average annual percentage rate (APR) the lender offered to mortgage customers in 2023. The higher the number, the more expensive the loan. | 0.31% | 0.40% | 0.97% |
| Loan products and programs |
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| Better for: | Borrowers with bad credit who prefer a more traditional banking experience. | Borrowers seeking a digital lending experience. | Low-credit borrowers looking for a digital lending experience. |
Guild Mortgage vs. AmeriSave Mortgage
Guild and AmeriSave offer a similar range of mortgage products, including conventional, FHA, USDA and VA loans as well as home equity options in 49 states, excluding New York. As a more traditional lender, Guild requires homebuyers to work with a loan officer to complete an application, while AmeriSave functions as an online-only lender, offering a digital application and streamlined lending process.
Ultimately, if borrowers prefer a more traditional lending experience, Guild is the better choice.
→ Read more in our full AmeriSave mortgage review.
Guild Mortgage vs. Pennymac
Guild and Pennymac both provide conventional mortgage options to low-credit borrowers. Pennymac offers a fully online application, but it lacks physical branches, first-time homebuyer programs, HELOCs and USDA loans. Meanwhile, Guild provides a more traditional banking experience with personalized service. Though it does not have an online application process, the website makes it easy to locate local branches and loan officers.
While these two lenders approve borrowers with credit scores under 600, odds of being approved for a Guild mortgage may be higher for borrowers with poor or bad credit, since borrowers may qualify with a credit score as low as 540.
→ Read more in our full Pennymac mortgage review.
Ready to compare lender offers on LendingTree? Get Your Rates TodayHow LendingTree rated Guild Mortgage
LendingTree’s mortgage lender rating is based on a five-point scoring system that factors in several features, including digital application processes, available loan products and the accessibility of product and lending information.
LendingTree’s editorial team calculates each rating based on a review of information available on the lender’s website. Lenders receive a half-point on the “offers standard mortgage products” criterion if they offer only two of the three standard loan programs (conventional, FHA and VA). In some cases, additional information was provided by a lender representative.
Guild Mortgage’s scorecard:
Have LT India team add number rating alt text to star image.
Publishes rates online
Offers standard mortgage products
Includes detailed product info online
Shares resources about mortgage lending
Provides an online application
= 0 points = 0.5 points = 1 point
Frequently asked questions
Guild Mortgage offers limited online features, primarily focusing on its mortgage calculators, including the prequalification, closing cost and total mortgage payment calculators. These tools are valuable for helping homebuyers assess their affordability and make informed decisions.
Licensed in 49 states and the District of Columbia, Guild Mortgage is a well-established lender with a long history of serving homebuyers since 1960. You can view more info about Guild’s state licenses and registrations through the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) website.
Taking out a Guild Mortgage may temporarily lower your credit score, but it typically drops by 20 points on average and rebounds within a year, according to a recent LendingTree study.
Guild Mortgage has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB); however, customers have shared dissatisfaction with the lender, including 27 customers who have left reviews.
In the past three years, 41 complaints have been filed, with a variety of concerns expressed, including issues with customer service, payments and mortgage insurance. However, Guild has been responsive and determined to assist customers and resolve any reported issues or complaints. And with only one complaint in the last 12 months, customer satisfaction seems to have improved.