Ladera Lending Mortgage Review 2026
Ladera Lending, rated 3/5 stars by LendingTree experts, is a solid choice for borrowers who prefer one-on-one service from a dedicated loan officer.
Ladera Lending is best for homebuyers who prefer one-on-one service from a loan officer who will walk them through the mortgage process, rather than a digital-first experience.
See how we reached our verdict below.
- BBB accredited with A+ rating
- Focused on personalized service
- Lower than average rejection rate
- Only serves 21 states
- Lacks a fully digital experience
- Doesn’t specify rates or product details
Ladera Lending mortgage overview
- Areas of service: 21 U.S. states
- Digital service: Offers an online application, with personal guidance through the loan process.
- Headquarters: 555 Corporate Dr. #215, Ladera Ranch, CA 92694
- Website: LaderaLending.com
Ladera Lending rates and fees
Rates
Ladera Lending doesn’t publish its rates on its website. Instead, if you click “today’s rates” on its website, it prompts you to enter your personal and contact information so a loan officer can contact you to discuss rates. In 2024, this lender’s average interest rate for all loan types was 7.31%, and total loan costs were $8,918, according to Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) data.
Compared with other mortgage lenders, Ladera Lending’s rates are competitive but slightly above average. And in 2024, Ladera Lending had a rate spread of 1.10 for all loan types, which shows how close the lender’s rate comes to the average prime offer rate (APOR). The average rate spread was 0.77, so Ladera Lending is a bit higher than average.
Fees
Ladera Lending does not share a mortgage fee schedule on its website. However, on average, homebuyers pay closing costs of about 3 to 6% of the loan amount, and lenders also may charge other fees. The average total loan cost for all loan types with Ladera Lending is $8,918, according to data from the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), and origination fees make up $5,198 of that total.
Those fees are higher than average. The average total loan cost across dozens of mortgage lenders in 2024 was $7,141, which is $1,777 lower than Ladera Lending. The average origination fee was $3,349, or $1,848 lower than Ladera’s.
Ladera Lending doesn’t publicly offer any discounts on its website. However, it’s wise to ask your loan officer if there are any credits or discounts available to you. Some mortgage lenders offer military discounts, first-time homebuyer credits or relationship discounts for existing banking customers.
What types of mortgage loans does Ladera Lending offer?
Ladera Lending offers a variety of home loans, including:
Ladera Lending conventional loan offerings include fixed-rate mortgages, adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) and conforming loans.
Conventional loan qualification requirements
- Buyers typically need a credit score of 620 or higher
- Down payment may be as low as 3%, but private mortgage insurance (PMI) may be required if you put down less than 20%
- Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) under 43% preferred
- Terms usually range from 15 to 30 years
Ladera Lending offers FHA loans for home purchase and refinancing. These loans, backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), may allow buyers to qualify with a lower credit score and down payment than required for a conventional loan.
FHA loan qualification requirements
- Credit scores as low as 500 (10% down payment) or 580 (for 3.5% down)
- Down payment as low as 3.5% with a credit score of 580 or higher
- DTI under 43%, with some flexibility in some cases
- Home must be your primary residence for one year
- Upfront and monthly mortgage insurance required
Ladera Lending offers VA loans for home purchases, refinancing or tapping home equity. VA home loans have no down payment, low interest rates, limited closing costs and no private mortgage insurance (PMI).
VA loan qualification requirements
- Only for veterans, servicemembers or eligible surviving spouses
- No credit score minimum (some lenders require a score of 620)
- No down payment required in most cases
- Must live in the home as your primary residence
Ladera Lending offers USDA loans for home purchases and refinancing. USDA loans allow rural residents with low and moderate incomes to achieve homeownership. The USDA loan program, backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides 100% financing to buy, build, rehabilitate, improve or move a dwelling. The program is designed to help build thriving rural areas.
USDA loan qualification requirements
- Live in the home as a primary residence
- Meet income requirements (no more than 115% of median household income)
- Be a U.S. citizen or qualifying immigrant
- Buy a home in an eligible rural area
Ladera Lending offers jumbo loans and super jumbo loans for home purchases and refinancing. A jumbo loan is a conventional mortgage loan that can be used to purchase a home that exceeds the federal loan limits set annually by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Jumbo loans and super jumbo loans are typically used to buy homes in areas where the cost of living is extremely high.
Jumbo loan qualification requirements
- Credit score of 700+
- Down payment of at least 20% to avoid PMI
- Cash reserves to cover up to a year of payments
- Two appraisals may be required
- DTI of 43% or lower
Ladera Lending offers home equity loans and HELOCs. With a home equity loan, you can leverage the equity in your home to borrow a lump sum secured by that equity. Home equity loans offer a fixed interest rate and a predictable repayment schedule.
With a HELOC, you can use your home equity to obtain a line of credit that you can tap as needed during the initial period, known as the draw period. During that time, you may only have to pay interest, and you may have a variable rate. During the repayment period that follows, you can no longer take out funds. Both of these types of loans carry a risk of foreclosure if you’re unable to make payments.
Home equity loan qualification requirements
- Credit score of 620 or higher
- Home equity of 15% or more
- DTI of 43% or lower
Ladera Lending mortgage qualifications
| Credit score minimum | Conventional: Typically 620 FHA: Typically 500 VA: Typically 620 USDA: Not specified |
| DTI ratio
Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio compares your monthly gross income to your monthly debt payments.
| Conventional: Not specified FHA: Not specified VA: Not specified USDA: Not specified |
| Down payment minimum | Conventional: 3% FHA: 3.5% VA: 0% for eligible borrowers USDA: 0% for eligible borrowers |
Don’t know your credit score? Get your free score on LendingTree Spring today.
Ladera Lending doesn’t disclose minimum credit score requirements or other criteria for approval on its website. However, based on national data from 2024, Ladera Lending approved about 85% of applicants across all loan types, with an average loan-to-value ratio (LTV) of 64.2% for approved applicants.
The data also show that 43% of approved applicants had a DTI ratio greater than 43%, which shows that Ladera Lending may be more flexible on DTI requirements than some other mortgage lenders.
Ladera Lending rejected only 14.9% of applications across all loan types in 2024. This rejection rate was significantly lower than the average rejection rate of 20.7% for mortgage applications that year.
How does Ladera Lending compare to other lenders?
|  |  |
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| LendingTree’s rating |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Back to our Ladera Lending summary |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Read our Ladera Lending vs. Carrington Mortgage Services comparison |
Expert review from LendingTree.
Read our Ladera Lending vs. Tomo Mortgage comparison |
| Minimum credit score | 500 to 620 | 500 to 620 | 580 |
| 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 2024. The higher the number, the more expensive the loan.
| 1.10% | 1.28% | 0.04% |
| Loan products and programs |
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| Better for: | Buyers looking for a home equity line of credit. | Buyers looking for a lender that serves all 50 states. | Buyers seeking more competitive rates for a home purchase or refinance. |
Ladera Lending vs. Carrington Mortgage Services
Buyers seeking a HELOC loan for a home remodel or other purchase may want to look at Ladera Lending, which offers a wider range of loan types. However, Ladera Lending is licensed to do business in only 21 states, so homebuyers looking for a purchase loan may want to consider Carrington Mortgage Services, which serves all 50 U.S. states. Both lenders offer some digital tools, but ultimately, buyers will work with a loan officer to complete the process.
Read more in our full Carrington Mortgage Services review.
Ladera Lending vs. Tomo Mortgage
Unlike Ladera Lending, Tomo Mortgage does not offer HELOCs. However, buyers seeking more competitive interest rates for a home purchase or refinance may want to consider Tomo Mortgage. Not only did Tomo get a higher rating overall, but this lender’s loan spread is much lower than Ladera Lending’s. That means its rates are much closer to an average national benchmark rate.
Read more in our full Tomo Mortgage review.
How to apply for a Ladera Lending mortgage
1. Choose your loan type
Go to LaderaLending.com and navigate to the menu in the upper left corner. Choose “buy a home” or “refinance/home equity options” depending on your goal. Click on the red button in the middle of the page, and answer questions about your location, credit score and goals to get information about the type of loan that may be right for you.
2. Get prequalified
After you enter some basic information into the Ladera Lending online qualification tool, a loan officer contacts you for more information. Pre-qualification is typically based on information you provide, while a mortgage preapproval requires a formal application, credit check and income verification.
3. Submit a loan application
If you know you want to apply for a mortgage with Ladera Lending, you can go to their website and click the green “apply” button at the top right. You’ll need your Social Security number, contact and employment information and an estimate of your assets and debts.
Applying typically allows you to get a mortgage preapproval letter stating that you qualify to buy a home for a set amount, and to get a mortgage rate lock for a set time. But each lender has its own process, so ask the lender for details before you apply. Getting a preapproval letter can show sellers and real estate agents that you’re a serious buyer.
Learn more about how to apply for a home loan.
- Identification
- Tax documents
- Bank statement
- Pay stubs
- Debt and asset statements
- Gift letters (if you’re using gifted funds)
Is it safe to get prequalified with Ladera Lending?
Yes, it’s safe to get prequalified with Ladera Lending. Prequalification is a preliminary step in the mortgage process in which a lender assesses your qualifications based on the information you provide. This is different from a preapproval, which requires you to apply in order to get a formal pre-approval letter. Once you apply for a mortgage, a lender typically does a hard pull on your credit, which can cause a temporary dip in your credit score.
Ladera Lending’s customer service experience
Ladera Lending offers online tools and an online application, but relies on loan officers who guide you through the mortgage process. You can contact Ladera Lending by phone or email.
Ladera Lending phone: (800) 592-9396
Ladera Lending email: [email protected]
While Ladera Lending doesn’t offer digital customer service tools like chat, many customers mention their loan officers by name and give high marks for good communication, responsiveness and customer service.
How LendingTree experts rated Ladera Lending
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.
Ladera Lending’s scorecard:
❌ Publishes rates online
✅ Offers standard mortgage products
❌ Includes detailed product info online
✅ Shares resources about mortgage lending
✅ Provides an online application
Frequently asked questions
Ladera offers a number of online features, including a prequalification tool for home purchases and refinances or home equity loans, as well as a full online application. The process does involve being contacted by a loan officer once you’ve entered your information into the digital tools or application.
Yes, Ladera Lending is a legitimate mortgage lender licensed in 21 states. The company has been in business for over 15 years. You can view more information about Ladera Lending’s state licenses and registrations at the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) website.
Getting a Ladera Lending home loan can slightly lower your credit score temporarily, just like any mortgage. The good news is that a LendingTree mortgage credit score study found most homebuyers’ credit scores dipped by no more than 20 points in the six months after taking out the loan. And scores typically bounce back within a year.
Ladera Lending home loans are good, based on average customer reviews and Better Business Bureau (BBB) data. Ladera Lending has been BBB accredited since 2012, and it receives the highest possible A+ rating. Ladera Lending has only a few reviews on the BBB website, with an average of 3.25 stars. But it has a 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google based on over 1,500 customer reviews. Customers praise the lender for personalized service from loan officers, clear communication, and an easy and timely loan process.