Compare Mortgage Lenders
Select two lenders to compare side by side using 2023 HMDA federal data: approval rates, denial rates, loan sizes, loan types, and geographic reach.
Key Metrics
| Metric | First Home Mortgage | LOWER, LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Applications | 7,187 | 27,730 ▲ |
| Loans Originated | 5,538 | 17,412 |
| Approval Rate (higher is better) | 77.1% ✓ | 62.8% |
| Denial Rate (lower is better) | 2.8% ✓ | 9.4% |
| Avg Loan Amount | $400,923 | $309,569 |
| Avg Interest Rate (lower is better) | 6.657% ✓ | 6.742% |
| Avg Applicant Income | $39,000 | $40,000 |
| Applications Denied | 203 | 2,608 |
| Applications Withdrawn | 1,265 | 6,138 |
✓ Better indicates the more favorable value for borrowers. Data: CFPB HMDA 2023.
Loan Type Mix
| Loan Type | First Home Mortgage | LOWER, LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | 4,928 (68.6%) | 17,085 (61.6%) |
| FHA | 1,360 (18.9%) | 7,964 (28.7%) |
| VA | 801 (11.1%) | 2,471 (8.9%) |
| USDA | 98 (1.4%) | 210 (0.8%) |
Loan Purpose Breakdown
| Purpose | First Home Mortgage | LOWER, LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Home Purchase | 6,670 | 19,455 |
| Refinancing | 267 | 2,344 |
| Cash-out Refinancing | 178 | 5,929 |
| Other | 36 | 2 |
| Home Improvement | 33 | — |
Top States by Loan Volume
| State | Originated | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 3,563 | #4 |
| District of Columbia | 325 | #4 |
| State | Originated | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | 187 | #19 |
Summary
- 7,187 total applications · 5,538 originated
- Approval rate: 77.1%
- Denial rate: 2.8%
- Avg loan: $400,923
- Avg rate: 6.657%
- HQ: Baltimore, MD
- 27,730 total applications · 17,412 originated
- Approval rate: 62.8%
- Denial rate: 9.4%
- Avg loan: $309,569
- Avg rate: 6.742%
- HQ: COLUMBIA, MD
Methodology
Comparisons are drawn from the CFPB 2024 HMDA Snapshot National Loan-Level Dataset, published by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and distributed via the FFIEC. Every figure on this page comes from lenders' mandatory HMDA filings — not voluntary marketing claims.
Approval (origination) rate = originated ÷ total applications. Denial rate = denied ÷ total applications. Rates do not sum to 100% because HMDA also records withdrawn, incomplete, and approved-but-not-accepted outcomes. Denial rates reflect a lender's applicant mix as much as its underwriting stance; compare alongside loan-type mix and geography before drawing conclusions.
Side-by-side comparisons are informational only and do not constitute financial, legal, or mortgage advice. Always obtain and compare written Loan Estimates before applying.