Guaranteed Rate Review

Overall Score

4.6 out of 5

Trustpilot

2.0 out of 5

Loan Volume

Not rated

Editorial Rating

4.7 out of 5

Summary

Since 2000, Guaranteed Rate has been providing quality loan products and customer service to homeowners across the country. Their efficient application process, helpful team of licensed professionals, and wide variety of loan options make them a great option for those looking to refinance.

Highlights

Review

Quick online application process makes it easy to pre-qualify
Helpful licensed professionals available to guide homeowners through the refinance process
Seamless website filled with useful refinance resources and mortgage calculators

Overall

Guaranteed Rate is a great choice for refinancing. Their application is intuitive and quick, and their support team makes it easy for homeowners to get the guidance they need to find a loan that works for them. With their fantastic variety of loan options, fair pricing, and helpful customer service, we recommend that any homeowner looking to refinance take this company into consideration.

Guaranteed Rate Ratings

The team at BestRefinanceRates.com considers a variety of sources and methods to determine an overall ratings score. First, a lender's Trustpilot score (or TrustScore) is factored in, when available. Truspilot, a third-party review site, is a leading source regarding customer satisfaction and consumer sentiment. From there, for lenders that publicly release their financial statements, we research loan origination volume. Loan origination volume is one way to understand a lender's solvency and transactional reliability. Next is brand strength. For lenders who have met a certain threshold of engagement on BestRefinanceRates.com, we measure their relative popularity among our consumers. And finally, we offer our editorial ratings, which rely heavily on in-depth brand research and secret shopping.

Editor Ratings

Loan Variety

Loans Offered Include: Fixed, ARM, conventional, FHA, VA, jumbo
Guaranteed Rate does a great job when it comes to loan variety. Whether you're interested in a streamlined or conventional loan, they're likely to have something that will work for your situation. Be aware that each loan type has its own qualification requirements.

Fees

Regarding fees, we appreciate the rate examples Guaranteed Rate provides on their website. They make it easy for potential customers to see how much they can expect to pay. Overall, we've found that their rates and fees tend to be average for the market.

Customer Service

Guaranteed Rate makes customer service one of their top concerns -- with their "proactive mortgage model," they ensure that all of their loan officers are highly-skilled professionals backed by a team of experts. This system streamlines their loan processing and allows for a smooth experience for every customer. They have offices in all 50 states, as well as email and phone line options for homeowners to use to ask questions.

Company Reputation

Guaranteed Rate has a fairly positive reputation online. Their customer service is first rate, with many customers noting that their application process is easier and faster when compared to the competiton. As with any mortgage lender, the company does also receive its share of criticism online, but most customers are satisfied.

Ease of Application Process

With applications available both online and over the phone, Guaranteed Rate makes it easy to apply for a refinance loan. Their online application takes just a few minutes to fill out, and their preapproval process can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. Customers looking for extra assistance can call and apply with the help of a licensed professional.

For Lower Credit Scores

Minimum Credit Score: 580-620
Guaranteed Rate's minimum credit score requirements depend on the loan type in question -- typically, streamlined loans have lower credit score standards, making them a more viable option for many homeowners with lower credit scores. Given that the company offers a fairly wide variety of loan types, we recommend checking their site and sending in an application to see where you stand.

For Higher Credit Scores

Homeowners with higher credit scores will enjoy the loan variety and efficient application process that Guaranteed Rate has to offer. Their focus on customer service is another benefit this group is likely to appreciate.

Additional Ratings

Trustpilot Rating

Guaranteed Rate has a 2.8 on Trustpilot, but currently only has 18 reviews
Customers liked the offered rates, but often felt that customer support was lacking

Loan Volume Rating

Not rated

Guaranteed Rate is not currently rated for loan volume

Company Background

Guaranteed Rate was founded over two decades ago with the simple goal of putting the customer first. Based in Chicago, Illinois, they are a mortgage and refinance lender with offices in all 50 states. To ensure high-quality service, the company employs a distinct "proactive mortgage pod" model that allows for a more supportive and efficient loan processing experience for both employees and homeowners.