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30Y FIXED6.85%↑ 0.02·15Y FIXED6.12%↓ 0.01·REFI 30Y6.78%↑ 0.01·HELOC9.20%0.00·JUMBO 30Y7.05%↑ 0.03·HYSA TOP4.85%↓ 0.05·12M CD5.10%0.00·24M CD4.85%↓ 0.02·5Y CD4.40%↑ 0.01·MMA TOP4.65%0.00·AUTO 60M NEW7.10%↓ 0.02·AUTO 60M USED8.45%↑ 0.04·PERSONAL EXC.8.20%0.00·10Y TREASURY4.32%↑ 0.01·30Y FIXED6.85%↑ 0.02·15Y FIXED6.12%↓ 0.01·REFI 30Y6.78%↑ 0.01·HELOC9.20%0.00·JUMBO 30Y7.05%↑ 0.03·HYSA TOP4.85%↓ 0.05·12M CD5.10%0.00·24M CD4.85%↓ 0.02·5Y CD4.40%↑ 0.01·MMA TOP4.65%0.00·AUTO 60M NEW7.10%↓ 0.02·AUTO 60M USED8.45%↑ 0.04·PERSONAL EXC.8.20%0.00·10Y TREASURY4.32%↑ 0.01·
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Mortgage Review

Guild Mortgage Review

Updated August 2026 · By the Fintiex Rate Desk
Founded
1960
Min credit score
~540 (gov)
2024 volume
$24B
Fintiex score
8.0/10
Visit Guild Mortgage

What works

  • +Deep government-loan bench: FHA, VA, and USDA are core products, not afterthoughts
  • +Flexible credit: scores in the mid 500s can qualify on some government programs
  • +Wide product menu: renovation, manufactured housing, reverse, bridge, and physician loans
  • +Retains servicing on most loans, so you usually keep paying Guild after closing
  • +Fewer CFPB complaints than average for its size, with an A+ BBB rating
  • +Strong track record pairing buyers with down payment assistance programs

What to watch

  • -No published rates: you must talk to a loan officer to get a number
  • -Paid $24.9 million in 2020 to settle DOJ allegations over FHA underwriting violations
  • -Branch-driven model means experience varies by which loan officer you get
  • -Now private-equity owned (Bayview, 2025); long-term strategy under new ownership is unproven
Overview

What is Guild Mortgage?

Guild Mortgage is one of the oldest independent mortgage lenders in the country. Founded in San Diego in 1960, it grew into a national retail lender that originated about $24 billion in mortgages in 2024, built around local branches and loan officers rather than a call center or an app. In late 2025, funds managed by Bayview Asset Management bought Guild in a deal valued around $1.3 billion and took the company private. Day to day, Guild still operates under its own brand.

Guild’s identity is government lending. FHA, VA, and USDA loans are where it does its best work, with credit requirements that reach lower than most big-name lenders: roughly 540 on some government programs versus the 580 to 620 floors you see elsewhere. It also carries an unusually broad product shelf for a retail lender, including renovation loans, manufactured home financing, reverse mortgages, bridge loans, and zero-down programs for qualifying buyers. If your situation does not fit a cookie-cutter conventional loan, Guild probably has a program for it.

The honest caveats: Guild does not publish rates, so comparison shopping takes a phone call, and third-party reviewers have noted its pricing is not consistently the cheapest. In 2020 it paid $24.9 million to settle Department of Justice allegations that it violated FHA underwriting rules on loans from 2007 to 2011, a serious historical mark, though its recent complaint volume with the CFPB runs below average for its size. On balance, Guild is a strong pick for credit-challenged and first-time buyers who want a human guide, and a weaker pick for rate-obsessed borrowers with spotless files.

Rates and Products

Loan types and credit floors

Product
Typical min score
Notes
Conventional
620
3% down programs available
FHA
~540
3.5% down at 580+
VA
~540
0% down for eligible veterans
USDA
~540
0% down, rural areas
Jumbo
680+
Above conforming limits
Renovation / manufactured / reverse
Varies
Specialty programs

Guild does not publish live rates. As of mid-2026 national average 30-year fixed rates sat in the mid to high 6% range; confirm current pricing with a loan officer.

Eligibility

Who can qualify

  • 01620 FICO for conventional; government programs reach into the mid 500s
  • 023% down conventional options; 3.5% FHA; 0% down VA and USDA
  • 03Down payment assistance programs available in many states
  • 04Self-employed and non-traditional income considered with documentation
  • 05Manufactured homes and fixer-uppers financeable through specialty programs
  • 06Licensed in 49 states; not available in New York

State availability can change under new ownership; check guildmortgage.com for current licensing where you live.

Application and UX

How the process works

Guild is a loan-officer-first lender. You can start an application online or in the MyMortgage app, but the process runs through a named human at a local branch who structures the loan, hunts for assistance programs, and shepherds underwriting. For first-time buyers and anyone using FHA, VA, USDA, or down payment help, that hand-holding is the whole point of choosing Guild.

Because the experience depends on the branch, vet your loan officer the way you would a contractor: ask how many loans like yours they closed in the last year and how they communicate during underwriting. After closing, Guild keeps servicing on most loans, so your payment, escrow, and any hardship conversations typically stay with Guild rather than moving to a stranger. That continuity is a genuine, underrated perk.

Best for

  • First-time buyers who want a human guide and down payment help
  • FHA, VA, and USDA borrowers, especially with scores under 620
  • Buyers of manufactured homes or fixer-uppers needing specialty programs
  • Borrowers who value keeping the same servicer after closing

May not be the right fit if

  • You want instant online rate quotes without talking to anyone
  • You have excellent credit and are purely rate shopping
  • You live in New York, where Guild is not licensed
How it compares

Guild vs. Rocket vs. Better

Feature
Guild
Rocket
Better
Model
Branch + LO
Online + advisor
Fully digital
Min FICO (gov)
~540
580
620
USDA loans
Yes
Yes
No
Published rates
No
Yes
Yes
Keeps servicing
Usually
Usually
No
Down payment assistance
Strong
Limited
Limited
FAQ

Common questions

What credit score do I need for Guild Mortgage?
Guild generally looks for a 620 score on conventional loans. Government programs are more flexible: FHA, VA, and USDA approvals have been available with scores in the mid 500s, as low as roughly 540 on some programs. Lower scores usually mean more documentation and pricing adjustments, so ask a loan officer to run your exact scenario.
Is Guild Mortgage a direct lender?
Yes. Guild originates, underwrites, and funds its own loans, and it retains servicing on most of them. That means there is a good chance you will still make payments to Guild after closing instead of being handed to an unfamiliar servicer.
Who owns Guild Mortgage now?
Funds managed by Bayview Asset Management acquired Guild in an all-cash deal valued around $1.3 billion that closed in late 2025, taking the company private. Guild continues to operate under its own name and branch network.
Does Guild Mortgage publish its rates online?
No. Guild does not post live rates on its website, so you need to contact a loan officer for a quote. As of mid-2026, average 30-year fixed rates nationally have been in the mid to high 6 percent range, but your quote depends on credit, down payment, and location. Always compare Guild's quote against at least two other lenders.
Does Guild offer down payment assistance?
Yes. Guild is known for pairing loans with state and local down payment assistance programs, and it offers specialty products like zero-down options for qualifying buyers, manufactured home financing, and renovation loans. Availability varies by state, so ask what programs apply where you are buying.
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