Your journey to homeownership starts here
Get pre-approved in minutes, shop with confidence, and close fast. We make buying a home incredibly simple.
""Wonder Rates helped us close in just 14 days, beating all other offers!""
The simplest path to your keys
Get Pre-approved
Know exactly what you can afford in minutes.
Shop with Confidence
Make strong offers backed by our verified approvals.
Close Fast
Our tech-driven process gets you to the finish line quickly.
Resources for every buyer
First-Time Buyers
Everything you need to know about preparing, searching, and securing your first home.
Read the guide
Affordability Calc
Find out exactly how much house you can afford based on your unique financial profile.
Open calculator
Down Payment Programs
Explore thousands of grants and assistance programs that can lower your upfront costs.
Get startedTell us about your home.
One sentence. Real rates. No credit impact.
Free · No credit impact · 60 seconds
Loans designed for you
FHA Loans
Perfect for first-time buyers. Flexible credit requirements and down payments as low as 3.5%.
Conventional
Great rates and flexible terms for buyers with strong credit and down payments from 3% to 20%.
VA Loans
Zero down payment and no private mortgage insurance (PMI) required for eligible veterans and active duty.
Home buying questions, answered
How do I get pre-approved for a mortgage with Wonder Rates?
Start the online application, share basic income, asset, and credit information, and a licensed loan officer reviews your file and compares programs from 50+ wholesale lenders. Most borrowers can complete the initial pre-approval request in minutes.
Does getting pre-approved affect my credit score?
Checking your rate with Wonder Rates uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not impact your credit score. A hard credit pull only happens later in the process, when you move forward with a full loan application.
What loan programs does Wonder Rates offer for homebuyers?
We compare conventional, FHA, VA, and jumbo purchase loans, along with first-time buyer options, from 50+ wholesale lenders. Because we are a broker rather than a single bank, we can match your file to the lender whose guidelines and pricing fit it best.
How much down payment do I need to buy a home?
It depends on the program: conventional loans start as low as 3% down for qualified buyers, FHA loans require 3.5% down, and eligible veterans and service members can buy with 0% down through a VA loan. Your loan officer will show you the trade-offs of each option for your budget.
Which states is Wonder Rates licensed in?
Wonder Rates (NMLS #1518655) is licensed in 17 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. You can verify our licensing through NMLS Consumer Access.
What is the difference between a mortgage broker and a bank?
A bank can only offer its own loan products, while a mortgage broker like Wonder Rates shops your file across 50+ wholesale lenders and their programs. That competition is how brokers find pricing and guidelines a single lender may not offer.