Caliber Home Loans Review: Military-Friendly Mortgage Options & Rates

Caliber Home Loans mortgage loan at a glance

• Conventional loans: Yes
• FHA loans: Yes
• VA loans: Yes
• Refinancing: Yes
• Jumbo loan: Yes
• Adjustable rates: Yes (3/1, 5/1, 7/1, 10/1 and 5/5)
• Fixed rates: Yes, with terms ranging from 10 to 30 years

Caliber Home Loans is a Texas-based company that lends in all 50 states and operates brick-and-mortar branches across the country. The company issued more than $60 billion in loan volume in 2019.

Pros

• Makes it easy to understand loan options
• Military friendly
• Apply online or with assistance

Cons

• Not easy to find rates
• Loan officers not available in all states
• No home equity loans

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6 things to know about a Caliber Home Loans mortgage loan

1. Easy to understand loan options

Caliber Home Loans offers customers a simple way to navigate the process of choosing a loan. The company’s website makes it easy to learn the differences between different types of mortgages, understand who they might be best for and then move forward.

2. Quick closing times

The typical time to close on a mortgage is typically somewhere between 40 and 60 days. But Caliber Home Loans offers the possibility of closing in as little as 10 business days for some customers. 

3. Services for military families

Caliber Home Loans is a military-friendly lender. If you’re considering a VA loan, Caliber has a dedicated military lending section on its official site. It offers resources for people who need to check their VA loan eligibility and learn more about their VA home loan benefits. If you’re looking for help, Caliber may be able to assist you in applying for a VA loan or refinance loan.

4. No rate information available online

Caliber Home Loans doesn’t post current purchase loan mortgage rates on its website. Instead, you’ll need to contact a loan officer or fill out a form for prequalification. This makes it difficult for people in the early stages of comparison shopping for a mortgage.

5. Loan officers not available in all states

While Caliber Home Loans is licensed to lend in all 50 states, the company doesn’t have branches or loan officers in all parts of the country. If you’re looking for in-person service, you’ll want to make sure Caliber has staff in your area before committing to the company.

6. No home equity loans

Caliber Home Loans doesn’t advertise home equity products like home equity loans or home equity lines of credit. But you may be able to tap your equity through a cash-out refinance with Caliber Home Loans.

Who is Caliber Home Loans good for?

With its dedicated page for military lending, Caliber Home Loans could be an excellent option for military families looking to buy a home. The lender has a roster of loan officers who specialize in VA loans and other military lending and offers a wealth of information for service members and veterans looking to buy a home.

Caliber also offers a prequalification option, so if you’re comfortable with handing over some personal information, you can get a rate quote through Caliber.

How to apply for a Caliber Home Loans mortgage

You can get the process started with Caliber Home Loans whether you’ve picked out a house you’d like to buy or if you’re still looking. Either way, you’ll start by either contacting a loan officer, calling the lender directly or filling out a prequalification form. The loan officer will help you sort through the different types of loans that might work for you and give you a sense of how large a loan you might qualify for.

Once you’ve picked a home, you’ll fill out a loan application. You’ll need to create an account on the Caliber Home Loans website to do so. Caliber recommends having your personal, income and banking info on hand as you apply.

You may be asked for more documentation for the final underwriting. After an appraisal and home inspection, you’ll get a closing disclosure with the final details. 

Not sure if Caliber Home Loans is right for you? Consider these alternatives.

If you want to compare rates with several lenders or if your application is denied, keep in mind that you have a window of time where multiple hard credit inquiries by lenders only count as one for your credit scores. You typically have 14 days — though it could be longer depending on the scoring model.

• Better Mortgage: For a more seamless online experience, Better Mortgage offers a fully digital loan application and no lender fees.
• Bank of America: Bank of America advertises daily mortgage rates on its website.