Overview
Founded in 2003, CrossCountry is one of several companies that have entered the mortgage market in the 21st century.
However, unlike many of those, CrossCountry is not wholly driven by technology. It is rapidly building a branch network, and aims to help borrowers build strong relationships with loan officers. Branches in 37 states make face-to-face communication possible for many.
Unfortunately, CrossCountry does not make it easy to get a rate quote. You’ll have to speak with a loan officer and give some personal information to get an idea of your potential mortgage costs.
But if you value human interaction when it comes to financial planning, CrossCountry might be worth the extra effort. Just be sure to compare your offer with a few other lenders before making a final decision.
CrossCountry Mortgage rates
CrossCountry does not publish daily rates on its website. To get an estimate of the mortgage rate CrossCountry can offer, you’ll have to chat with a loan officer and get a custom quote.
That said, we were able to get some idea of how CrossCountry mortgage rates compare to other big lenders by looking at average yearly data:
CrossCountry Mortgage |
Wells Fargo |
Quicken Loans |
Chase |
|
Average 30-Year Interest Rate, 2019 |
4.41% | 4.22% | 4.16% | 4.22% |
Monthly P&I Payment* |
$1,003 | $980 | $973 | $980 |
Median Loan Costs, 2019 |
$5,230 | $3,484 | $5,075 | $3,440 |
Median Origination Charges, 2019 |
$1,590 | $1,199 | $2,805 | $1,279 |
CrossCountry’s interest rates do look a bit higher on average. But keep in mind that:
- Rates vary by customer. Yours could be much lower than average depending on how strong of a borrower you are; and…
- CrossCountry’s rates should be considered in tandem with its other benefits, like an excellent reputation for customer service and wide variety of mortgage loan options
Average rate and fee data wassourced from public rate and fee records required by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
According to public records, in 2019, CrossCountry customers had median loan costs of $5,320 of which the lender’s own origination fees accounted for $1,590.
*Monthly principal and interest payment based on a $250,000 home price, with 20% down, at each company’s average 30-year interest rate for 2019. Your own rate and monthly payment will vary.
Verify your new rate (Jul 19th, 2020)
CrossCountry Mortgage lender review for 2020
On its website, CrossCountry says:
“We pride ourselves on developing rewarding, long-term customer relationships. Our customers save money and close their loans quickly because we use advanced mortgage technology and communicate closely with them throughout the financing process.”
And, judging from its customer feedback, CrossCountry largely achieves these goals. There are relatively few complaints and plenty of five-star reviews.
For some people though, CrossCountry might put a little too much emphasis on the borrower-lender relationship. You can’t even get a rate quote online without speaking to a real-live loan officer first.
People that prefer the tech-first, Quicken-style mortgage lending might not appreciate this.
However, those that want a more human experience will find a lot to like at CrossCountry mortgage.
Working with CrossCountry Mortgage
Judging from customer reviews online, many find it easy and pleasant to work with CrossCountry.
The company is just a hair shy of a five-star rating on Zillow, and does nearly as well on the Better Business Bureau‘s (BBB’s) website. Speaking of which, it’s one of BBB’s accredited businesses and has an A+ rating.
CrossCountry’s own website is clean, informative and helpful. It includes a mix of articles, video content, and FAQs to get borrowers the information they need about home loans before applying.
However, you have to hand over personal data to dig below the surface. There are no general rate estimates provided, which most lenders show upfront on their websites.
And it’s hard to get a feel for its “back-office functionality” (the things its IT systems can do that you don’t see) before you make an application.
However, if CrossCountry’s claim that it “can close most loans in as few as 21 days” can be taken at face value, it must have some pretty smart technology behind the scenes.
A personal touch
Perhaps this lender’s greatest strength is its focus on building strong relationships between borrowers and loan officers.
Of course, that won’t appeal to those who prefer an end-to-end online experience. But if you like to engage with living, breathing people, this lender might be for you.
Just a note: Many of those person-to-person interactions will take place over the phone. We know that CrossCountry is keen to build its branch network. But it currently only operates brick-and-mortar locations in 37 states, according to NMLS data.
That means relatively few consumers will live close enough to one to have face-to-face dealings with this lender.
Customer service and mortgage servicing
As of 2019, CrossCountry Mortgage is still too small to be rated in the J.D. Power Mortgage Satisfaction Survey.
However, an abundance of good reviews — and lack of official complaints — suggest that CrossCountry Mortgage customers are generally happy with the company’s service.
Mortgage-Related Complaints at Major Lenders
Company |
Mortgage Originations 2019 |
CFPB Complaints |
Complaints per 1,000 Mortgages |
2019 JD Power Rating |
CrossCountry Mortgage |
72,003 | 17 | 0.24 | Not Rated |
Wells Fargo |
1,026,800 | 342 | 0.33 | 837/1,000 |
Quicken Loans |
774,900 | 187 | 0.24 | 880/1,000 |
Chase |
527,600 | 188 | 0.36 | 850/1,000 |
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) records all official complaints that borrowers file against their mortgage lenders. And in 2019, only 17 customers filed for issues with CrossCountry mortgage.
That gives CrossCountry a slight edge over larger competitors like Wells Fargo and Chase Bank. Even with a much smaller loan volume, it still has fewer complaints oper 1,000 customers than these mega-lenders.
Results suggest that CrossCountry’s focus on human-first mortgage lending is paying off. For home buyers that want to talk to a loan officer person to person, this lender could very well be a great choice.
Mortgage loan products at CrossCountry Mortgage
One of CrossCountry’s strengths is the breadth of its loan portfolio. It offers as many loan types — if not more — as much bigger lenders.
CrossCountry’s mortgage options include some loans with zero or low down payment requirements. You could also borrow using a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC).
No matter the type of home loan you need, there’s a good chance CrossCountry has what you’re looking for:
- Fixed-rate loans — Most people choose a fixed-rate mortgage (FRM), which has a steady interest rate over the entire life of the loan. CrossCountry offers FRMs ranging from 10 to 30 years
- Adjustable-rate loans — Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have a stable interest rate for the first 3, 5, 7, or 10 years, and then your rate floats with the market for the rest of the loan term
- VA loans — Only for eligible military members and veterans. VA loans offer zero down payment requirement, low rates, no continuing mortgage insurance payments, and easy credit thresholds
- USDA loans — Only for eligible borrowers and homes in designated areas. USDA loans offer zero down payment and easy credit thresholds
- FHA loans — Loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) let you buy with as little as 3.5 percent down and easy credit thresholds. But you’ll pay mortgage insurance until you move or refinance
- Jumbo loans — Jumbo loans are for mortgage amounts larger than the conventional limit, which is currently $510,400 in most of the U.S. CrossCountry lets you borrow up to $3 million
CrossCountry may also be able to help if you want to borrow on investment properties or you need a “bank statement loan.” That’s one based on your bank statements rather than on tax returns and pay stubs.
Where can you get a mortgage with CrossCountry Mortgage?
NMLS ID: 3029
If you happen to live near a CrossCountry branch, you can sit down across the desk from a loan officer and enjoy face-to-face customer service.
CrossCountry currently has 283 active branches across 37 states, according to NMLS Consumer Access.
Light green states: CrossCountry Mortgage is available but has no physical branch locations
Dark green states: CrossCountry Mortgage is available and has one or more physical branch locations
If you’re not in one of the green states above — or your local branch is far from home — your starting point will probably be CrossCountry’s website. Because it’s licensed in all 50 states, anyone can start the home loan process online.
You’ll likely have to provide your social security number, driver’s license and wage details to get even a rough idea of the deal you might be offered. And that process may also involve a credit check.
You can always use the website to find your nearest CrossCountry loan officer’s contact details, including phone number. But, when you call, he or she will likely require the same information to progress your inquiry far.
CrossCountry Mortgage FAQ
CrossCountry Mortgage is not a bank or a broker. Instead, it’s what’s known as a “non-bank lender.” That means it strictly offers home loan and home equity products — but no checking, savings, or other bank programs.
That said, CrossCountry Mortgage is closer to a bank than a broker because its loan officers only offer CrossCountry products. They won’t help you compare home loans from other companies, like a mortgage broker would.
There are currently 290 CrossCountry Mortgage branches in 39 states, according to NMLS consumer access. There are NO CrossCountry mortgage branches in: AK, AR, DE, ID, IA, MS, MT, NE, ND, VT, or WY. However, CrossCountry is licensed in all 50 states. So in states with no branches, buyers and homeowners can still work with CrossCountry Mortgage online or over the phone.
CrossCountry Mortgage is a good company by industry standards. It gets very few official complaints, has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and hasn’t had any major issues or scandals with borrowers according to NMLS.
Overall, home buyers and owners should feel good about buying or refinancing with CrossCountry mortgage.
However, the experience can vary by loan officer, and prices will be different for every customer. So we recommend comparing your options from a few other companies alongside CrossCountry before buying.
CrossCountry Mortgage was founded in 2003 in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then it’s opened almost 300 branches in 39 states. Today, CrossCountry is licensed to do home purchase mortgages, refinances, and home equity products in all 50 states.
According to NMLS, CrossCountry has about 1,400 loan officers.
Is CrossCountry Mortgage the best mortgage lender for you?
If you appreciate a personal touch, CrossCountry might be the best mortgage lender for you. Its customer service gets great reviews, and the company focuses on building strong borrower-loan officer relationships.
CrossCountry might not be the best choice if you’re looking for an end-to-end digital mortgage process.
No matter how invested you are in working with CrossCountry, be sure to get a personalized mortgage rate quote and compare it with loan estimates from a few other companies. That’s the only way to know if you’re getting the best deal on your mortgage.
You can get started using the link below.
Compare personalized rates from major lenders. Start here (Jul 19th, 2020)
