Sebonic Financial mortgage review: Allows 550 credit scores for FHA loans, but lacks standout features

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Sebonic Financial is a division of Cardinal Financial, another online mortgage lender.

The bottom line: Sebonic Financial Mortgages is a solid choice for government-backed and jumbo mortgage borrowers. But overall, its offerings are fairly basic, and it has few special features that might attract borrowers. It also doesn’t disclose mortgage rates online.

Overall lender rating

FeatureInsider rating (out of 5)Loan types3.5Affordability3.5Customer satisfaction4.43Trustworthiness5Total4.11

Pros and cons

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ProsCons

FHA loan borrowers can get mortgages with credit scores as low as 550

Offers an interest-only, jumbo, adjustable-rate mortgage option

Easily upload documents and track your application through Sebonic’s convenient lending platform

Requires at least 5% down on its conforming mortgagesDoesn’t disclose rates or fees onlineYou’ll need to fill out a form and talk to a loan officer to get a customized rate

Sebonic Financial mortgage interest rates and fees

Sebonic doesn’t show any sample rates online. It doesn’t disclose what types of lender fees it charges, or how much borrowers might pay for those fees.

To get a rate quote from Sebonic, you’ll need to provide some information about the home you want to purchase and your credit, as well as your email and phone number. Then, according to its website, a loan officer will reach out within a few minutes.

Compare to other mortgage lenders

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Sebonic Financial vs. Cardinal Financial mortgages

Types of mortgages

Conforming, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo

Types of mortgages

Conforming, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, manufactured home, unique homes

Standout feature

Low credit score FHA loans

Standout feature

Unique home financing

Sebonic Financial MortgagesCardinal Financial Mortgages

Sebonic Financial is a division of the online mortgage lender Cardinal Financial, but Cardinal Financial offers a couple more mortgage options than Sebonic.

With Cardinal Financial, borrowers can finance the purchase of a manufactured home or a unique type of home, including tiny homes or shipping container homes. Since it can be difficult to get a mortgage for these dwelling types, this lender is a good option for those looking to buy something other than a standard single-family property.

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Both lenders use Octane, Cardinal’s proprietary loan origination platform. Octane makes uploading documents for your application or tracking your status simple and convenient. 

Sebonic Financial vs. Better mortgages

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Types of mortgages

Conforming, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo

Types of mortgages

Conforming, jumbo, FHA

Standout feature

Low credit score FHA loans

Standout feature

No lender fees

Sebonic Financial MortgagesBetter Mortgage

Government-backed loan borrowers will likely prefer Sebonic Financial to Better. Sebonic offers FHA, USDA, and VA loans and allows scores as low as 550 on its FHA loans. Better requires a score of at least 580 on FHA loans.

Better could be a more affordable option, though, since it doesn’t charge any lender fees on its mortgages. But affordability also depends on the rate you get, so it could be worth it to get preapproved with both lenders to see which one offers the overall better deal. 

How Sebonic Financial works

You can get started with Sebonic Financial online or over the phone. Sebonic lends in all 50 states and Washington, DC.

Sebonic Financial offers conforming, FHA, VA, USDA, and jumbo mortgages — including an interest-only jumbo option, which allows you to only pay interest on your mortgage for a period of time, after which you’ll pay both interest and principal.

You’ll need at least a 5% down payment to get a conforming mortgage with this lender. Many lenders offer conforming options with down payments as low as 3%, so if you’re looking to make a smaller down payment, you’ll likely need to look elsewhere.

If you have a low credit score, you might like Sebonic’s FHA mortgage, since it allows scores as low as 550. But keep in mind that if you get an FHA loan with a score below 580, you’ll need to make a 10% down payment. 

Is Sebonic Financial trustworthy?

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Cardinal Financial, the company that Sebonic Financial is a division of, has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. A strong BBB grade indicates a company is honest in its advertising, transparent about business practices, and effective in responding to customer complaints.

Sebonic Financial hasn’t been involved in any recent public scandals.

On its Zillow lender profile, Sebonic has a 4.43 out of 5-star rating, based on 3,423 online customer reviews. 

Sebonic Financial FAQ

What are Sebonic Financial’s mortgage rates?

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Sebonic Financial doesn’t share its rates online or let borrowers see customized rates without providing contact information. To get a rate quote, you’ll need to fill out a form on its website and wait for a loan officer to contact you, which should only take a few minutes.

Is Sebonic Financial a direct lender?

Yes, Sebonic Financial is a direct lender that offers conforming, FHA, VA, USDA, and jumbo loans.

Who is Sebonic Financial?

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Sebonic Financial is a division of the online mortgage lender Cardinal Financial. Its headquarters are based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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