
About AmeriSave Mortgage
AmeriSave Mortgage Corp. (NMLS #1168) is an online, direct-to-consumer lender that offers home purchase loans in 49 states and Washington, D.C. The company also refinance options for those who want to adjust their rate or term or take out cash. AmeriSave has helped over 664,000 borrowers, funding over $115 billion in loans since it was founded in 2002.
Overall Satisfaction Rating
- 5 stars
- 4 stars
- 3 stars
- 2 stars
- 1 stars
Pros
- Customized rate quotes in minutes
- Lock in rate for 90 days and shop homes
- Loan officers available to answer questions via chat
- Closing in as little as 25 days
Cons
- Not available in New York
- No HELOCs or home equity loans
Bottom Line
AmeriSave Mortgage offers a wide range of loan programs in most states. It has competitive rates for eligible borrowers buying a home or refinancing an existing loan. You can check your rates and get pre-qualified without any effect on your credit score.
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AmeriSave's service was fast and friendly. The process went fairly smoothly because I was with them before and ... they had a lot of my information already. From start to finish, ...
Read full reviewGoing with AmeriSave Mortgage helped in this market, because they lock in the rates at the beginning. ... A lot of consumers look at the $500 fee as a scam. ... But if they unders...
Read full reviewRates
You can check rates and loan types AmeriSave Mortgage is likely to offer you by getting pre-qualified. AmeriSave doesn’t require a hard credit check at this stage, so there’s no effect on your credit score. This process takes just a few minutes.
The company offers both fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). ARM options come with a fixed rate for the first five, seven or 10 years. After that, the rate changes once per year.
The choice between a fixed-rate and adjustable-rate loan depends on your financial situation and personal preferences. Some borrowers prefer a predictable monthly payment over the loan term so they can plan for their spending and saving accordingly. In such cases, a fixed rate may be preferable.
Others may want to take advantage of a starting period with a relatively low fixed rate and take a chance on rate changes in the future. You may decide on an ARM if you plan to move out of your home before the fixed-rate period ends or believe rates are going to decrease over the long term. Keep in mind that you can refinance from an ARM to a fixed-rate mortgage later.
According to data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, AmeriSave had a lower average home purchase rate than the national average in both 2021 and 2020.
AmeriSave Mortgage average home purchase rate vs. national average
Year | Difference from national average |
---|---|
2021 | -0.11% |
2020 | -0.25% |
2019 | +0.02% |
Application process
You can view potential rates and loan offers from AmeriSave without a hard credit check by getting pre-qualified. If you choose to move forward, you can start AmeriSave’s preapproval process; be prepared to share income and asset information. If you’re preapproved, you can lock in your rate for 90 days, and you get a certified approval letter to share with sellers.
James, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Crystal, Minnesota, had this to say about applying for a mortgage with AmeriSave: “They have a website where they ask[ed] for me to upload whatever documents. The UI was pretty simple. It told me which documents were needed and... which ones you had left to upload. ... Plus, when I was confused, I was able to get in contact with them, and they picked up pretty quickly."
AmeriSave Mortgage application features
Feature | Availability |
---|---|
Online application | |
Mobile document upload | |
Physical branches | X |
Publishes minimum rate on website | |
Rate lock | 90 days |
Pre-qualification (no hard credit pull) | |
Certified approval letter |
Loan types
AmeriSave offers a range of mortgage products, including conventional loans, government-backed loans (FHA,VA, and USDA) and jumbo loans for those who need to borrow amounts beyond the conforming loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
You can both purchase and refinance with AmeriSave; the company has rate-and-term refinancing and cash-out refinancing.
In 2021, AmeriSave saw a large increase in home purchase loan applications (38,757 from 7,914 in 2020). Of those applications, about 23% (8,782) turned into closed loans. About 24% (9,417) of applications were denied.
Loan applications for home purchases only by year
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|
Home purchase applications | 38,757 | 7,914 | 4,657 |
Home purchase loans closed | 8,782 | 1,124 | 1,562 |
Home purchase applications denied | 9,417 | 698 | 908 |
Home purchase preapprovals denied | 0 | 6 | 26 |
Refinancing
A vast majority of the loans AmeriSave originated in 2021 were for refinancing (about 93%, combined). About 7% of loans were for home purchases. Even in 2020 and 2019, the company made many more loans for refinancing than home purchasing. This may change for 2022 as rates increase.
Since the start of 2022, mortgage rates have been rising. For this reason, fewer borrowers are expected to refinance in 2022. However, you may still consider refinancing if it saves you money, or if you need to tap into your home equity for cash.
Home purchase vs. refinance loans by year
2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|
Home purchase loans | 7.12% | 1.33% | 7.96% |
Refinance loans | 44.29% | 61.76% | 41.01% |
Cash-out refinance | 48.59% | 36.91% | 51.02% |
HELOC and home equity loans
AmeriSave offers a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which is a variable-rate line of credit you use to borrow against your home equity. The amount you can borrow depends on factors such as your loan-to-value ratio; the maximum amount you can borrow through a HELOC with AmeriSave is $249,000.
To apply for a HELOC, you will need to provide your Social Security number, W-2s and current home information. If you’re approved and sign for the loan, you have a 10-year draw period, during which you can receive money by check or online transfer. During the draw period, you make interest-only payments. After 10 years have passed, you enter a 10-year repayment period, with monthly payments of principal and interest.
Expect to pay between $1,000 to $3,500 for HELOC costs through AmeriSave. Fees include:
- $195 application fee (unless prohibited by state law)
- $800 funding fee
- Third-party fees of $0 to $2,500
Requirements
AmeriSave provides some details about loan requirements. For a conventional loan, you’ll need a credit score of at least 620. FHA, VA and USDA loans from AmeriSave require a minimum credit score of 600.
AmeriSave does have a higher down payment requirement on conventional loans than some other lenders. You’ll need to offer at least 5% down (other lenders may require as little as 3%). FHA loans have a lower requirement, at 3.5%. Both VA and USDA loans have no down payment requirements, which means you could receive up to 100% financing.
National mortgage requirements by type
Min. credit score | Min. down payment | Compare with other lenders | |
---|---|---|---|
Conventional | Typically 620 | Typically 3% | Mortgage lenders |
FHA | 500 | 3.5% with 580 credit score | FHA lenders |
VA | Set by lender (often 580) | 0% | VA lenders |
USDA | Set by lender (often 640) | 0% | USDA lenders |
Costs and fees
Unlike many mortgage lenders, AmeriSave doesn’t charge loan origination fees or application fees.
You can expect other closing costs (e.g., appraisal fees, attorney fees, credit report charges) to total around 2% to 5% of the loan amount. AmeriSave will provide you with a Loan Estimate (a document that outlines all of the estimated closing costs) after you are preapproved.
You’ll also receive a Closing Disclosure at least three business days before your closing that states the total closing costs and how much cash you’ll need to bring to closing.
FAQ
How does AmeriSave Mortgage work?
To receive a personalized quote from AmeriSave and apply for a mortgage, visit its website and complete the following steps:
- Provide your information for pre-qualification. Pre-qualification quotes are customized for your specific situation, and they don’t require sensitive personal information like your Social Security number. You’ll find out what types of loans you qualify for and how much you can borrow without a hard credit inquiry.
- Apply for preapproval. Pick which quote is best for you, and apply for preapproval, which locks your rate for 90 days and gives you a certified approval letter.
- Shop for your home. Once you have an accepted offer, let your loan officer know.
- Complete the process. Work with your loan officer as AmeriSave processes and underwrites your loan. You may need to upload more supporting documents online. AmeriSave helps arrange the closing.
Is AmeriSave Mortgage legit?
AmeriSave is a legitimate mortgage company that’s received many positive reviews on ConsumerAffairs. It has worked with hundreds of thousands of borrowers and funded billions of dollars in home loans since 2002.
Where is AmeriSave Mortgage available?
AmeriSave originates mortgages in 49 states and Washington, D.C. It doesn’t originate mortgages for New York properties.
AmeriSave Mortgage Reviews
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I was looking at cash-out refinance options that were military and AmeriSave was rated one of the best companies that did that. I did a cash-out refinance with them. The process started off pretty well. Carlo was the loan originator that I was working with and he did an outstanding job. He was really friendly and consistent with communication. He kept me up to speed on certain aspects of the process, how long things took, and things to watch out for.
When it started reaching up to the level above Carlo, it started getting a bit challenging because there were some things that were lost in translation at communication as far as my benefits as a veteran. That was one of the biggest things that I was looking for like the tax exemption that I'm entitled to as a 100% disabled veteran. I had to resubmit that two or three times because they were not receiving it. They were simply forgetting certain things that I had told them as far as documents that are required for appraisal.
One of the common things is there being a termite inspection that's required but in the state of Minnesota, it’s not required because termites don't like the climate here in the super cold. I had to repeatedly tell them that. That was half of the reason why the process took a bit long. Near the back end of the process, it got a little bit frustrating because there were some things that I was really banking on and it fell flat. When we did the final closing, it still wasn't reflecting this is what the first mortgage payment is gonna be and how it’s gonna look in the future.
When I told them that I had submitted the property tax exemption form from the county tax office, they said that they were going to submit it, process it, and it should reflect by the time the first statement comes. That first statement came and it still didn't reflect. I had to call customer service and explain the issue but they said they can't change the mortgage payment. Once it gets processed and I make that first mortgage payment, they'll send the difference via check, but that was not what I was hoping.
That aside, Carlo kept me up to date on everything, even when it was bumped up on higher levels like the underwriters. He kept them in the loop as far as our conversation of what we have, what I was looking for, and the rates I was looking for so everybody would be on the same page. There was one point in the process where I thought the whole thing was gonna fall through. But Carlo gave me a call and reassured me that it wasn't quite a done deal as far as the plan falling through to do a refinance. He was very persistent and comforting throughout the whole process. The process took about five or six weeks.
The rates were fair, considering where the current rates are right now. With certain bypasses that the V A offered, there were a lot of things that I was able to do that the traditional applicant wouldn't be able to do. I'm satisfied with the rates. I was also assured that after my sixth mortgage payment, AmeriSave will revisit the APR rate. If it has lowered, they'll reconfigure the rate. Carlo has been very informative as far as the options that I have as someone who can use the VA to their advantage.
Mr. Darrin, thank you for your service and for being a valued client of ours. Your feedback is very much appreciated. If you should need anything further, please feel free to contact Customer Care at customercare@amerisave.com or 1-888-700-4026
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The first person that I talked to at AmeriSave was very pushy in wanting my credit information. But I said I was looking for guidance and I was not looking to lock anything in yet because I still got to get through the repair. She was taken back a little bit and then made me feel like, “Okay. If you're not serious, I really don't wanna deal with you” kind of thing. I spent years in real estate, so I understand.
The person that reached out to me just at the tail end of all the repairs was from AmeriSave and said that I had inquired and asked if I was still interested. I said yes. Both of those people had left the company during my time of working with them, so that part was a little bit delayed in trying to get all the paperwork. It was a slow process of getting paperwork back and forth.
The third person that things got transferred to was Ernest and he was absolutely amazing. He took away all of the reservations I may have had from that initial stuff. He was really on it as far as getting everything through and in explaining exactly what I needed and getting it sent to him and everything getting loaded. He kept in touch almost daily every step of the way, all the way up through the closing.
There was a little switch right at closing where I needed to be titled a certain way. It was a joint survivorship title and not a regular title. Ernest was able to assist with as well to get connected with everybody. It left me with very positive thoughts about the company. In fact, I've already sent Ernest a few people to work with as far as getting preapproved to buy a home.
Unfortunately, by the time I got done with my repairs, it was right at that cut when the rate started going up. So I had to pay a little extra fee to buy down the rate a little bit. My fees were a little high, but that was not on Ernest. In fact, he may have lowered it just a little bit to make it a little bit more user-friendly. The initial fees were applied by the first person that was no longer there. But he went through and adjusted it. So the rate was not so horrible. I do hope one day the rates fall, and I'll definitely refinance. But for the given situation, it was fine. Overall, it was a quick simple process. Anything difficult about the process was self-induced. It was not on AmeriSave.
Ms. Laura, thank you for your positive review. We are committed to providing an excellent mortgage experience for our customers and are delighted to read these kind words! If you should need anything further, please feel free to contact Customer Care at customercare@amerisave.com or 1-888-700-4026.
I was Googling some of the best refinance companies in the region. I wanted to find a good refinance company and not a mediocre one. I wanted somebody with excellent customer service. AmeriSave was one of the few that were up there along with Quicken Loans. I already went through Quicken Loans before and they they quoted me so low on the house. That ticked me off. My husband and I did a major renovation and after that, tried out AmeriSave. I'm happy I did. The online application process was very straightforward and user-friendly. At first, there was a little bit of a hiccup because it wasn't accepting my username and password. It was explained to us ahead of time that that could happen because of some type of glitch in their system. That was not a big deal and we got over it.
Things were straightforward. There was stuff that was set up there in the queue that we had to go through and follow through. There was a lot of text messaging that would come and say, “This is in there right now. Could you please go in and download it and save it somewhere on your computer or somewhere else like that.” They were very nice with their communications through text, call, or email. Things were pretty simple. You’re kept updated with everything like what was going on. When you leave them a message, they would get back to you. They let you see what was the holdup on their end. It wasn't just them. They could be waiting on the title company or for the courthouse and there was a deed of records.
9 times out of 10, if it was gonna take a little bit longer and I didn't get a text message or an email, I got to pick up the phone. They picked up the phone and told me what was going on and that they wanted me to be aware. I wasn't just working with my loan officer. There was also the rep that I dealt with. I also had her as well. The loan officer would call and tell me then the other rep would call me as well just to make sure I got the message.
Things took a little bit longer than usual but it wasn't AmeriSave's mistake. It was a mistake from the title company. They got it through their queue too quickly and they weren't supposed to process it yet. We had to have a house appraised a second time. That was okay because it was the same guy who came back. My house went up an extra $5,000.
Compared to Quicken Loans, AmeriSave said our house is worth a lot more. My husband and I aren’t even done with the renovations. We're gonna be redoing four bedrooms, updating a little bit in our bathroom, repainting and sealing our basement, and adding a half bath. The house was built in 1890 so there are a lot of upgrades that need to be done.
One time, AmeriSave called and left me a message and I called them back. We were playing phone tag and they finally got back to me. They said, “The courts and the data records, especially since where you live at, your court system, it takes forever to get back.” I understood that. I work in HR and I work for a large staffing firm so I know how the court systems work.
Everything was great with AmeriSave Mortgage. The only thing I'm dealing with right now is the extra insurance coverage on the mortgage that they want you to have. It's not just them. Third-party companies are also reaching out. A lady said to me, “We have this extra. If you want to sign up for it, go ahead. If you don't, just skip it or leave it there. If you already have insurance or homeowners insurance somewhere else, or you have extra life insurance or certain things like that, just get it. Don't worry about it.” That was good enough for me. They weren't pushy.
I have already recommended to people that who are looking to refinance to go to AmeriSave. I tell a lot of my neighbors to fix up their places because that would increase the value of the house. On the whole, I will call back AmeriSave and redo it all over again if I need to refinance in the future, which I'll probably end up having to do once I get more projects done.
Ms. Kim, We are very grateful to you for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review and will always be available to assist you with any future mortgage needs. If you should need anything further, please feel free to contact Customer Care at customercare@amerisave.com or 1-888-700-4026.
I appreciate the person I’ve been working with. I did my refi with him. And from now on, I don't wanna work with anybody else. He's quick and thorough. He was also punctual and had all the information I needed. We discussed scenarios, broke down different options. I had so many options available and so much detail that I had nothing to ask. I mean, he provided it all. I was working with three different mortgages. And I'm talking about hours, late nights, numbers. I'm a very detail-oriented person. So, he gave me everything, even went overboard. Diagrams. He's the only reason that I will even entertain coming back. I've never experienced that kind of customer service ever.
I just contacted him in the emails. We went back and forth and said, “Hey, I'm buying a house. Let's go.” He said, “Hey, okay, Kharemma. What's going on? What you buying? What you doing?” He got everything set up. It was easy. I closed my refi in less than 12 days. And I closed on my house. They had the loan done in almost two weeks prior to my closing. I will make sure that he sells so many houses. I will tell everyone I know that he is the only person to work with. He closed the deal personally, single-handedly.
I had a lot of options, but he talked me through them to go over what was best for me and my family. It was looking for the best for me. We compared numbers. We did math on paper. If I was being competitive with three different companies, he said, “Yes, so I can tell you this. If they're able to offer you this, this and this, we wouldn't be able to beat that price ‘cause you wanna go ahead and say this, this and this. But if they can't do this for you, then you're gonna be wasting money.” I don't know anyone that would have went out of their way to do that for me. Especially after the fact that I was dealing with three different companies. And the comparison in the customer service and what he did for me.
He said, “I don't care what I gotta do for you, Kharemma, if I get the loan or not. I'm gonna help you make sure that you don't make a mistake in buying a home for your family. I've helped you with your refi. I know how you are about your finances and the future of your family, so I'm gonna make sure that you get the best deal you can get, whether it's with me and our company or not.”
I understand about competition, but I was in the rock and a hard place. I could not afford to make a mistake. This is a big jump for me. And he made sure he walked me through every step holding my hand, and I felt appreciated. He cared about my family and my finances and me not being house broke and not taking on more than I could chew based on what he could see. I would advise AmeriSave to offer him a raise or another position to train. Because any time I've called in to any other agent, they could not get anywhere near what he provided for me. I would hang up.
He had four loans from everyone else. I know they go through things. And I've told them, “No, I have an agent that I work with.” “Well, I'm the one who pulled your—” “I don't care who pulled it. I won't work with you. I want him.” And I contacted him. He had to go through some things and I let him know, “I don't care. You can let them know that I'm not working with anyone else, or you can lose the loan.” It was a lot because of the start of the online, but I have went through my old portal, and I was trying to find it. And it jstarted a new one instead of getting me to him, so I started off incorrectly. But I found him. And he's about to make a lot of money.
He keeps in touch. He still contacts. “Hey, how do you like your house?” He will email me first thing. I'm talking first in the morning. “Hey, in case there’s any questions, call me. I’m available. Here's my cell. Any time, if you have any questions, don't be in limbo. I don't want you to have to wait. I wanna answer all your concerns. I wanna help you. I wanna do this.” Up over and beyond. He is a wonderful person. A person, because people like to do business with people. If you want hands down somebody that jumps over every hoop for you, his name is Cody.
Kharemma, Thank you for allowing us to serve you and for this tremendous feedback! We love to hear about the positive experiences of our customers and hope to assist you again in the future! If you should need anything further, please feel free to contact Customer Care at customercare@amerisave.com or 1-888-700-4026.
My husband and I never did FHA when we bought homes and AmeriSave wanted to do FHA. I didn’t argue with them. AmeriSave kept talking about the appraisal. I said that nobody had been here to do an appraisal yet and I didn't know what was going on. They said that they were gonna send somebody else out. They set up one date. I waited for the man all day but he did not show up. Finally, this man called me and said that AmeriSave called him and wanted him to come out and do my appraisal. But he doesn’t do those FHA appraisals. I asked when we were going to have the closing and AmeriSave said that they were waiting on the appraisal. I asked who was gonna appraise it and they said they called a man. I said that the guy was not going to do it because he doesn't do FHAs anymore. He only does banks.
Finally, a man called me one day and we set up an appointment. He showed up, appraised it, and wanted me to fix a whole bunch of problems. I said that I was getting some cash out to fix the problems. If I had the money to fix the problems, I wouldn’t be getting a cash out. AmeriSave turned around and switched the loan to a conventional loan. I had to go through that process again but the guy didn't come out and inspect it anymore. It went smoothly after that. My only thing is, I wish I could get a nice, big folder. All I've got is a bunch of loose papers in a wrinkled-up folder. I wish I had all my information that the rep brought me in something better than the way I've got it. Other than that, I'm happy. The work is getting done and these guys are absolutely going crazy. It's looking better and better.
I was disappointed that I didn't get a lower rate because at the time I did it, the rates were down. I was told it was because of my credit score, which I understand that too. They gave me two point something. I don't know if the conventional loan changed it up to 3.5 because I was 4.5 when I started. I was wishing I could have got a lower rate but at least I got it done. So, all is well. The lady I worked with was very nice and anything I asked her, she answered me. She was right on top of everything and I have no complaints there. Everyone was very nice. It was just one of those things that it didn't do you any good to get upset over it. It was going to work out the way it worked out.
.
Hello Wanda, thank you for sharing your experience. Your feedback is very much appreciated.
I got a traditional loan with AmeriSave and their reps were patient. The application and underwriting process didn't take long and we closed in 30 days. The rates were high and for the credit score in the 800s, I thought I'd get a better rate. But they were a good company and they got everything done in a timely manner. I would refer them.
The rep with Amerisave was sweet. She took time with me and explained everything. I was asking her a thousand more questions and would even call her in the evening. She would still respond even though she didn't have to. Sometime at the end of the year, I will be coming back to her to do the lower reduction rate program they have for veterans because she did a wonderful job. The whole team was very polite and thoughtful, and they kept in touch with me to make sure I was through the process and what was gonna happen next. They didn't pressure me. That's what I liked the most. The process went faster than what I thought it was gonna go. They were very expedient. They walk you through the process step by step, and they’re willing to answer any questions and work with you.
From the moment I called them, they were there to assist me with my needs. Jeff, my loan officer and Nikki, the processor are an amazing team. The application was extremely easy and I'm happy with the service. No one's happy with the rate so I'm looking to refinance at some point but right now, it's okay.
They were really nice. Every time I called Mark, he would be there. Whatever information I wanna know, he used to answer every time, even in the middle of the night. Everything went really well in our experience.
AmeriSave Mortgage was great to work with. Things moved quickly. They were very efficient and thorough.
- Sources
- ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. To learn more about the content on our site, visit our FAQ page. Specific sources for this article include:
- Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, “ HMDA Data Publication.” Accessed Aug. 30, 2022.
AmeriSave Mortgage Company Information
- Social media:
- Company Name:
- AmeriSave Mortgage Corporation
- Company Type:
- Private
- Year Founded:
- 2002
- Address:
- 3525 Piedmont Road NE, Building 8 - Suite 600
- City:
- Atlanta
- State/Province:
- GA
- Postal Code:
- 30305
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.amerisave.com