First Access Lending Reviews

First Access Lending is a digital brand based in Baltimore, Maryland, that offers mortgage products to borrowers in 16 states. It was established in 2024 and operates through East Coast Capital, a financial services company that provides in-house funding and underwriting.

The company advertises a streamlined loan process with access to a range of mortgage products, including purchase, refinance, government-backed, home equity, non-QM and commercial loans.

First Access Lending is a digital lender, meaning borrowers can complete the entire loan process online. To get started, click on the blue “Get Access” link on the company’s website and complete a short form asking about the type of loan you’re looking for and your contact information.

Once this is submitted and received, you’ll be contacted by a licensed lender who will help you set up an account through the company’s online portal. From here, you can upload financial documents and communicate with your loan officer from application to closing.

First Access Lending application features

First Access Lending rates are not listed online and are dependent on the type of loan, the qualifications of the borrower and the federal funds rate. To get a rate quote, you need to contact the company directly.

First Access Lending is able to offer borrowers a wide range of mortgage products:

• Conventional
• Jumbo
• Commercial
• Government-backed:
  • Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Non-qualified (non-QM):
  • Bank statement
  • Debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR)
  • Interest-only
  • Asset-based
  • Individual tax identification number (ITIN)
  • Foreign national
• Second mortgage:
  • Reverse
  • Home equity
  • Home equity line of credit (HELOC)

Borrower requirements will vary and are dependent on factors like credit score, credit history, debt-to-income ratio (DTI), down payment amount and the type of loan. For instance, many government-backed loans have lower thresholds for credit score and down payment than a conventional mortgage.

Requirements will also vary for non-QM borrowers who may be able to use alternative documentation like bank statements or assets to prove income.

First Access Lending charges a flat fee of $1,299 for most conventional purchase loans, which includes application, origination and processing. Additionally, borrowers will also have to pay third-party costs like appraisal or titling. Because the company is a direct lender through East Coast Capital, all the underwriting is done in-house, which can cut down on borrower costs.

First Access Lending also offers some no-closing-cost mortgage options, which typically require the borrower to accept a slightly higher rate in exchange for eliminating closing costs. Fees associated with home equity and second mortgages are loan-dependent.