Haven Home Equity Reviews

Haven Home Equity was established in 2002 and provides home loan services to borrowers in 40 states plus Washington, D.C.. The company is an approved Fannie Mae Direct mortgage lender, a “Full Eagle” FHA lender that can process FHA loans from origination to closing, a VA automatic lender that can close on VA loans without getting agency approval and a USDA-approved lender.

Haven Home Equity can also provide conventional loans and refinance options, including home equity loans, and can serve nontraditional buyers with its nonqualified mortgage programs (non-QM).

To apply for a loan with Haven Home Equity, customers need to create an account through the company’s Hole N1 Mortgage app or its web portal or visit a physical branch. After you submit your initial application, you’ll be contacted by a loan officer to begin the prequalification process.

Through the app, you can submit your personal information, upload financial documents and track your entire loan process. If preapproved, you can print a preapproval letter directly from the app. The company states that loans can close in as little as three weeks on average.

Haven Home Equity offers a full suite of loan programs, including:

• Conventional: Also called conforming loans since they conform to the requirements of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two of the largest loan guarantors in the country.
• Government-backed: Government-backed mortgages provide more lenient requirements for certain borrowers and include loans backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
• Jumbo: Non-conforming mortgages that exceed the loan amount guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ($806,500 as of 2025). Haven Home Equity issues jumbo loans up to $3.5 million.
• Non-qualified mortgage programs (Non-QM): Loans for non-traditional borrowers like those with past credit issues or self-employed individuals.
• Refinance: Loans for existing homeowners that include cash-out, home equity and Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).
• FHA 203k: A mortgage and renovation loan in one backed by the FHA.
• Reverse mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) are backed by the FHA and allow homeowners aged 62 and older to capitalize on the equity in their homes without making payments to the lender.

Haven Home Equity does not list its rates online. The best way to find out your rate is to create an account through the Hole N1 Mortgage app or call the company directly.

Rates depend on the type of loan you’re applying for, your credit score, financial history and current market conditions. The company provides free, 30-day rate locks for approved borrowers.

Financial requirements vary by loan type. Haven Home Equity does not post its borrower requirements online. However, below are the typical requirements for popular loan types:

• Conventional: Minimum credit score of 620. If the down payment is less than 20%, you may be required to buy private mortgage insurance (PMI).
• FHA: Borrowers with a credit score of at least 580 qualify for a 3.5% down payment, and those with a score of at least 500 qualify for a 10% down payment.
• VA: Loans for active-duty service members, veterans and surviving spouses who haven’t remarried. Available to borrowers with low credit scores and has no down payment requirements.
• USDA: Helps borrowers with low to moderate incomes purchase homes in eligible rural areas.
• Jumbo: Allows a 10% down payment with no requirement to purchase PMI. Typically requires at least a 700 credit score.
• Reverse: Must be at least 62 years old and live in your home as a primary residence.

Haven Home Equity requirements by type

Although Haven Home Equity doesn’t publish its fees, borrowers can expect to pay typical closing costs, which can include fees like origination, appraisal, recording, title insurance and escrow.

In some cases, homebuyers may be able to negotiate that the seller pays some or all of these. There may be additional fees if the borrower chooses to buy down their interest rate (known as paying discount points).