Lender review
Guild Mortgage review: what Michigan borrowers should know
Best for: first-time and lower-credit buyers wanting hands-on guidance
- Headquarters
- San Diego, CA
- Founded
- 1960
- NMLS
- #3274
- Min. credit score
- 600
- Min. down payment
- 3%
Guild is a long-established retail lender that leans into first-time buyers, government loans, and down-payment-assistance programs, and it retains servicing on most loans it originates. That in-house servicing is a genuine plus for Michigan borrowers who dislike getting handed off. Pricing, though, is loan-officer-driven with little posted online.
What separates Guild from the retail pack is what happens after you close. This long-established lender retains servicing on most of the loans it originates, so a Michigan borrower isn't handed off to some faceless out-of-state servicer weeks later. For anyone who has been through the disorienting churn of a sold mortgage, that continuity alone can justify a longer look.
Its instincts lean toward buyers who need a guide. Guild builds its reputation on first-timers, government loans, and down-payment-assistance programs, and it will write FHA down to a 600 score. A Michigan household navigating its first purchase, unsure which program fits, gets a lender that treats hand-holding as the job rather than an inconvenience.
The cost of that model is pricing opacity. Guild posts no rates or fees, so you have to request a quote to learn where you stand, and the number varies noticeably by which loan officer and branch you land with. Fees can run higher than the lean online discounters. Shop it against a couple of rivals, but weight the in-house servicing heavily when you tally the value.
What works
- Retains servicing in-house, so no surprise transfers
- Strong first-time-buyer and DPA program lineup
- Full product set including USDA and 600-score FHA
What to watch
- Rates and fees not published; quote friction
- Pricing varies noticeably by loan officer and branch
- Fees can run higher than lean online competitors
Loan programs at Guild Mortgage
Which core Michigan loan types Guild Mortgage offers, with the typical minimum down payment for each program. Program floors are industry standards — Guild Mortgage's own minimums or credit overlays may run higher.
| Loan program | Offered | Typical min. down |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional | ✓ Yes | 3% |
| FHA | ✓ Yes | 3.5% |
| VA | ✓ Yes | 0% |
| USDA | ✓ Yes | 0% |
| Jumbo | ✓ Yes | 10–20% |
| Construction | — No | — |
Where Guild Mortgage's credit bar sits
Guild Mortgage's roughly 600 minimum sits in the fair credit range. Below, that 600 floor is plotted against the four broad credit tiers and the 620 median for the 55 Michigan lenders we track.
| Guild Mortgage | Michigan median* | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Min. credit score | 600 | 620 |
| Loan programs offered | 5 | 5 |
| Michigan-headquartered | No | — |
*Median across the 55 Michigan lenders in our catalog.
How Guild Mortgage's rates and offers compare
Before committing, pull a same-day quote from at least two competitors — pricing gaps of 0.25% are common for identical borrowers. Start with Movement Mortgage, New American Funding or AmeriSave Mortgage, then compare Loan Estimates line by line. For context on where pricing lands, check our Michigan rate table.
Guild Mortgage: frequently asked questions
What are Guild Mortgage's mortgage rates in Michigan?
Guild Mortgage doesn't post one rate — like every lender, its pricing turns on your credit score, down payment, loan size and the day you lock. It doesn't publish live rates online, so you'll need to request a personalized quote. The reliable move: pull a written Loan Estimate from Guild Mortgage and set it beside this week's Michigan averages in our rate table, comparing on the same day.
Is Guild Mortgage a legitimate mortgage lender?
Yes. Guild Mortgage is a licensed mortgage lender registered under NMLS #3274 and lending since 1960. Anyone can verify that number, and the company's complaint record, at NMLS Consumer Access. Our unpaid editorial review rates it 4.0/5 for Michigan buyers — no lender pays for placement.
What credit score do you need for a Guild Mortgage mortgage?
Guild Mortgage generally looks for a credit score around 600 on its most common loans. Its FHA loans can go lower — often to 580, or 500 with a larger down payment — while conventional and jumbo loans usually want higher scores. Individual overlays can push that higher, so 600 is the opening bid, not the final word.
Does Guild Mortgage offer FHA, VA and USDA loans?
Guild Mortgage offers FHA, VA and USDA loans to Michigan borrowers. It covers the full government-loan menu. Its complete Michigan lineup is Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo.
Does Guild Mortgage lend in Michigan?
Yes. Although Guild Mortgage is headquartered in San Diego, CA, it is licensed to lend in Michigan and actively originates purchase and refinance loans across the state, from metro Detroit to the Upper Peninsula.
Will Guild Mortgage sell my mortgage after closing?
Often not. Guild Mortgage is noted for keeping servicing in-house rather than selling it, so the company you send payments to is more likely to stay the same after closing — a real plus if servicing transfers frustrate you.
Independent and unpaid — Guild Mortgage did not pay for placement. How we score every lender (and where our rate data comes from) is set out in our editorial policy. Figures reflect public information as of 2026-07-01 and can change; the only rate that binds a lender is a written Loan Estimate. Verify the license at NMLS Consumer Access (#3274).