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PROVIDER FIT REVIEW/

New American Funding Review for Rate-and-Term Refinancing

New American Funding is a mixed fit for a rate-and-term refinance. It offers conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, interest-only, and non-QM options with terms from 8 to 30 years, but it does not publish refinance rates or lender fees online, so treat it as one quote among several.

Multiple AI perspectivesEvidence-led comparisonsOur editorial independence

RECOMMENDATION COVERAGE

New American Funding

Recommended by 3 of 7 AI platforms in this study.

42.9%Consensus coverage · not a customer rating

The research in brief

New American Funding is a mixed fit for a rate-and-term refinance. Three of seven platforms named it during ranking discovery, and all three placed it between third and fourth. Its strongest case rests on product breadth — conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, interest-only, and non-QM refinance options, plus advertised loan terms from 8 to 30 years [49]. The main limitation is verifiability: New American Funding does not publish refinance rates or a lender fee schedule online, independent reviews describe its rates as average or above average, and advertised rates assume roughly 3.0 discount points [24]. Treat it as one quote among several, not a default winner.

Research Snapshot

FieldFinding
Platform mentions in ranking stage3 of 7 platforms (Claude, DeepSeek, Kimi)
Share of included platform responses42.9%
Average listed rank3.67
Best listed rank3 (Claude)
Mortgage offeringRate-and-Term Refinance (Conventional, FHA, VA, Interest-Only, Non-QM)
Overall use-case fitMixed — five platforms rated it mixed, one good, one uncertain
Research date2026-09-29

Why New American Funding Qualified for This Study

Questions explored

  • Why did New American Funding qualify for this rate-and-term refinance study when only three platforms named it?
  • Is New American Funding a legitimate contender for a homeowner refinancing an existing mortgage without taking cash out?

New American Funding cleared the study's two-mention threshold with three ranking-stage mentions and a best listed rank of third, which is why it appears here rather than in a broader lender roundup. Qualification was based on ranking discovery only; the seven platform fit evaluations were separate and are the substance of this review.

The lender is a nationwide direct mortgage lender. Independent coverage describes it as licensed in all 50 states with more than 300 branch locations [42], and it publicly markets a dedicated refinance section covering Rate-and-Term Refinancing, 30-year and 15-year fixed loans, FHA/VA, interest-only, and non-QM programs [3]. Bankrate's review counts almost 20 mortgage programs, excluding refinance options [32].

Two qualification caveats belong up front. First, the deterministic identity audit recorded that official-site retrieval failed and that the entity was matched by exact-name fallback, so the official domain and product names should be confirmed on New American Funding's site before purchase. Second, the platform-reported research dates are not uniform: DeepSeek reported 2026-01-15 while the other six reported 2026-09-29, against an authoritative run date of 2026-09-29.

The mortgage offering in focus

Questions explored

  • Which New American Funding refinance program should a homeowner choose to shorten a 30-year loan to a 15-year term?
  • Does New American Funding's rate-and-term refinance let a borrower change loan term without taking cash out?

The relevant offer is New American Funding's rate-and-term refinance, marketed as replacing an existing loan to lower the rate or change the term without extracting equity. Platform labels for the underlying programs differ slightly — Claude lists conventional, FHA, VA, interest-only, and non-QM; DeepSeek, Grok, and Kimi list conventional, interest-only, and non-QM; Gemini adds the I CAN Mortgage and government-backed loans; Perplexity lists rate-and-term refinance without program detail. That naming conflict is unresolved in the supplied evidence and should be confirmed directly.

Term flexibility is the most concrete product advantage. SuperMoney reports mortgage terms ranging from 8 to 30 years [49], and Gemini's evaluation cites the proprietary I CAN Mortgage as allowing any fixed-rate term between 8 and 30 years [28]. Independent review coverage describes the I CAN Mortgage as permitting borrowers to pick any term from 10 to 30 years [48] — a minor discrepancy against the 8-year floor that Gemini's sources report.

New American Funding's own refinance calculator describes refinancing to a longer term to reduce the monthly payment and converting an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed rate for stable long-term budgeting [8]. The company also states it services approximately 80% of eligible loans [7], though its refinance page notes loans may be serviced by New American Funding or transferred [3].

What the AI Platforms Agreed About

Questions explored

  • What do AI platforms agree New American Funding does well for rate-and-term refinance borrowers?
  • Is New American Funding's lack of published refinance pricing a consistent finding across AI platforms?

Agreement was strongest on three points, and all three are limitations rather than endorsements.

First, pricing is not publicly verifiable. New American Funding does not publish refinance rates online [24], does not list lender fees on its website [24], and Forbes Advisor notes fees and other costs are not clearly disclosed on the lender's site [42]. LendingTree's review states that some rates are published but custom quotes require personal information, and that fees are on the higher side [29]. NerdWallet notes personalized mortgage rates are not available online [48].

Second, advertised rates carry point assumptions. Every advertised APR requires paying 3.000 discount points upfront at closing [24], and Motley Fool reports advertised rates assume at least 3.0 mortgage discount points [41]. Bankrate's review notes advertised rates appear much lower than Bankrate's own rates but require paying for points and making large down payments [32]. Advertised conventional quotes assume a 45-day lock at 60% loan-to-value [24], while a separate company disclosure states quoted rates assume 45-day lock pricing at 100% LTV with a 740 minimum FICO on a primary residence [12] — an internal inconsistency in the supplied evidence.

Third, customer-service evidence is genuinely mixed. New American Funding received a below-average score in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study [20] and in the 2024 study [44], but an above-average score in J.D. Power's 2025 Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study [20]. It holds an excellent Trustpilot score based on over 2,200 reviews [20] and BBB accreditation with strong ratings [32], alongside 128 mortgage-related CFPB complaints in 2025 about parent company Broker Solutions [20].

Where the AI Platforms Disagreed or Were Uncertain

Questions explored

  • Is New American Funding's rate-and-term refinance pricing competitive, or do independent reviews say its rates run above average?
  • How fast can New American Funding lock a refinance rate and close the loan?

Rate competitiveness is the sharpest disagreement. Motley Fool reports New American Funding mortgage rates trend about the same as the national average [41], and Credible describes its rates as competitive [40]. Against that, The Mortgage Reports states its rates tend to run higher than average [23], and independent rate data shows origination costs above industry average [24]. Grok's evaluation cites a sample 6.750% rate with 6.866% APR and 1 point on an $806,000 loan, and HMDA data showing an average 6.86% in 2024 with a 0.67% spread [13]. These figures are platform-reported and were not independently benchmarked for 2026.

Rate-lock speed is unresolved. New American Funding advises borrowers to ask loan officers about rate-lock policies before deciding [13], and no standard lock duration, extension cost, or float-down policy is published. Advertised rates assume a 45-day lock [24]. The company reports 24-hour credit approvals, 24-hour underwriting turnaround, and a 14-business-day closing guarantee on purchase loans with a $250 credit if missed [42] — but that guarantee is described for purchase transactions, not refinances.

Closing timelines also conflict. Some borrowers report smooth closures in about one month, while others report files stretching five months with closing dates pushed back repeatedly [24]. Kimi's evaluation found no documented closing timeline or rate-lock performance for New American Funding at all [43].

Mortgage features for this borrowing need

Questions explored

  • Does New American Funding offer a 15-year or 20-year term for a rate-and-term refinance?
  • Can self-employed borrowers use New American Funding for a rate-and-term refinance?

Term flexibility is the clearest advantage. Terms run from 8 to 30 years [49], and the I CAN Mortgage is described as allowing any fixed-rate term between 8 and 30 years [28]. That matters for a homeowner moving from a 30-year to a 15-year loan, or choosing a nonstandard payoff timeline.

Product breadth is the second advantage. Bankrate reports almost 20 mortgage programs, excluding refinancing options, including USDA, non-QM, construction loans, and all-cash offer programs [32]. Independent coverage identifies conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, and refinance loans [23], and New American Funding's refinance page lists 30-year fixed, 15-year fixed, FHA/VA, interest-only, and non-QM programs [3]. Anytime Estimate reports the lender is willing to work with applicants who may not qualify for a conventional mortgage [19], and that customers said representatives helped find options better fitting their situations [19].

The 5-Year Rate Protection Pledge is the most distinctive feature for this use case. If a borrower locks a purchase or refinance by month-end, they can refinance again with no lender fee and no appraisal fee if rates drop within five years [11]. The pledge covers appraisal cost up to $500 [11] and waives lender fees up to a $1,629 maximum on refinance [11]. Eligibility is restricted: the offer requires at least six payments on the original loan, applies only to new applications, is unavailable for loans already in process, is not eligible with a standalone second lien, and remains subject to borrower and property qualifications [9]. Third-party charges still apply.

One product exclusion matters. New American Funding's FAQ states the company does not offer home-equity loans, including HELOANs and HELOCs [2], so a combined refinance-plus-equity-line structure is not available.

Rates, fees, and ongoing costs

Questions explored

  • How much does a New American Funding rate-and-term refinance cost in closing fees and discount points?
  • What rate-lock length and extension fees apply to a New American Funding refinance?

Pricing confidence is low across platforms. No verified current rate, APR, points schedule, lender-credit schedule, or standard closing-cost amount was located for a standardized rate-and-term borrower scenario [38]. New American Funding does not publish refinance rates online [24] and does not list lender fees on its website [24].

Where figures do exist, they conflict or carry conditions. Independent directory data lists fixed charges of a $995 processing fee, $0 underwriting, and a $350 application fee, with no origination fee charged by New American Funding [21]. Company guidance states closing costs typically run 2% to 5% of the loan amount [14], while a separate company page states 2% to 6% [13]. Advertised rates assume at least 3.0 discount points [41]. Grok's evaluation notes some reviews cite unexpected fee increases [47].

Rate-lock terms are not standardized in public evidence. Advertised rates assume a 45-day lock [24], and the company advises borrowers to ask loan officers about lock policies rather than publishing them [13]. Possible rate-lock extension fees apply if the loan does not close before the lock expires, but the amount and responsibility were not verified [37]. CFPB guidance states a locked rate can change if application information changes or the loan does not close within the lock period [37].

Two structural cost notes apply. A no-cost or low-cost refinance may compensate through a higher interest rate, points, or lender credits rather than eliminating underlying transaction costs [38]. And the 5-Year Rate Protection Pledge credits are capped — $500 appraisal, $1,629 lender fees — with third-party charges still applying [11].

Best Suited For

Questions explored

  • Who is New American Funding actually a good fit for in a rate-and-term refinance?
  • Is New American Funding worth considering for a self-employed homeowner who needs a non-QM refinance?

New American Funding is best suited to borrowers whose needs are structural rather than purely price-driven. The strongest fits, based on platform evaluations:

  • Homeowners who need a nonstandard term, such as a 15-year payoff on a customized schedule, using terms from 8 to 30 years [49].
  • Self-employed or non-traditional borrowers who may not qualify for a conventional refinance and need manual underwriting or non-QM options [19].
  • Borrowers who want branch or phone support rather than a fully digital process, given more than 300 branch locations [42].
  • Existing New American Funding borrowers who want to use the 5-Year Rate Protection Pledge fee credits on a refinance [11].
  • Borrowers who value long-term servicing, since the company services approximately 80% of eligible loans [7].

Google's evaluation rated the overall fit "good" for this use case, citing term customization and the protection pledge [28]. That is the most favorable of the seven platform ratings.

Probably Not Best Suited For

Questions explored

  • Who should not choose New American Funding for a rate-and-term refinance?
  • Is New American Funding a bad choice for a homeowner who needs published refinance rates before applying?

Several buyer profiles are poor matches on the supplied evidence.

Borrowers choosing primarily on lowest verified rate and lowest total refinance cost should look elsewhere first. No public source establishes that New American Funding consistently offers the lowest or most competitive rate for rate-and-term refinances [48], and independent data shows origination costs above industry average [24].

Borrowers who need published pricing before making contact are also poorly served. Refinance rates are not published online [24], lender fees are not listed [24], and personalized quotes require a credit check and direct loan officer contact [29].

Borrowers who weight independent origination-satisfaction rankings heavily should note the below-average J.D. Power results in both 2024 and 2025 [20]. Borrowers who need a guaranteed fast refinance timeline should note that the 14-business-day closing guarantee is described for purchase loans, not refinances [42], and that some borrowers report five-month files [24].

Borrowers wanting a refinance combined with a home-equity line cannot use New American Funding, which states it does not offer home-equity loans [2].

When Another Option May Be Better

Questions explored

  • What is a better alternative to New American Funding for a borrower who needs published refinance rates and low closing costs?
  • When should a rate-and-term refinance borrower skip New American Funding entirely?

Another lender may be better in four specific situations identified across platform evaluations.

When the borrower's primary criterion is a verifiable lowest rate or APR with transparent published pricing, a marketplace comparison or differently positioned lender may be better [3]. Kimi's evaluation notes that Investopedia's 2024 best refinance analysis featured Rate at a 6.37% average refinance rate and Rocket Mortgage at 7.33% using HMDA-sourced data, and that New American Funding was not included in that evaluation [43]. Those competitor figures are platform-reported.

When closing speed is critical, competitor benchmarks exist: Rate closes in 10 days and Tomo Mortgage in 12 days, while Rocket Mortgage averages 20 days [43]. New American Funding's refinance timeline is not documented in independent sources.

When fee minimization is the priority, Tomo Mortgage advertises $0 lender fees with third-party costs of $2,000 to $4,000 [4]. When the borrower wants a refinance plus a home-equity line, New American Funding is excluded by its own FAQ [2].

A local credit union or mortgage broker may also offer a clearer fee worksheet, faster written lock confirmation, or better pricing for the borrower's credit, equity, property, or loan size [48].

Questions to ask before choosing a lender

Questions explored

  • What should a buyer confirm with New American Funding before signing a rate-and-term refinance contract?
  • How can a homeowner verify New American Funding's rate lock, fees, and closing timeline before committing?

Bring this list to the loan officer conversation. Every item below reflects a gap the platforms could not resolve from public sources.

  1. What are the rate, APR, points, lender credits, and total cash-to-close for a true rate-and-term refinance with no cash back [48]?
  2. Can advertised rates be achieved without paying discount points, or are 3.0 points mandatory to reach published APRs [41]?
  3. What exact rate-lock period applies, when does it begin, what does an extension cost, and is a float-down or relock available [13]?
  4. Which fees are lender-controlled, which are third-party, and which are refundable if the loan is withdrawn or denied [48]?
  5. What is the actual closing timeline for a rate-and-term refinance, and does the 14-business-day guarantee apply to refinances or only purchases [42]?
  6. Does the 5-Year Rate Protection Pledge apply to this loan type, and what exclusions exist [9]?
  7. Will New American Funding retain or transfer servicing, and whom does the borrower contact after closing [3]?
  8. Which loan terms are available — 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years — and how do payment, APR, points, and break-even compare across them [49]?
  9. Will the transaction be coded as rate-and-term rather than cash-out, and how will financed closing costs affect the new balance and loan-to-value [48]?
  10. Is the proposed product available in the property's state and for the borrower's occupancy, credit profile, property type, and existing-lien structure [48]?

The consensus assessment

New American Funding is a mixed fit for rate-and-term refinance, and the platform ratings reflect that: five of seven rated it mixed, one rated it good, and one rated it uncertain. No platform rated it a strong or best-overall choice for this use case.

The case for including it rests on real, documented capability — terms from 8 to 30 years, a broad program menu including non-QM and interest-only refinance options, nationwide branch coverage, and the 5-Year Rate Protection Pledge fee credits for repeat borrowers. The case against treating it as a default rests on what cannot be verified: no published refinance rates, no published lender fee schedule, advertised rates that assume roughly 3.0 discount points, below-average J.D. Power origination satisfaction in two consecutive years, and conflicting reports on closing timelines.

The practical verdict is to include New American Funding in a multi-lender quote set, particularly if the borrower needs a nonstandard term or has non-traditional income, and to compare a same-day Loan Estimate against at least two competing lenders before proceeding. Platform agreement on these limitations does not establish that the lender performs poorly — it establishes that the public evidence does not support a stronger recommendation.

How This Review Was Produced

This review evaluates New American Funding only for rate-and-term refinance for existing homeowners. It is not a broad company review and does not assess purchase mortgages, cash-out refinancing, or home-equity products except where they bear on this use case.

Seven AI platforms evaluated fit for this use case: Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, Grok, Kimi, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. Three of those seven named New American Funding during ranking discovery, which is the basis for the platform-mention count in the snapshot table. All seven produced fit evaluations, and those evaluations — not the ranking mentions — supply the substance of this report.

Platform research dates were not uniform. Six platforms reported 2026-09-29; DeepSeek reported 2026-01-15. The authoritative run research date is 2026-09-29. Platform-reported dates are provenance metadata and do not independently prove freshness.

All citations are platform-reported evidence, not independently verified facts. The supplied URLs were collected from platform responses and were not independently validated at the writing stage. Claims without a citation are labeled platform-reported or unverified.

Research limitations

Several limitations constrain the conclusions in this review.

Official-site retrieval failed. The deterministic identity audit recorded that the official-site fetch exceeded the size limit and returned no excerpts, and that the entity was matched by exact-name fallback. The official domain and product names should be verified on New American Funding's site before purchase. Missing official excerpts do not establish that a product or policy does not exist.

Pricing is unverified. No platform located a current rate, APR, points schedule, lender-credit schedule, or standard closing-cost amount for a standardized rate-and-term borrower scenario. Advertised rate assumptions conflict internally — 60% LTV in one disclosure [24] and 100% LTV with 740 FICO in another [12].

Customer-service evidence measures different populations and is not directly comparable. Aggregate review scores, J.D. Power origination and servicer studies, and CFPB complaint counts capture different samples and timeframes.

Product naming conflicts were not resolved. Platform labels for the relevant refinance programs differ, and the I CAN Mortgage minimum term is reported as both 8 years [49] and 10 years [48].

Regulatory history is referenced but not adjudicated. A 2022 CFPB consent order concerning mortgage servicing and escrow practices was identified [39], and a DOJ settlement was reported around 2020 but could not be confirmed in a primary source within the research pass [46]. These do not directly address rate-and-term refinance pricing but are relevant to counterparty risk.

Platform agreement on a limitation does not prove the limitation is severe, and platform disagreement does not prove a product is deficient. Where evidence was mixed, this review says so rather than resolving the conflict.

Explore more mortgage refinance lenders guidance in the category directory.

Sources

Company-Owned Sources

  1. New American Funding - Rate-and-Term Refinance Product Classification: https://newamericanfunding.com/
  2. FAQ | New American Funding: https://newamericanfunding.com/faq/
  3. Refinance | New American Funding: https://newamericanfunding.com/refinance/
  4. Refinance | Lower Rate or Cash-Out | $0 Fees | Tomo Mortgage: https://tomo.com/mortgage/products/refinance
  5. New American Funding (NAF) | Home Loans & Refinance: https://www.newamericanfunding.com/
  6. 5 Year Protection Pledge | New American Funding: https://www.newamericanfunding.com/legal/5-year-protection-pledge/
  7. Advertising Disclosures | New American Funding: https://www.newamericanfunding.com/legal/advertising-disclosures/
  8. Mortgage Rates | Today's Mortgage Rates | New American Funding: https://www.newamericanfunding.com/mortgage-rates/
  9. Mortgage Refinance | New American Funding: https://www.newamericanfunding.com/refinance/
  10. Reviews | New American Funding: https://www.newamericanfunding.com/reviews/
  11. Refinance My Mortgage | Home Refinance Options & FAQs: https://www.rate.com/refinance-mortgage
  12. Rate & term refinance | Use Your Home Equity | Rocket Mortgage: https://www.rocketmortgage.com/home-loans/rate-and-term-refinance

Independent Sources

  1. New American Funding Review: Is It Right for Your Mortgage?: https://anytimeestimate.com/mortgage/new-american-funding-review/
  2. New American Funding Review - U.S. News 2026 Award Winner | U.S. News: https://money.usnews.com/loans/mortgages/reviews/newamericanfunding-mortgage
  3. New American Funding - Mortgage Rates & Review: https://mortgagehog.com/mortgage-rates/lender/new-american
  4. New American Funding Mortgage Review 2026 | SmartAsset.com: https://smartasset.com/mortgage/new-american-funding-mortgage-review
  5. New American Funding Review for 2026: Rates and Loan Options: https://themortgagereports.com/64846/new-american-funding-review-rates-loans-credit-score-2
  6. New American Funding Reviews and Ratings | Inquirer: https://usa.inquirer.net/207987/new-american-funding-reviews
  7. New American Funding: 2026 Home Equity Review: https://www.bankrate.com/home-equity/reviews/new-american-funding/
  8. New American Funding Mortgage Review 2026 | Bankrate: https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/reviews/new-american-funding/
  9. New American Funding Reviews from Real Customers | ConsumerAffairs: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/new-american-funding.html
  10. New American Funding Mortgage Review - Credible: https://www.credible.com/mortgage/new-american-funding-mortgage-review
  11. New American Funding Mortgage Review | Motley Fool: https://www.fool.com/money/mortgages/new-american-funding-mortgage-review
  12. New American Funding Mortgage Review: Pros, Cons & Verdict: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/new-american-funding-mortgage-review/
  13. Best Mortgage Refinance Companies: Low Rates and Great Service: https://www.investopedia.com/the-best-mortgage-refinance-companies-11733509
  14. New American Funding DOJ settlement coverage: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr
  15. New American Funding Mortgage Review 2026 | LendingTree: https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/new-american-funding-mortgage-review/
  16. New American Funding Home Mortgage Reviews (2026) - SuperMoney: https://www.supermoney.com/reviews/home-loan/new-american-funding-home-mortgage
  17. New American Funding Review for September 2026 | Home Loan Providers: https://www.topconsumerreviews.com/best-home-loans/reviews/new-american-funding.php
  18. New American Funding Reviews | 4 of 124 - Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/newamericanfunding.com?page=4
  19. New American Funding Reviews | 7 of 124 - Trustpilot: https://www.trustpilot.com/review/newamericanfunding.com?page=7

TRANSPARENCY BY DESIGN

The evidence behind this study

Research is a dated snapshot of AI recommendations and their supporting sources. Use the original evidence and methodology to understand what these findings can—and cannot—tell you.

Independent source records
35
Provider-owned source records
18
Direct support records
37

AI platforms in the study

ChatGPTClaudeDeepSeekGrokPerplexityKimiGemini

Study limitations

  • The study date identifies this research snapshot; dates reported by AI platforms do not independently establish source freshness.
  • Recommendation counts measure mentions during the ranking stage. Later fit assessments do not increase those counts.
  • Product names, costs, and features can differ across sources. Confirm conflicting details directly with the provider.
  • Source URLs came from AI platform responses and were not independently validated during report preparation.
  • Some dates reported by AI platforms differ from the study date. Those dates do not independently establish that the information is current.
  • The study evidence includes provider identity and qualification notes. Check those notes and confirm eligibility with the provider.

Affiliate & commercial disclosure

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Read the full Affiliate Disclosure for compensation, tracking, partner availability, and research independence details, or contact us with a disclosure question.

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