Today we’ll take a hard look at AmeriHome Mortgage Company, LLC, which is a direct mortgage lender based out of Southern California.
Their current company headquarters are in Thousand Oaks, CA, just north of Los Angeles.
You might recognize the name from Designing Spaces on Lifetime TV, where they are featured.
They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a 4.2/5 score with Trustpilot. But first a little background.
AmeriHome History
- Launched in 1988 as a Michigan-based corporation
- Later acquired by Impac Mortgage Holdings in 2010
- Sold to Aris Mortgage Holding Company LLC in 2014
- Now led by CEO Jim Farush, an ex-Countrywide and PennyMac executive
- Acquired by Western Alliance Bancorporation in early 2021 for $1 billion
The company was started way back in 1988 as a Michigan-based corporation, but has changed hands several times since then.
It was later sold by Impac Mortgage Holdings in 2014 to Aris Mortgage Holding Company LLC, after becoming a redundant mortgage platform for the company.
AmeriHome is now led by Jim Farush, who is also the current CEO of the company.
His experience includes working as CEO for Countrywide Bank, which was the banking business that backed former #1 mortgage lender Countrywide Financial.
He also helped launch PennyMac, which began as a purchaser of distressed mortgage assets, and later become a full-scale lender.
Clearly he’s got a strong mortgage pedigree, so we’ll assume AmeriHome has ambitions to be one of the top mortgage lenders in the country.
Now let’s dig into the details of what the company offers to its mortgage customers.
AmeriHome Quick Facts
- AmeriHome derives much of its volume by purchasing residential mortgage loans from correspondent sellers
- They service and purchase loans in 49 states and the District of Columbia
- But only offers mortgages via the retail channel in 30 states at the moment
- Originated $64.5 billion in home loans during 2020 with most volume coming from the states of California and Texas
- Loan servicing portfolio totaled $98.8 billion as of December 31st, 2020
What AmeriHome Mortgage Offers
- Home purchase loans
- Refinance loans
- Conventional loans (Fannie/Freddie)
- Government loans (FHA and VA)
- Fixed mortgages and ARMs
Like most other mortgage lenders, they offer both home purchase loans and refinance loans.
So both existing homeowners and prospective home buyers can get a home loan from AmeriHome.
With regard to loan type, they offer conventional loans, such as those backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, along with government loans, including FHA loans and VA Loans.
It’s unclear what individual loan programs they offer other than the 30-year fixed and 15-year fixed, though my guess is you can get a variety of adjustable-rate mortgages as well.
AmeriHome Mortgage Rates
I always appreciate it when a mortgage lender lists their mortgage rates on their website.
Sure, they should be taken with a grain of salt because they make a lot of assumptions, such as low LTV and high credit score.
But it shows they’re perhaps a little more transparent than the next guy.
Anyway, based on the rates displayed at the time of this writing, they appeared to be pretty competitive.
The APRs were similarly low, which tells me they may not charge too many fees.
Of course, these are just baseline rates and individual loan scenarios will vary.
Certainly take the time to shop around as you would any other product to ensure you obtain the best pricing.
What States Does AmeriHome Originate Mortgages In?
At the moment, AmeriHome isn’t nationwide, which is one of the potential negatives.
In fact, they only lend in 30 states, and do not originate mortgages in DC either.
They work with home buyers and owners in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WA.
So make sure your state is listed before you consider getting a mortgage from AmeriHome.
Applying for a Mortgage with AmeriHome
- You can call directly or use the rate quote engine on their website
- Can get a pre-qualification in minutes and a pre-approval in 24 hours
- A loan officer will help you submit a loan application
- Unclear how fully digital their loan process is beyond document upload
To get started, you can call them directly or visit their website and request a rate quote. They do not have any physical branches or a loan officer directory.
Once you fill out some basic questions, like loan amount and credit score, it will populate loan options and rates, without the need for a credit pull.
From there, a loan officer will help you submit a loan application, assuming you want to move forward.
You can also get a pre-qualification in minutes and a pre-approval in 24 hours by the next business day.
They say a “next generation digital platform” powers AmeriHome’s mortgage origination process, but it’s unclear exactly what that entails.
You’re able to submit documents via their secure web portal, but whether you can link financial accounts like other lenders, such as Rocket Mortgage or Better Mortgage, is another question.
In any case, AmeriHome claims its “sophisticated information management tools” allow it to be a direct-to-consumer mortgage lender, which lowers costs that can then be passed onto its customers.
AmeriHome Rewards Program
Once you get a mortgage from AmeriHome, you’ll save $1,095 on origination costs for subsequent loans financed via the company.
In other words, if you wish you refinance your existing home loan with AmeriHome, they’ll give you a discount.
This is very similar to the loanDepot Lifetime Guarantee offered by that company.
To be eligible, AmeriHome Mortgage Company, LLC should appear on the Promissory Note for the loan and you must be listed as a borrower on the note.
As always with these deals, it’s best to shop around beyond your current lender to see what competitors may offer.
Loyalty doesn’t always pay, especially in the mortgage business.
The AmeriHome Rewards Program doesn’t apply to FHA streamline refinances or the VA IRRRL loan.
AmeriHome’s Correspondent Lending Division
Whether you realize it or not, you might get a mortgage from AmeriHome via one of their clients thanks to their sizable correspondent lending division.
They act as a sponsor for independent mortgage bankers, community and regional banks, and credit unions throughout the country.
In other words, these institutions both big and small can offer mortgage products backed by AmeriHome.
They offer all types of loan via this channel, including conforming, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, and even non-QM loans.
As such, they refer to themselves as the nation’s 4th largest correspondent investor.
In 2017, they were the first correspondent investor in the country to be endorsed by the American Bankers Association (ABA).
AmeriHome Reviews
As noted, AmeriHome does a lot of its business via the correspondent lending channel, meaning other banks originate loans on behalf of the company.
So many customers may not actually know their mortgage came from AmeriHome.
But they still have roughly 1,300 customer reviews on Trustpilot with a 4.5-star rating out of 5, which is considered excellent.
Per Trustpilot, they typically respond to negative reviews within a week and have replied to 95% of their negative reviews.
In other words, if you have a problem, they will likely respond to it, which is a plus.
They also have an A+ BBB rating and have been accredited since 2018.
Additionally, they have a ~4-star rating out of 5 on the BBB based on customer reviews, which is pretty good relative to most other mortgage companies.
AmeriHome Pros and Cons
The Good
- Mortgage rates are listed on their website
- Transparent pricing
- Clear explanation of loan fees
- AmeriHome Rewards Program
- Customer focused a highly rated on Trustpilot
- A+ Better Business Bureau rating
- They service home loans
The Possible Bad
- Not offered in all states (only 30 at the moment)
- Need a loan officer to submit a loan application
- Do not seem to offer a fully digital loan process
- No physical branch locations
- No USDA loans or home equity products available
AmeriHome Mortgage is the most screwed up and inefficient mortgage company I have ever dealt with in my fifty years of mortgages.
Their idea of customer service is a cruel joke.
I have spent hours and hours on the phone with them over eight months just trying to get a current monthly statement.
Also, they filed a claim against the credit reporting companies for something that is clearly their problem not mine.
They have been telling me they will correct that for a couple months and nothing, nothing, ever happens.
This company is absolutely worthless.
Could not agree more with Robert’s comments above. This is the WORST company I have ever dealt with. Their Customer Service is an ABSOLUTE JOKE. After less than a year of owning this house, we are so happy to refinance (NOT WITH THEM), get a lower interest rate, and to have another company administer our loan. It has taken me WEEKS and WEEKS asking simple questions, only to have them close out my tickets as solved with a scripted/generic answer. The WORST customer service model I have ever experienced. I would NEVER recommend this company to anyone – they are totally incompetent.
I agree with the above comments entirely. We refinanced with a local company and our loan was sold to this company one month ago. Worst customer service ever!!!!!!!!!!!!! I might even spend another $8k in closing costs to refinance with someone else. They are really that bad!
I, too, have had a lot of trouble getting resolution to my problem. I changed my home owner’s insurance and sent in the proper paper work which they said they received in mid December, but they have yet to update the info and they did not pay my premium despite numerous phone calls and a broken promise to call me back. Customer service cannot transfer calls to the people who do the updating. Very frustrating experience, but the reps I have talked to did do their job of putting in the work orders and were pleasant.
Amerihome is the worst. They have messed up I’m not paying my taxes and providing any customer service. Soon as I get my refund I’m canceling and switching lenders. They are liars and cons.
They are somehow teamed up with credit monitoring. We applied for a line of credit from our bank, and now constantly get calls from Amerihome. They are as bad as the auto warranty people!!
I wonder, was this author paid to write these flattering comments about the world’s worst mortgage Lender Have ever dealt with! Their customer service is non-existent! They simply keep you on hold forever, then finally, after a half hour or so, hang up! No possibility to ever speak to anyone, reach any supervisor, or any knowledgeable person, who can actually resolve issues! Homeowners Insurance nightmares just end up worse, when AmeriHome is your mortgage Co., I did not choose them, my mortgage was sold to them, 2 months after purchase! Stuck with a company that I did not choose, I actually want to sell my home, just to get rid of this company and my need to deal with them! I pray that State after State begins to refuse to allow them to purchase mortgages in each their region!
They have over 450 Complaints already filed with the BBB, how is it that this article reports an A+ BBB Rating? How many complaints must they have to get a bad rep? Is anyone listening to the homeowners like myself who are bitterly complaining? Taxes, Homeowners Insurance nightmares, withholding insurance payments and preventing Home owners from repairing their home unless they can afford to lay out the repair dollars themselves! keeping Insurance co monies in Escrow, who is getting the interest, as homes go without repair, while the Mortgage Co holds the payments for ransom, until owners can pay themselves up front before they will release the payments made! Criminals, I believe they should be prosecuted for what they are doing to homeowners!
Hey Jill,
My review is based on the lending aspect of their business. As for loan servicing, that could be an entirely different story. And no, all reviews are entirely objective and there isn’t any compensation to write about them or any other company, which is why all comments good, bad, or otherwise get posted. But your particular comment does highlight the problem with commingling lending and servicing, which is one reason why many lenders sell off their loans shortly after closing. I just checked and they do still have an A+ BBB rating despite the large number of complaints, which could be based on how they respond to those complaints. If your complaint with the BBB didn’t get anywhere, you may want to try try CFPB as well. Sorry to hear about your experience.
This is absolutely the worst mortgage company. I have been trying to get an issue resolve with my property taxes. After three requests, I have not been able to take to a supervisor. I was told they will call me back!!
This is the very worst company I have ever dealt with… I have tried and tried to let them fix the issues but they just don’t want to. Another 4 months have gone by and they keep telling me they will figure it out. Over paid 4,500 dollars on the taxes and they have not put the money back in my escrow account. Not only has it been a nightmare, they can’t correct my payment and it has created shortages. I have asked them over and over to fix it so I can just refinance with another company but if I do not reach out they let months go by before I have to contact them again for an update. What a horrible way to treat customers with 280k dollar loans with you. So beyond upset with this company.
This company is simply a fraud. They lie, cheat, and steal. I fought with them for a year because they kept purchasing insurance on my behalf. I called them dozens of times and send them several emails with the proof of insurance. To add insult to injury, they returned my payments of the actual mortgage amount (sans the insurance that I didn’t need), and charged me a late fee.
Another month, another complaint about this incredibly crappy company. They have overpaid my property taxes by more than $3K and are now claiming I have an escrow shortage! They are stating that my mortgage payment will more than double starting in December to cover the escrow shortage that THEY created! I have owned multiple homes and numerous mortgages and refis for decades. I have never seen anything like this!
Amerihome wouldn’t accept my first payment and sent the cashiers check back. Stating they wouldn’t accept partial payment even tho no payment was even due yet. So I added another check and made a “full payment “. Then a gov agency sent 2 checks via snailmail for the next 2 months. Which both were lost. They claim the post office lost the payments. When the gov agency tried to make a ACH payment right there and then they couldn’t sent ach email out for 24 hours. This company wouldn’t accept any payment. The gov agency had to get creative so they could send me a payment to my bank account so I could send Amerihome payment via ach. This company after paying 3 months so an extra month was sent. So not only was it caught up since payment was “lost” it was a month ahead. The day it was paid at 503 am that same day they sent a certified letter stating the loan was in default. When in reality and confirmed via their own worker that it was not only Current but paid a month ahead. This company is something else. Seems to me they are predatory lenders waiting for someone to not be diligent and deal with their crap so they can take their house. Had I waited they most def would have tried to take mine. I called and talked to this company daily until they COULD RESEARCH where the payments were. ..I finally got tired of waiting had the gov agency cancel the checks and sent it ach. In the nick of time too. This company will do anything to not take payments. So you go into default. If they won’t take a gov agency payment what chance do normal every day folks have?
Christina,
You’re exactly correct. I just came off a forbearance from Nov-Jan. I kept calling & calling trying to figure out the next step & what to do. Yes, they kept sending me “hardship” packages in the mail, but what those looked like was that I was still wanting to stay in forbearance or do a foreclosure which I didn’t. I even called in January asking for help with completing the paperwork, I thought we had completed it over the phone to see if I qualified for a repayment plan I spent an hour answering questions about my finances, I even made a $605 payment that day toward the amount owed. I was told to call back in 7-10 to see if I was approved after I made my payment in February.
The underwriters didn’t approve me for a deferment, they didn’t approve me for a repayment plan (they told me after the fact my loan didn’t qualify for those) why wasn’t I told in this in the beginning? Now it’s February I made my monthly payment, they’re still saying I’m all good regarding my credit but now I’m going to have to do a complete loan modification however this shouldn’t effect my credit bc everything is noted that I’m going through this process of the loan modification after coming out of forbearance. All the paperwork was turned in on 2/22/22 for the loan mod. I got a notification on 3/3/22 that Amerihome notified the credit bureau on 2/7/22 that I was over due on my payments when they clearly had reassured me the 100x I had called everything was all good. I ended up canceling my loan mod & was able to pay off the entire past due balance (thank god for my tax return), what if they didn’t approve me for the loan mod, I hadn’t been approved for anything else. What if they would of kept dragging their feet..it would of been 90, 120, then 180 past due full of broken promises & I feel like they would of eventually tried to take my house. Not to mention I had perfect credit & now I show something negative on there even though I tried to do the right thing the entire time.
AmeriHome is only concerned with collecting monthly payments. They are a serving company, and nothing else, (the equivalent of a Mortgage Mill). Your money is their priority, not the customer. Unfortunately, with the high interest rates, the customer has to wait.
We have been fighting with Amerihomes since 2019. Being put on. Forbearance plan then filling out one packet after another showing we have the income to pay the mortgage payment. To be denied over and over. Saying their “per their investor we do not meet the income criteria. My fiance and i bring in over 6,000 a month how is that not sufficient income. Now, fighting for our house, because they did not want to help us in the beginning. If this mortgage company comes up for you to use run and run fast. Worst customer service talk to one person they say one thing, the next person says something totally different. Not one of their employees know what the heck they are doing. Worst mortgage company ever.