The Yahoo view: A mash-up of a lender and a lender marketplace, Zillow Home Loans may be best for those looking to shop multiple mortgage providers in one place.One of the biggest names in real estate, particularly home search, is also a rapidly growing mortgage lender. Zillow Home Loans represents the kind of “integrated” provider that’s becoming more common in today’s market. This kind of mortgage loan firm connects consumers to not only lending services, but also to real estate agents, attorneys, closing services, and even insurance.Zillow obviously helps you find a home to buy — or rent — and connects you to real estate agents, but now, it’s becoming a bigger player in home financing.Yahoo Finance deployed a real-life user perspective on services offered and a critical analysis of mortgage rates and loan costs to examine how Zillow Home Loans compares to competing mortgage lenders.Read more: Should you rent or buy? How to decide.Key benefits A “BuyAbility” tool gauges your home affordability in real time based on your income, down payment, regularly updated mortgage rates, and latest credit score. Eventually, it will show homes that mirror your purchasing power. Shopping for a loan while browsing homes makes for a convenient experience. Need to know Zillow Home Loans has limited loan offerings. It’s hard to know whether a prequalification or preapproval application will generate a response from Zillow Home Loans or from a third-party provider in the Zillow Group Marketplace. Don’t be surprised if you get directed to a mortgage lender other than Zillow. Visit Zillow Home Loans’ website to get started.Zillow Home Loans offers the following types of home loans: Conventional loans FHA loans VA loans Purchase mortgages Refinance loans Cash-out refinances Fixed-rate mortgages Adjustable-rate home loans Jumbo loans Second home loans Investment property loans Buydown loans Zillow Home Loans does not offer the following types of home loans: USDA loans Interest-only mortgages Lot loans Construction loans Guest house loans Nonqualified mortgages Energy efficient mortgages Renovation loans 1% down payment mortgages Bridge loans Manufactured home mortgages Piggyback loans ITIN mortgages Medical professional loans HELOCs Home equity loans Dig deeper: How a buydown loan helps you buy down your mortgage interest rateNavigating through the Zillow Learning Center will eventually take you to a first-time home buyer page with over 100 articles, some with embedded videos, which we appreciate.A down payment assistance tool is particularly useful. You answer a series of seven questions, and it tells you what assistance programs may be available where you live. This is the first time we’ve seen such a resource. Impressive.Read more: The best mortgage lenders for first-time home buyers Zillow does not offer home equity products, even though you may see them on a sub-menu as a loan option.For products not provided by Zillow Home Loa
