Mortgage companies are non-bank businesses built around one product: the home loan. In Annandale, they sit alongside banks and credit unions as a common place to start a purchase or refinance. This page explains how a mortgage company differs from a bank, the channels it can sell through, and what happens to your loan after you sign, so you know what you are signing up for in Virginia.
Call to speak with a licensed loan officer about mortgage companies in Annandale. Programs vary by borrower, property and investor.
How Fairfax County borrowers financed homes
Of the 17,907 home loans originated in Fairfax County in 2024, 84% were conventional and 16% were government-backed (FHA, VA or USDA). Refinances and cash-out refinances together were 20% of the county's loans. The median household income in Annandale is about $116,300.
Mortgage company or bank: what is different
A bank takes deposits and makes many kinds of loans. A mortgage company does not hold checking or savings accounts. Instead, it typically funds loans through a warehouse line of credit and then sells them to investors such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or larger institutions.
That structure has practical effects. Because home loans are the whole business, staff tend to know program guidelines well, and many companies offer government-backed and conventional options under one roof. Because loans are usually sold, the company that closes your loan may not be the one you pay for the life of the loan.
Start your application in a few minutes. A licensed loan officer reviews it and follows up with your options.
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Prefer to talk first? Call (888) 912-6746. Applying is not a loan approval or commitment to lend; programs vary by borrower, property and investor. ClearPoint Mortgage Advisors, NMLS #173855. Properties in FL, NY, NJ, PA, CT and VA only.
Retail and wholesale channels
Mortgage companies reach borrowers through different channels. In the retail channel, the company works with you directly through its own loan officers, and its own staff process, underwrite and close the loan.
In the wholesale channel, the company does not meet you at all. An independent mortgage broker takes your application and submits it to the wholesale company, which underwrites and funds the loan. Some companies run both channels. Knowing which one you are in tells you who your day-to-day contact is and who makes the final credit decision. Ask early so there are no surprises later.
Who this tends to fit
- You are unsure whether you are dealing with a retail or wholesale operation
- You want a home loan from a company that focuses only on mortgages
- You were referred to a company and want to confirm its licensing
- Your current servicer changed and you want to understand why
- You are comparing a non-bank mortgage company with your own bank
Local offices and Virginia rules to know
- Deed and mortgage recording: Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk - Land Records Division. Your mortgage is recorded here after closing.
Mortgage lenders, brokers and loan originators serving Virginia are licensed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions. You can confirm any company's or loan officer's license on NMLS Consumer Access before you apply.
Who you pay after closing in Annandale
Ask any mortgage company whether it services its own loans or sells the servicing. A company that keeps servicing will collect your payments, manage your escrow account and handle questions for the life of the loan.
If servicing is sold, you will receive a goodbye letter from the current servicer and a welcome letter from the new one. Never send money based on a single letter or call. Verify the new servicer's contact details through your existing statement or account, and keep records of every payment made during the switch. Save the letters with your closing papers.
Before you call
- A preferred way to receive updates: phone, email or text
- A question about whether you are in its retail or wholesale channel
- Proof of income such as pay stubs, W-2 forms or tax returns
- A question about whether the company services loans or sells servicing
- Recent statements for accounts you will use for closing costs
Questions Annandale borrowers ask about mortgage companies
What is a mortgage company?
A mortgage company is a non-bank business that originates home loans. It does not take deposits like a bank or credit union. Most mortgage companies fund loans using short-term credit lines and then sell the loans to investors. They must be licensed in each state where they lend, and their loan officers must hold individual licenses as well.
How can I tell if a transfer notice is legitimate?
Scammers sometimes send fake transfer letters. Compare the notice with information from your current servicer, using the phone number on an existing statement rather than one in the letter. A real transfer usually comes with notices from both companies. Do not send a payment to a new address until you confirm the change through a trusted source.
Is a mortgage company regulated like a bank?
Mortgage companies follow the same federal consumer protection rules as banks for disclosures, fair lending and servicing. Instead of a bank charter, they are licensed by state regulators, typically a state banking or financial services department. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has authority over non-bank mortgage companies. You can view licensing details on NMLS Consumer Access.
What should I ask a mortgage company before applying?
Ask for the company's NMLS ID and the loan officer's NMLS ID. Ask which loan programs it offers, whether it underwrites in-house, and whether it plans to keep servicing or sell it. Ask who your main contact will be and how often you will get updates. Clear, direct answers suggest a company that communicates well.
Get answers about mortgage companies for a home in or around Annandale. Subject to credit approval; programs vary.
Other loan options in Annandale
LendersBrokersHome loansRefinanceCash-out refinanceHELOCHome equity loanFHAVAFirst-time buyerJumboReverse mortgageConstructionRenovation
Mortgage Companies near Annandale
- Mortgage Companies in North Springfield, VA (2 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in West Falls Church, VA (2 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Woodburn, VA (2 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Lake Barcroft, VA (2 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Wakefield, VA (2 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Lincolnia, VA (3 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Kings Park, VA (3 mi)
- Mortgage Companies in Mantua, VA (4 mi)
Related guides
- How to Choose a Mortgage Lender
- The Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, Explained
- Documents Needed for a Mortgage
Mortgage Companies across Virginia · Mortgage Companies guide · Virginia overview
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates
- 2024 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data for Fairfax County