WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development hosted the 2026 National Lender of the Year Awards Ceremony to recognize the work of its top national lending partners supporting rural homeownership. These lenders helped rural families and individuals buy homes across the nation last year through USDA Rural Development’s Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program.
Home lenders are on the front lines of affordability. When they have the tools and backing to offer flexible, responsible financing, more working families can step into homes they can truly afford,” said USDA Rural Development Acting Under Secretary Todd Lindsey. “The National Lenders of the Year Awards recognize the essential role lenders play in advancing the Rural Housing Service’s mission to help families achieve the dream of homeownership.”
The agency will present awards to the following lenders:
USDA 2026 Top Local Lending Partner Award
1st – HR Mortgage Corp
2nd – Gum Tree Mortgage
USDA 2026 Underwriting Quality Award
1st – NVR Mortgage
2nd – Lower, LLC
3rd – Planet Home Lending
USDA 2026 Top Wholesale Lender Award
1st –United Wholesale Mortgage, LLC
2nd – Click N’ Close, Inc.
3rd – New Rez LLC
4th – First Community Mortgage
5th – Kind Lending
USDA 2026 Single Close Construction Champion
1st – 1st Signature Lending
USDA 2026 Top Housing Financing Agency Servicer
1st – Idaho Housing & Finance Association
2nd – Virginia Housing Development Authority
USDA 2026 Top Servicing Lenders
1st – Penny Mac
2nd – Banco Popular De Puerto Rico
USDA 2026 Manufactured Housing Champion
1st – Guild Mortgage
USDA 2026 Top Originating Lender Award
1st –Guild Mortgage Company LLC
2nd – DHI Mortgage Company, LTD
3rd – Neighbors Bank
4th – Flat Branch Mortgage, Inc.
5th – Cross Country Mortgage LLC
USDA is a proud partner to all lenders who work with the agency to support rural homeownership.
