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Local Search Rankings

Top 5 Mortgage Lenders in Columbia, SC

The 5 mortgage lenders Columbia borrowers consistently turn to — ranked by the depth and consistency of verified reviews from people who've actually worked with them.

Columbia, South Carolina · Richland County · pop. 605,083

98

Lenders Analyzed

5.0

Median Rating

15

Median Reviews

90%

% Claimed

The top 5 mortgage lenders in Columbia, SC

1

Craig Johnson

5(230 reviews)Claimed

Mortgage lender

Why they rank #1

  • 230 reviews — far above the city median of 15
  • 227 of 230 reviews are five-star (99%)
  • Listing claimed and verified
  • 6 photos on the listing
  • Full operating hours posted
M–F 9:00-17:00
2

Lauren Sawyer Foster

5(209 reviews)Claimed

Mortgage lender

Why they rank #2

  • 209 reviews — far above the city median of 15
  • 207 of 209 reviews are five-star (99%)
  • Listing claimed and verified
  • 21 photos uploaded
  • Full operating hours posted
M–F 8:30-17:30
3

Heyward Cathcart

5(164 reviews)Claimed

Mortgage lender

Why they rank #3

  • 164 reviews — far above the city median of 15
  • 162 of 164 reviews are five-star (99%)
  • Listing claimed and verified
  • Full operating hours posted
  • Categorized as "Mortgage lender"
M–F 8:30-17:30
4

Aaron Simmons

5(133 reviews)Claimed

Mortgage lender

Why they rank #4

  • 133 reviews — far above the city median of 15
  • 130 of 133 reviews are five-star (98%)
  • Listing claimed and verified
  • 9 photos on the listing
  • Full operating hours posted
+1804-292-2089fhmtg.com
M–F 9:00-18:00
5

Wonida Welch

4.9(108 reviews)Claimed

Mortgage lender

Why they rank #5

  • 108 reviews — far above the city median of 15
  • 105 of 108 reviews are five-star (97%)
  • Listing claimed and verified
  • Full operating hours posted
  • Categorized as "Mortgage lender"
M–F 9:00-17:00

How to pick the right mortgage lender in Columbia

The five mortgage lenders above all rank highly — but they reach the top in different ways. Here's how to read the data so you can match the right one to your situation.

  • Look at review volume, not just rating. The median mortgage lender in Columbia has just 15 reviews — the top-5 averages 169. A 5.0 across 200 borrowers means something very different from a 5.0 across 4. The deeper the review pool, the harder it is to fake.
  • A claimed local-search listing is table stakes. 90% of Columbia mortgage lenders bother to claim and verify their profile, and all five above have done so. An unclaimed listing usually means the business pays less attention to where customers find them online — sometimes a sign of how they handle communication too.
  • Photos are a small but real signal of investment. The average Columbia mortgage lender has 7 photos on their listing. It's not the most important factor, but a mortgage lender who posts nothing visual is one who treats their public presence as an afterthought.
  • Match hours to your schedule. 89% of Columbia mortgage lenders post full weekday hours. If you work a 9–5 and can't take calls during the day, scan the hours block on each card above — some flag weekend or evening availability, which is rare and worth the shortlist if you need it.

Other mortgage lenders in Columbia

6The VA Lady
4.9· 91 reviews
7Jason Burns
5· 75 reviews
8Jesse Barbaro
4.8· 86 reviews
9Columbia SC
4.7· 95 reviews
10The Cheer Lender
4.9· 76 reviews
11Alicia Blevins
4.9· 63 reviews
12Owen Edwards
5· 55 reviews
13Sam Cullum
5· 54 reviews
14Travis Wright
5· 49 reviews
15Beth Gardner
5· 49 reviews
See all 98

Frequently asked about mortgage lenders in Columbia

Who is the top-ranked mortgage lender in Columbia, SC?

Craig Johnson currently holds the #1 spot in Columbia for local-search visibility, with 230 reviews at a 5-star rating. Rankings are based on publicly available business profile data.

How many mortgage lenders are there in Columbia, SC?

We tracked 98 mortgage lenders with a business profile in Columbia, SC. The list above shows the top 5 ranked by local-search visibility.

What's a typical review count for a mortgage lender in Columbia?

The median mortgage lender in Columbia has 15 verified reviews. The top-ranked mortgage lenders typically sit several multiples above the median — review depth is one of the strongest signals local-search ranking weighs.

Do most Columbia mortgage lenders claim their local-search listing?

About 90% of Columbia mortgage lenders have claimed and verified their business profile. Claimed listings rank higher and let the lender control hours, photos, and Q&A — it's the single highest-leverage local-SEO step.

How are these rankings calculated?

Rankings are based on publicly available local-search data — review count, star rating, claimed status, photo activity, and review-distribution patterns. We re-rank regularly so the top of this page reflects the current local-search picture in Columbia.

Statewide rankings
Top loan officers across South Carolina
View South Carolina

Nearby cities

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Rankings based on publicly available local-search data. Updated regularly.