This list is for first-time buyers who have a builder offering closing-cost credits, a rate buydown, or a bonus for using the builder’s preferred mortgage company, and who need an FHA loan to carry it. The lenders were chosen by how well they handle builder incentives on FHA purchase loans: concession limits, buydown support, new-construction experience, and how clearly they explain the numbers. Competitor details below come from each company’s public positioning and are marked where you should confirm them directly. Start with FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak if you want the incentive checked against an outside quote first.
Quick Comparison of the FHA Builder Incentive Options
- FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak: FHA buyers who want builder incentives tested against FHA limits and competing quotes; rates and fees quoted individually, no published starting price; compares an outside FHA quote against the builder’s preferred-lender offer using 500+ wholesale lenders.
- Rocket: buyers who want a self-service digital process; rates quoted individually; the most fully digital application and tracking experience on this list.
- Movement: buyers who want an in-person loan officer for a builder closing; rates quoted individually; branch-based officers who can coordinate with builder sales offices.
- NFM Lending: buyers who want local branch service on a builder timeline; pricing on its website; a regional branch structure for local closing coordination.
- Sparrow Home Loans: buyers who prefer a small lending team; pricing on its website; a smaller-team service model that may suit tight builder deadlines (verify).
- CF Mortgage Corp: buyers collecting an extra regional quote; pricing on its website; a regional Loan Estimate that can be compared with the builder’s preferred-lender quote.
1. FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak
FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak is an FHA purchase mortgage brokerage. Duane Buziak is a broker, not a direct lender, and works with new-construction buyers to fit builder incentives inside FHA rules. Its distinguishing move is the comparison: Duane Buziak prices your file across 500+ wholesale lenders and sets that result beside the builder’s preferred-lender offer, which is the Dare to Compare approach. Most single-shelf retail lenders can only show you their own pricing.
How FHA treats builder incentives
A builder credit is an interested-party contribution, which HUD Handbook 4000.1 caps at 6% of the sales price (hud.gov; confirm current text before relying on it, as of November 2026). Credits cannot exceed actual closing costs and prepaids, so a larger credit does not become cash in your pocket. Builder-funded temporary buydowns are generally counted inside the same cap, so confirm how your underwriter treats them.
For an illustration, imagine a $400,000 new build in Henrico County. The 6% cap is $24,000. At the Henrico rate of $0.85 per $100 (henrico.us), property tax on that value is about $3,400 a year, or roughly $283 a month. Upfront MIP is 1.75% of the base loan. For a 30-year loan at 3.5% down, annual MIP is 0.55% of the base loan (tier for terms over 15 years, base amounts at or under $726,200, LTV above 95%; per HUD Mortgagee Letter 2023-05, confirm at hud.gov). The 2026 one-unit FHA floor is $541,287 (HUD Mortgagee Letter 2025-23). A credit that tries to cover more than the cap, or more than the costs exist, gets cut back at underwriting.
What you get
- FHA purchase mortgages structured around the 6% contribution cap, so a credit is not promised that underwriting will later reduce.
- Low down payment FHA loans, so your cash goes to the earnest deposit and upgrades rather than a large down payment.
- FHA eligibility guidance before you sign a builder contract, when incentives are still negotiable.
- A NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft pull with no hard inquiry, to review your credit before any commitment.
- No-out-of-pocket closing options built from credits and lender-paid structures, and FHA streamline refinance later if rates fall.
The limitation is plain: Duane Buziak is not builder-affiliated, so bonuses tied to using a builder’s own lender are not available through this route. Wholesale partners vary by file, so ask for the current list. Pricing is quoted individually, with rate and fees depending on credit, down payment, and loan size; see the website.
Best for: FHA buyers who want builder incentives checked against FHA limits and competing quotes.
2. Rocket
Rocket is a large online lender with digital FHA purchase loans, built for buyers who would rather manage the process on a screen than by phone. Its edge on this list is the fully digital application, document upload, and tracking, which suits buyers who are comfortable sending paperwork from a phone.
- An online FHA application lets you start without visiting a branch.
- Digital document upload cuts the back-and-forth of emailing pay stubs and bank statements.
- Rate tracking tools show where your pricing stands while you wait for a lot or home to finish.
- National licensing (verify your state) means it can serve buyers in many markets.
Setup runs through an online account and app (verify current features). You run the process day to day, with support available when you need it. That is also the main limitation for builder deals: there is generally less hands-on negotiation help for structuring credits, buydowns, and the builder’s preferred-lender incentive against the 6% cap. Confirm directly whether pre-qualification requires a hard credit inquiry, and if so, how that fits a comparison-shopping plan.
It does not suit buyers who want someone to talk through a builder’s incentive package line by line. Pricing is quoted individually based on credit, down payment, and loan size; no fixed starting rate is published, so see the website.
Best for: Buyers who want a self-service digital process.
3. Movement
Buyers who want a person across the table should look at Movement, a national retail lender with local loan officers and FHA purchase loans. The distinction here is the branch model: a loan officer can meet with the builder’s sales office, walk through the contract, and coordinate timing in person.
That matters on new construction because closing dates move with inspections and certificates of occupancy, and a loan officer who knows the builder’s sales staff can often relay changes quickly.
- FHA purchase loans give low-down-payment buyers a path to new construction.
- Local loan officers can be present for questions during contract and closing.
- Purchase-focused service means the process is built around buying rather than refinancing.
- Multi-state licensing (verify your state) widens the places it can lend.
Integrations and technology details should be verified on its website. Setup effort is moderate: you work with a named loan officer who runs the file day to day, so the experience depends heavily on who you are assigned.
The real limitation is that service quality varies by branch. One office may handle builder incentives well while another has little new-construction experience, so ask any loan officer how many FHA new-construction closings they have handled and how they treat the 6% cap. It is a weaker fit for buyers who want to compare many lenders in one conversation, since a retail lender shows its own pricing. Rates are quoted individually; see the website.
Best for: Buyers who want an in-person loan officer for a builder closing.
4. NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a branch-based retail mortgage lender that offers home purchase loans through local loan officers. Its FHA offerings and licensed states need to be confirmed before you rely on it, so treat this entry as a shortlist candidate rather than a verified FHA builder specialist.
Where it may help is the regional branch structure. When a builder has a tight contract deadline, a loan officer in your area can often coordinate with the title company and the sales office more easily than a remote call center.
- A retail branch network gives you a physical office and a regional contact.
- Home purchase loans cover the standard path from contract to closing.
- FHA availability (verify) is the first thing to confirm in your state.
- Local loan officers can handle timeline questions that come up during construction.
Integrations and technology are not detailed here; verify on its website. Setup is a conventional loan-officer process, with the officer running the file day to day.
The main limitations are lower national recognition and builder-specific programs that are unverified. Do not assume it offers builder-paid buydowns or lender-tied bonuses; ask for them in writing. Pricing is available through its website, and what moves the rate is the usual mix of credit, down payment, and loan size. Anyone using it should ask for a Loan Estimate early so it can be compared against the builder’s preferred lender.
Best for: Buyers wanting local branch service on a builder timeline.
5. Sparrow Home Loans
Sparrow Home Loans is a smaller mortgage company, and its programs and licensed states should be confirmed before you apply. The appeal is scale: a small team can mean one person who knows your file, returns calls quickly, and adjusts when a builder moves a closing date. That is a hypothesis to test, not a verified claim, so ask how they handle tight builder deadlines.
- Home purchase loans cover the basic FHA-style buying path (confirm FHA specifically).
- FHA availability (verify) in your state is the first question to settle.
- Small-team service can mean fewer handoffs between processor and loan officer.
- Direct loan officer contact lets you ask about incentives before signing the builder contract.
Technology and integrations are not documented here; verify on its website. Setup effort should be modest, and you will likely work with the same few people from application to closing.
The limitation is limited public information on builder programs. Before relying on it, ask whether it has closed FHA new-construction loans with builder credits, how it handles the 6% contribution cap, and whether it supports temporary buydowns. A small shop may also have less capacity during busy buying seasons, so ask about turnaround. It is a weaker choice for buyers who need a nationally licensed lender or a polished app. Pricing is on its website, and your rate depends on credit, down payment, and loan size.
Best for: Buyers who prefer a small lending team.
6. CF Mortgage Corp
CF Mortgage Corp is a mortgage company whose website, FHA programs, and licensed states should be verified before you commit. On this list its most practical use is as a comparison point: a Loan Estimate from a regional lender gives you one more number to hold against the builder’s preferred-lender quote.
That matters because a builder’s incentive only works if the lender behind it is competitive. A credit worth several thousand dollars can be erased by a higher rate or higher fees, and you cannot see that without a second quote.
- Home purchase loans give you a standard purchase option to price.
- FHA availability (verify) should be confirmed before you request a quote.
- Loan officer guidance helps you read the Loan Estimate line by line.
- Regional service (verify) may help with local closings and title coordination.
Integrations are unconfirmed; check its website. Setup is a standard application with a loan officer running the file.
The limitation is that program depth and new-construction experience are unconfirmed. Do not assume it matches a builder’s buydown or can structure credits within FHA limits; ask directly. It is not the right fit for buyers who need a lender proven on FHA builder deals. Pricing is available through its website, and your rate and fees depend on credit, down payment, and loan size.
Best for: Buyers collecting an extra regional quote to compare with the builder’s lender.
Matching the Right FHA Builder Incentive Lender to Your Purchase
Three picks cover most situations. For FHA concession-cap guidance and a direct comparison against the builder’s preferred lender, Duane Buziak is the stronger starting point, because a broker with 500+ wholesale lenders can price your file several ways and show you whether the incentive beats an outside quote. For digital-first buyers who want to manage everything from a phone, Rocket fits, as long as you confirm its credit-check approach. For in-person branch support during a builder closing, Movement is the clearest match, with NFM Lending as a regional alternative.
If you want a spare number to hold against the builder’s offer, Sparrow Home Loans and CF Mortgage Corp can serve as additional quotes once you confirm they offer FHA in your state. Whichever you choose, get the builder’s incentive in writing, check it against the 6% FHA cap, and compare Loan Estimates before you sign. Incentives are easiest to negotiate before the contract is signed.
Ready to take the first step toward homeownership with an FHA loan tailored to your needs? Schedule your free consultation today and discover how our award-winning team can help you navigate the path to your new home with competitive rates and expert guidance. FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak offers a NoTouch Credit Pull (a soft pull, no hard inquiry), the Dare to Compare pricing challenge, and no-out-of-pocket closing options where the numbers allow. Call 804-212-8663 or visit 4860 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060. Coast2Coast Mortgage LLC, NMLS #1110647, licensed in VA, FL, TN, GA, and DC.
