GoodLeap Mortgage Loans
In addition to solar and home improvement financing, the lender originates residential mortgages, including FHA, VA, conventional, cash-out refinance, and home purchase loans. Here is what the mortgage side of GoodLeap looks like in 2026.
GoodLeap Mortgage Product List
- Conventional loans — fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages conforming to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines
- FHA loans — government-insured mortgages with lower down payment and credit score minimums
- VA loans — zero-down loans for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses
- Cash-out refinance — replacing an existing mortgage with a new, larger loan to access home equity
- Home purchase loans — standard first-mortgage financing for a home purchase
- Rate-and-term refinance — replacing an existing mortgage with a new loan at a lower rate or different term
GoodLeap vs Dedicated Mortgage Lenders
GoodLeap mortgage is a smaller division within the broader GoodLeap business. Unlike dedicated mortgage lenders such as Rocket Mortgage, loanDepot, or Guaranteed Rate, GoodLeap mortgage grew out of its solar lending book, and its loan officer network is smaller. If you are shopping for a straightforward mortgage with no solar component, there is no particular advantage to using GoodLeap over a larger dedicated lender.
Where GoodLeap mortgage can be useful: when you have an existing GoodLeap solar loan and are considering refinancing both the solar and the mortgage together, or when your home purchase includes a planned solar installation and you want one lender to handle both the mortgage and the solar financing.
GoodLeap Cash-Out Refinance for Solar
GoodLeap offers cash-out refinance products that let homeowners tap home equity to pay off an existing solar loan or fund a new installation. This can lower the overall APR, since mortgage rates are typically lower than unsecured solar loan rates, but it also converts an unsecured debt into a lien on your home. If you default on a mortgage, you can lose the house. If you default on a solar loan, the system can be repossessed but your home cannot. Think carefully about this trade-off.
Cash-out refinance changes the risk profile
A solar loan is unsecured. A cash-out refinance that pays off a solar loan converts that debt into a mortgage secured by your home. The APR is usually lower, but the consequence of default is far more severe. This is not an upgrade. It is a trade-off, and it should be run against the numbers for your specific situation.
What works
- Full product range: FHA, VA, conventional, cash-out refi, purchase
- One lender can handle both mortgage and solar
- Direct application through GoodLeap website
- Standard mortgage underwriting process
What to watch
- Smaller than dedicated mortgage lenders
- No particular pricing advantage for standalone mortgages
- Cash-out refi for solar converts unsecured debt into secured debt
- Loan officer network less dense than major lenders
3.0 / 5
Good for homeowners refinancing a mortgage and an existing GoodLeap solar loan together. Skip it for a standalone purchase or refinance, where larger dedicated lenders usually offer more choice.
How to Apply for a GoodLeap Mortgage
Unlike GoodLeap home improvement loans, mortgage applications can be initiated directly through the GoodLeap website or through a GoodLeap loan officer. You will go through standard mortgage underwriting: credit check, income verification, employment verification, appraisal, title search, and closing disclosure. Expect 30 to 45 days from application to closing on a purchase loan, 20 to 35 days on a refinance.
How Mortgage Underwriting Differs From Consumer Lending
Residential mortgage underwriting is fundamentally different from unsecured consumer loan underwriting. A mortgage lender evaluates not just the borrower but also the property: an appraisal confirms the home is worth what you are paying, a title search confirms there are no competing claims on the property, and a termite or pest inspection may be required depending on the property's location. The whole process takes 30 to 45 days from application to closing on a purchase and 20 to 35 days on a refinance.
A conventional mortgage follows guidelines set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-sponsored enterprises that purchase mortgages from originators and bundle them into mortgage-backed securities. These guidelines specify minimum credit scores, maximum debt-to-income ratios, maximum loan-to-value ratios, and the documentation required for employment and income. A loan that fits inside these guidelines is called a conforming loan, and conforming loans tend to carry the lowest interest rates in the market.
FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration, which allows borrowers with lower credit scores (down to 580 for a 3.5 percent down payment, down to 500 for a 10 percent down payment) and smaller down payments to qualify. The trade-off is upfront and annual mortgage insurance premiums that add to the cost of the loan. VA loans are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses, with no down payment required and no monthly mortgage insurance, financed instead by a one-time funding fee.