Mortgage by CountyWhat home buyers actually paid, county by county

Independent analysis of official mortgage recordsHMDA 2025 · 7,155,718 applications

State report · HMDA 2025

Alabama mortgages and home buyers, 2025

Incomes, down payments, rates, loan costs, denials and lenders across Alabama's 67 counties, from official HMDA records.

HMDA 2025 data released June 23, 2026

In 2025, lenders reported 46,992 home-purchase mortgages for owner-occupied, single-family homes in Alabama. The median buyer borrowed $265,000 on a home valued at $295,000 and reported a household income of $94,000.

Buyers financed a median 95% of the home's value (roughly 5% down), paid a median 6.562% on 30-year fixed conventional loans and faced median conventional loan costs of $4,370.

Lenders denied 9.1% of completed home-purchase applications.

Purchase loans
46,992
650 lenders active
Buyer income
$94,000
U.S. $116,000
Down payment
5%
U.S. 10%
30-yr fixed rate
6.562%
U.S. 6.625%
Loan costs
$4,370
Conventional · U.S. $5,570
FHA limit 2026
$541,287
1-unit home, all counties

Key facts

  • Home buyers' median income ($94,000) is 19% lower than the U.S. median ($116,000).
  • The median 30-year fixed conventional rate here was 6 basis points below the U.S. median (6.625%).
  • Median conventional loan costs ($4,370) were 22% lower than the U.S. median ($5,570).
  • FHA loans made up 30.2% of purchase mortgages, versus 21.1% nationally.
  • VA loans were unusually common: 17.8% of purchase mortgages.
  • 27.8% of buyers put at least 20% down (financed 80% or less), compared with 38.5% nationally.
  • The most common age bracket among borrowers was 25–34 (32.1% of purchase loans).
  • 60.5% of purchase mortgages had a single borrower with no co-applicant.
  • The most-cited reason for denial was debt-to-income ratio (35.4% of denials with a stated reason).

The 2026 conforming limit is $832,750 for a one-unit home in every Alabama county. See every Alabama county's 2026 FHA and conforming loan limits.

Alabama counties compared

Click a column to sort. Medians shown with at least 30 loans.

CountyPurchase loansMedian loanBuyer incomeDown payment30-yr rateLoan costsDenial rateFHA limit
Autauga County673$275,000$103,0003.5%6.750%$4,4806.1%$541,287
Baldwin County3,813$305,000$107,00010.0%6.500%$4,22012.4%$541,287
Barbour County92$195,000$79,0003.5%——14.5%$541,287
Bibb County76$215,000$88,0003.5%—$4,48012.5%$541,287
Blount County429$225,000$89,0003.5%6.750%$4,31010.9%$541,287
Bullock County12——————$541,287
Butler County84$185,000$85,0003.5%—$4,38018.3%$541,287
Calhoun County884$205,000$74,0003.5%6.625%$4,6007.6%$541,287
Chambers County229$205,000$74,0003.5%6.625%$4,6609.7%$541,287
Cherokee County147$255,000$88,0005.8%6.625%$4,82010.3%$541,287
Chilton County308$225,000$81,0003.5%6.500%$4,2207.5%$541,287
Choctaw County28—————20.0%$541,287
Clarke County112$175,000$77,0003.5%—$4,03012.9%$541,287
Clay County44$205,000$74,0003.5%——6.3%$541,287
Cleburne County74$215,000$79,0005.0%——6.1%$541,287
Coffee County645$265,000$103,0003.5%6.875%$4,0407.4%$541,287
Colbert County597$215,000$83,0004.8%6.500%$4,1906.7%$541,287
Conecuh County28—————15.2%$541,287
Coosa County31$205,000$85,000———8.8%$541,287
Covington County199$205,000$85,0003.5%6.875%$3,97016.5%$541,287
Crenshaw County38$145,000$73,000———25.4%$541,287
Cullman County724$235,000$86,0003.5%6.625%$4,5709.8%$541,287
Dale County382$195,000$81,0003.5%6.750%$3,9908.2%$541,287
Dallas County128$175,000$68,0003.5%6.625%$3,89015.6%$541,287
DeKalb County411$205,000$82,0004.2%6.625%$4,44011.3%$541,287
Elmore County991$265,000$95,0003.5%6.750%$4,3806.3%$541,287
Escambia County192$195,000$77,0003.5%6.625%$3,93011.7%$541,287
Etowah County821$205,000$79,0003.5%6.625%$4,4909.6%$541,287
Fayette County105$185,000$75,0003.5%——11.7%$541,287
Franklin County144$165,000$69,0003.5%6.375%$3,46020.4%$541,287
Geneva County156$185,000$74,0003.5%6.750%$3,49011.2%$541,287
Greene County6——————$541,287
Hale County56$205,000$82,0003.5%——8.1%$541,287
Henry County163$235,000$92,0003.5%6.625%$3,9908.8%$541,287
Houston County964$225,000$87,0003.5%6.750%$4,0509.3%$541,287
Jackson County297$225,000$86,0004.0%6.625%$4,2509.0%$541,287
Jefferson County5,749$275,000$97,0005.0%6.625%$4,1809.3%$541,287
Lamar County60$135,000$69,0003.5%——17.8%$541,287
Lauderdale County864$225,000$85,0005.0%6.490%$4,2707.3%$541,287
Lawrence County198$205,000$83,0003.5%6.625%$4,46011.6%$541,287
Lee County2,070$315,000$110,0006.8%6.625%$5,2104.9%$541,287
Limestone County2,097$295,000$99,0005.0%6.475%$4,3506.9%$541,287
Lowndes County23——————$541,287
Macon County34$145,000$68,0003.5%——18.6%$541,287
Madison County5,618$295,000$108,0005.0%6.500%$4,3907.7%$541,287
Marengo County66$205,000$92,0003.9%——13.6%$541,287
Marion County129$175,000$83,0003.6%—$4,13014.4%$541,287
Marshall County799$245,000$88,0003.5%6.500%$5,1006.7%$541,287
Mobile County3,401$235,000$83,0003.5%6.625%$4,25011.0%$541,287
Monroe County85$175,000$77,0003.5%——13.9%$541,287
Montgomery County1,859$245,000$86,0003.5%6.625%$4,54013.0%$541,287
Morgan County1,133$235,000$86,0005.0%6.625%$4,2608.6%$541,287
Perry County16——————$541,287
Pickens County79$175,000$69,0003.5%——6.8%$541,287
Pike County195$225,000$90,0003.5%6.625%$4,53011.1%$541,287
Randolph County147$215,000$82,0005.0%6.625%$4,90010.9%$541,287
Russell County585$255,000$88,0000.0%6.625%$4,8905.2%$541,287
St. Clair County1,149$265,000$87,0003.5%6.500%$4,7907.6%$541,287
Shelby County3,140$315,000$111,0008.2%6.625%$4,2406.4%$541,287
Sumter County27——————$541,287
Talladega County609$205,000$73,0003.5%6.500%$4,37012.4%$541,287
Tallapoosa County267$225,000$83,0005.0%6.625%$5,00011.8%$541,287
Tuscaloosa County1,882$265,000$89,0005.0%6.500%$5,0508.3%$541,287
Walker County372$215,000$84,0004.5%6.750%$4,29010.0%$541,287
Washington County64$235,000$87,0003.5%——14.5%$541,287
Wilcox County19——————$541,287
Winston County111$195,000$77,0005.0%6.625%$4,53011.4%$541,287

Who bought homes in Alabama

Home-purchase mortgages for owner-occupied, single-family (1–4 unit) site-built homes, first liens, originated in 2025.

Purchase loans
46,992
of 53,244 applications
Buyer income
$94,000
Middle half $66,000–$140,000
Home value
$295,000
Middle half $225,000–$405,000
Loan amount
$265,000
Middle half $195,000–$355,000
Down payment
5%
27.8% put 20%+ down
Single borrower
60.5%
No co-applicant

Values are medians; "middle half" is the 25th to 75th percentile.

Loan type

Conventional 48.5% 22,769
FHA 30.2% 14,175
VA 17.8% 8,357
USDA 3.6% 1,691

What the homes were for

Primary residence 93.4% 52,172
Second home 3.1% 1,709
Investment property 3.6% 1,996

All first-lien, closed-end purchase mortgages, including second homes and investors.

Borrower age

Under 25 9.5%
25–34 32.1%
35–44 22.5%
45–54 15.4%
55–64 11.6%
65–74 6.7%
75 and over 2.3%

Debt-to-income ratio

Under 20% 4.5%
20–29% 15.7%
30–35% 16.7%
36–42% 25.4%
43–49% 25.8%
50–60% 11.4%
Over 60% 0.6%

Monthly debts (including the new payment) as a share of income, as used in underwriting.

What borrowing cost in Alabama

Medians for 2025 home-purchase loans. Total loan costs are section D of the Loan Estimate/Closing Disclosure (lender and third-party loan charges, excluding taxes, prepaids and escrow). FHA and VA costs include the upfront mortgage insurance premium or VA funding fee, so compare like with like.

MeasureAlabamaU.S.
30-year fixed rate · conventional6.562%6.625%
30-year fixed rate · FHA6.125%6.250%
30-year fixed rate · VA6.240%6.125%
15-year fixed rate · conventional5.874%5.875%
Rate spread vs. APOR · conventional+0.17 pts+0.13 pts
Total loan costs · conventional$4,370$5,570
Total loan costs · FHA$8,690$11,310
Total loan costs · VA$5,090$6,490
Origination charges (all loan types)$1,890$1,860
Borrowers paying discount points53.8%51.3%
Points paid, when paid (% of loan)0.87%0.87%
Borrowers receiving lender credits31.4%33.1%
Adjustable-rate mortgages4.1%7.4%
Jumbo loans (above conforming limit)1.2%3.8%

Medians are shown only when at least 30 loans report the field. Rates are those reported at closing; market rates changed during 2025, which the rate spread (APR minus the average prime offer rate on the lock date) adjusts for.

Approvals and denials

Alabama: 4,851 of 53,244 completed home-purchase applications were denied (9.1%).

Denial rate

ApplicationAlabamaU.S.
Home purchase9.1%8.5%
Conventional7.2%7.1%
FHA12.1%12.5%
VA8.1%8.0%
USDA13.8%12.5%
Refinance18.4%17.9%
Cash-out refinance38.0%33.6%

Main reason for purchase denials

Debt-to-income ratio 35.4%
Credit history 23.7%
Collateral (appraisal/property) 9.6%
Credit application incomplete 8.6%
Other 8.3%
Insufficient cash (down payment/closing costs) 6.2%
Unverifiable information 4.8%
Employment history 3.3%
Mortgage insurance denied 0.1%

First reason the lender reported.

Denial rate = denied ÷ (originated + approved but not accepted + denied). Withdrawn and incomplete applications are excluded. Differences between places reflect who applies, not only lender behavior.

Refinancing in Alabama

Refinances
10,691
Median loan $265,000
Refi rate
6.50%
30-yr fixed, conv.
Refi loan costs
$4,480
Conventional
Cash-out refis
9,643
Median loan $205,000
Cash-out rate
6.875%
30-yr fixed, conv.
Cash-out income
$83,000
Median borrower

Top mortgage lenders in Alabama

#LenderLoansShareDenial rate30-yr rate*Spread*Costs*
1 United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) 4,651 6.9% 7.3% 6.500% +0.15 $5,270
2 Rocket Mortgage, LLC 4,604 6.8% 15.5% 6.625% +0.30 $5,350
3 Veterans United Home Loans 2,355 3.5% 9.0% 6.750% +0.42 $1,480
4 DHI Mortgage Company, Ltd. 2,193 3.3% 22.2% 5.500% −1.06 $2,150
5 Trustmark National Bank 1,799 2.7% 6.4% 6.500% +0.15 $3,900
6 Regions Bank 1,674 2.5% 11.8% 6.625% +0.11 $3,900
7 Freedom Mortgage Corporation 1,634 2.4% 15.8% — — —
8 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation 1,586 2.4% 3.8% 6.875% +0.34 $4,070
9 Renasant Bank 1,438 2.1% 5.7% 6.625% +0.17 $4,560
10 Guild Mortgage Company 1,399 2.1% 2.2% 6.625% +0.24 $4,310
11 Pennymac Loan Services, LLC 1,242 1.8% 15.7% 6.750% +0.23 $4,630
12 Movement Mortgage, LLC 1,231 1.8% 3.9% 6.625% +0.24 $4,850
13 First Federal Bank, A FSB 1,090 1.6% 4.1% 6.500% +0.00 $5,310
14 Canopy Mortgage, LLC 1,032 1.5% 0.7% 6.375% +0.11 $7,550
15 FirstBank 948 1.4% 4.3% 6.500% +0.09 $4,190
16 Stockton Mortgage Corporation 893 1.3% 6.0% 6.750% +0.30 $5,200
17 CrossCountry Mortgage, Inc. 846 1.3% 2.2% 6.825% +0.44 $6,010
18 Cadence Bank 846 1.3% 7.8% 6.500% +0.13 $4,250
19 Navy Federal Credit Union 828 1.2% 9.5% 6.750% +0.00 $2,680
20 CMG Mortgage, Inc. 822 1.2% 2.1% 6.625% +0.17 $6,800
21 Lennar Mortgage, LLC 821 1.2% 15.4% 4.875% −1.65 $1,150
22 Union Home Mortgage Corp. 802 1.2% 5.5% 6.750% +0.35 $6,320
23 loanDepot.com, LLC 786 1.2% 16.9% 6.500% +0.21 $4,960
24 Redstone Federal Credit Union 713 1.1% 5.3% 6.625% +0.18 $3,570
25 Newrez LLC 692 1.0% 10.6% 6.625% +0.29 $4,520

Largest lenders in Alabama by 2025 originations. Loans = home-purchase, refinance and cash-out originations (2025); share = share of those loans here; denial rate = home-purchase applications. *Medians for conventional home-purchase loans, shown with at least 20 loans; spread = APR minus the average prime offer rate at rate lock (percentage points); costs = total loan costs (section D).

Metro areas in Alabama

Source: FFIEC/CFPB HMDA 2025 public LAR; FHFA and HUD 2026 loan limits. Methodology