What Movement Mortgage Does and How to Work With Them

Movement Mortgage is a mortgage lender that works with brokers to help borrowers find loans

Movement Mortgage is a retail mortgage lender—meaning they lend money directly to borrowers for home purchases and refinances. They operate through a network of loan officers and branches across the country, including South Carolina. Unlike a mortgage broker who shops your application to multiple lenders, Movement Mortgage is the lender itself, so they underwrite and fund loans using their own capital and guidelines.

The company has grown significantly since its founding and now operates in most states. In South Carolina, you can work with Movement Mortgage loan officers either in person at a local branch or remotely by phone and email. They handle conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans—the main loan types available to most borrowers.

When you contact Movement Mortgage, you'll speak with a loan officer who will discuss your financial situation, the property you're buying or refinancing, and which loan type might work for you. They'll order an appraisal, verify your income and credit, and guide you through underwriting and closing. The entire process typically takes 30 to 45 days from application to funding, though this varies based on how quickly you provide documents and how complex your financial situation is.

Key Takeaways

• Movement Mortgage is a direct lender, not a broker, so they fund loans themselves rather than shopping your application to multiple companies.
• They offer conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loan products, each with different down payment and credit requirements.
• You work with a single loan officer throughout the process, and you can meet in person at a South Carolina branch or work entirely by phone and email.
• The loan approval process usually takes 30 to 45 days and requires documentation of income, assets, employment, and the property details.

How to contact Movement Mortgage in South Carolina

Movement Mortgage has branches in several South Carolina cities, including Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach. You can find their local office locations and loan officer contact information on their website by entering your city or zip code. Each branch has loan officers available during business hours to discuss your situation and answer questions about their loan products.

If you prefer not to visit in person, you can start the process online or by calling their main line to be connected with a loan officer who serves your area. Many borrowers work entirely remotely—you'll submit documents electronically, sign papers online or at closing, and communicate by email and phone. This approach works well if you live in a rural area without a nearby branch or simply prefer not to travel.

What documents you'll need to provide

Movement Mortgage will ask for standard mortgage documentation. Bring or upload recent pay stubs (usually the last two months), W-2 forms from the past two years, and recent bank statements showing your savings and checking accounts. If you're self-employed, you'll need two years of tax returns and possibly profit-and-loss statements.

You'll also need to provide details about the property—the address, purchase price or refinance amount, and the property type (single-family home, condo, investment property, etc.). If you're buying, you'll need a copy of the purchase agreement. For a refinance, Movement Mortgage will order an appraisal to confirm the home's current value. They'll also pull your credit report, so you don't need to provide that yourself.

Employment verification happens automatically through a third-party service, so you don't typically need to contact your employer. However, if you've changed jobs recently or have gaps in employment, be ready to explain those to your loan officer.

Loan types and down payment options

Movement Mortgage offers conventional loans, which typically require a down payment of 3 to 20 percent depending on your credit score and financial profile. Conventional loans are not backed by a government agency, so they have stricter credit and income requirements than government-backed loans.

FHA loans allow down payments as low as 3.5 percent and are more forgiving of lower credit scores and past credit problems. They're backed by the Federal Housing Administration, which means the government insures the lender against loss if you default. FHA loans require mortgage insurance, which adds to your monthly payment.

VA loans are available to military members, veterans, and some surviving spouses. They often require no down payment and no mortgage insurance, making them one of the most affordable options for those who may have access to. USDA loans are for rural borrowers and also offer no-down-payment options with lower interest rates than conventional loans.

Your loan officer will discuss which loan type makes sense based on your down payment amount, credit score, income, and the property location. The choice affects your interest rate, monthly payment, and how quickly you can close.

Interest rates and fees

Movement Mortgage's interest rates change daily based on market conditions, so the rate you see today may not be the rate you lock in. When you're ready to move forward, you can lock your rate for a set period—typically 30, 45, or 60 days. If rates drop during that lock period, you generally cannot take advantage of the lower rate. If rates rise, your locked rate protects you.

Movement Mortgage charges origination fees, processing fees, and appraisal fees, which are standard across the mortgage industry. The total cost varies based on the loan amount and loan type. Your loan officer will provide a Loan Estimate within three business days of your application, which shows all fees and your estimated monthly payment. You can compare this estimate to other lenders before committing.

Some borrowers can buy down their interest rate by paying points at closing—essentially prepaying interest to lower the rate. Your loan officer can show you the cost and benefit of this option for your specific loan.

The underwriting and closing process

After you submit your application and documents, Movement Mortgage's underwriting team reviews everything to confirm you meet their lending guidelines. This typically takes one to two weeks. The underwriter may ask for additional documents or clarification on your finances—for example, if you have a large deposit in your account, they may ask where the money came from to confirm it's not borrowed.

Once underwriting approves your loan, it moves to the clear-to-close stage, meaning you're ready to sign final documents and fund the loan. Movement Mortgage will schedule a closing appointment, either in person at their office or at a title company. At closing, you'll sign the promissory note (your promise to repay the loan) and the mortgage deed (which gives the lender a claim on the property if you don't pay). You'll also review and sign the Closing Disclosure, which is your final accounting of all costs and terms.

After you sign, the lender funds the loan—meaning they send the money to the title company or seller. For a purchase, this typically happens the same day or the next business day. For a refinance, the lender funds and the title company pays off your old loan and records the new one.

How Movement Mortgage compares to other lenders

Movement Mortgage is one of many direct lenders operating in South Carolina. Other large direct lenders include Rocket Mortgage, Better.com, and traditional banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Each has different strengths: some specialize in online-only processing, others emphasize local branch relationships, and some focus on specific loan types like VA loans.

The main difference between Movement Mortgage and a mortgage broker is that a broker shops your application to multiple lenders and you may work with different people at different stages. With Movement Mortgage, you have a single loan officer and one company handling your entire loan. This can mean clearer communication but less shopping around—you're working with one set of rates and fees rather than comparing multiple offers.

If you're deciding between lenders, compare the Loan Estimates each one provides. Look at the interest rate, the origination fee, the appraisal fee, and the total closing costs. A lower rate doesn't always mean a lower total cost if the fees are higher. Also consider the timeline—some lenders close faster than others—and whether you prefer in-person meetings or remote processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lock my interest rate before I find a house?

Most lenders, including Movement Mortgage, allow rate locks only after you have a purchase agreement or are refinancing an existing property. Some lenders offer a "float-down" option that lets you lock a rate early and adjust it later if rates drop, but this typically costs extra. Ask your loan officer what options are available.

What credit score do I need to work with Movement Mortgage?

Conventional loans typically require a credit score of 620 or higher, though scores of 740 and above get better rates. FHA loans are available with scores as low as 580. Your loan officer can discuss your specific situation and which loan type works best for your credit profile.

How long does the entire process take from application to closing?

Most loans close within 30 to 45 days. This depends on how quickly you provide documents, how complex your finances are, and whether the appraisal or underwriting raises questions. Refinances sometimes close faster than purchases because there's no purchase agreement timeline to work around.

What happens if I'm denied for a loan?

If Movement Mortgage denies your application, they must provide a written explanation of why. Common reasons include insufficient income, too much debt, or a credit score below their minimum. You can ask your loan officer what specific issues caused the denial and whether you might may have access to in the future after addressing them.

Can I pay off my loan early without a penalty?

Most conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans have no prepayment penalty, meaning you can pay extra toward principal or pay off the entire loan early without owing extra fees. Confirm this with your loan officer before closing, as it should be stated in your Closing Disclosure.