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Washington vs Oregon: mortgage lending

In 2023, Washington had the lower mortgage denial rate of the two — 15.7% versus 16.0% in Oregon, a gap of about 0.3 points. Washington originated about 101,889 loans and Oregon about 51,823. By loan type, Washington was 83.2% conventional / 9.5% FHA / 7.1% VA, versus 83.9% / 10.8% / 5.0% in Oregon. Informational data, not lending advice.

Source: HMDA Data Browser (FFIEC / CFPB). Data as of June 2026.

Washington vs Oregon side by side

Source: HMDA Data Browser (2023 reporting year), public domain. Informational only.
IndicatorWashingtonOregon
Total originations101,88951,823
Denial rate15.7%16.0%
Home-purchase denial rate10.3%11.5%
Refinance denial rate30.1%28.4%
Conventional share83.2%83.9%
FHA share9.5%10.8%
VA share7.1%5.0%

Verdict

On denial rate alone, an application looks more likely to be approved in Washington than Oregon by roughly 0.3 points — but that mostly reflects who applies and for what kind of loan, not a promise about your file. Read each state's full profile for context: Washington and Oregon. To estimate a payment in either, use the mortgage calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is it harder to get a mortgage in Washington or Oregon?

By denial rate, Oregon turned down a higher share of applications in 2023: 16.0% versus 15.7% in Washington, a gap of about 0.3 points. Denial rate reflects the applicant pool and loan mix as much as lender strictness, so it is a signal, not a guarantee about your own application.

Which state originates more mortgages, Washington or Oregon?

Washington originated more — about 101,889 home-purchase and refinance loans versus 51,823 in Oregon (HMDA 2023). Volume mostly tracks population and home values.

How do the loan-type mixes compare?

In Washington, conventional loans were 83.2%, FHA 9.5% and VA 7.1% of originations; in Oregon they were 83.9%, 10.8% and 5.0%. A higher FHA/VA share usually means more first-time, lower-down-payment, or veteran buyers.

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Last updated: 2026-06-20