Common Design Mistakes Mortgage Sites Make

Your mortgage website is your first impression online. But if it’s not built with care, it can drive away leads instead of bringing them in. Many mortgage professionals unknowingly make the same design mistakes that hurt trust, clarity, and conversions. The good news? These can be fixed.

Below, we’ll cover the most common design mistakes mortgage sites make—and how to avoid them if you want to earn more trust, clicks, and applications.

Cluttered Layouts That Confuse Visitors

Too much text, too many colors, and no clear visual structure can overwhelm your visitors. When someone lands on your site, they should quickly understand who you are and what action to take next.

If every section competes for attention, people give up and leave. Simple layout. Clean design. Clear headings. These are your friends.

What to do instead:

Use white space wisely. Guide the eye with a logical flow. Keep one main goal per page—like booking a call or filling out a pre-qual form.

Outdated Templates or Stocky Look

Mortgage websites that look like they were built in 2009? That’s an instant red flag. Visitors might think your services are just as outdated.

A modern look builds trust. A mobile-friendly design is non-negotiable. If your site still uses small text, clunky images, or buttons that don’t work on phones, it’s time for a redesign.

Pro tip: If you’re using a mortgage site template, make sure it reflects current design standards and doesn’t feel generic.

No Clear Call to Action

“Apply Now” or “Schedule a Call” should not be hidden in the footer. Many mortgage sites bury their main call to action—or scatter five different CTAs on one page.

Visitors need one clear path. No guessing. No scrolling forever.

The fix: Place your main CTA above the fold, then repeat it a few more times on long pages. Make it stand out with color and smart wording.

Not Built for Lead Capture

Some mortgage sites forget why they exist—to get leads.

If your site only has basic contact info and no forms, live chat, or lead magnets (like a mortgage guide), you’re missing out. Visitors want value before they give you their details.

Make it better:

Use simple forms. Offer a free PDF or calculator tool. Add live chat or a callback feature. Give them reasons to reach out now, not later.

Slow Loading and Broken Pages

A slow site is a dead site. People leave in seconds if your pages lag or links break.

Mortgage professionals who don’t regularly test their site speed or fix broken elements end up losing trust—and traffic.

What helps:

Use image compression. Keep your hosting strong. Run regular checks for 404s or broken forms. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help.

Lack of Personal Touch

People work with mortgage brokers they trust. But many mortgage sites feel cold or faceless. No team photos. No real bios. No human connection.

A strong About page and client reviews go a long way.

What to include:

A warm welcome. Photos of your team. Real testimonials. Maybe even a video walkthrough of your process. Show you’re not just another lender—you’re someone they can talk to.

Not Optimized for Mobile Users

If your mortgage site looks great on desktop but breaks on phones, you’ve lost more than half your audience.

Buttons must be easy to tap. Text must be readable. Forms must work smoothly. Every feature needs to function just as well on mobile.

Simple rule: Test everything on a phone before hitting publish.

No Local SEO Pages or Structure

Design is not just about looks—it’s also how you structure your site. Many mortgage websites forget to build location-specific pages or optimize for local keywords.

If you serve multiple cities or states, each one should have a dedicated page. Otherwise, you miss showing up in local search results.

Improve your structure:

Add SEO-friendly pages for every area you serve. Use headings that include the location. Make sure your address, phone, and name are consistent everywhere.

Want Help Fixing Your Mortgage Website?

If your site needs a refresh, we’re here to help. From smart templates to custom design, SEO, and content that converts—we do it all. Contact us today and let us build or improve your mortgage website, so you can stay focused on helping your clients.