Rates lower again: Mortgage lenders with the best rates this week, Dec. 1, 2025

Core Insights - The top three mortgage lenders with the best rates are Citi Mortgage, Navy Federal Credit Union, and PenFed Credit Union, remaining unchanged from the previous week [1][3] - Mortgage rates have decreased among most leading lenders, with the top five lenders consistently offering the lowest rates [3] - A significant difference of 1.17 percentage points in APR exists between the top lender, Citi Mortgage, and the bottom lender, Third Federal, highlighting the importance of comparing rates [5] Lender Rankings - The survey conducted on December 1, 2025, evaluated 16 lenders, with Wells Fargo, PNC, Flagstar Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal not making the top 10 based on APR [4] - The methodology for determining the lowest rates is based on APR, which includes both interest rates and lender fees [14] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Borrowers can save up to $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for the best mortgage rates [8] - The APR is emphasized as the most important figure, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of borrowing costs [9] Discount Points - Lenders may offer mortgage discount points to lower interest rates, which are prepaid interest fees paid at closing [11] - Each point typically costs 1% of the loan amount and reduces the interest rate by approximately 0.25% [12] - Borrowers can request quotes from lenders without discount points for a clearer comparison of rates and fees [13]