Mortgage lenders with the best rates this week, Dec. 22-28, 2025

Core Insights - The top five mortgage lenders are consistently offering rates in the upper-5% range, significantly outperforming competitors [1][3] - The best mortgage rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans are highlighted, with lenders ranked by their annual percentage rate (APR) [2][14] - A notable difference of 1.04 percentage points in APR exists between the top lender, Citi Mortgage, and the lowest-ranked lender, Third Federal, which can lead to substantial savings for borrowers [5] Mortgage Rate Trends - Leading lenders are offering rates below 6%, indicating a competitive market where rates vary significantly by lender [3] - Flagstar Bank has entered the top 10 list, although it ranks lower with APRs above 6% [4] Borrower Savings - The difference in APR from the best to the worst lender can save borrowers over $220 monthly and more than $80,000 in interest over the life of a 30-year loan [5] - Shopping around for mortgage rates can save borrowers an average of $44,000 over the life of a loan, emphasizing the importance of comparing offers [8] Importance of APR - The APR is a crucial metric as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of borrowing costs [9] - Borrowers are advised to focus on APR rather than just the interest rate when evaluating mortgage offers [9] Discount Points - Lenders may offer mortgage discount points to lower interest rates, which are optional upfront fees that can reduce the rate by approximately 0.25% per point [11][12] - Borrowers can request quotes without discount points to simplify the comparison process [13]