Mortgage lenders with the best rates this week, Dec. 29-Jan. 4

Core Insights - The top five mortgage lenders have slightly lowered their rates, now offering rates in the sub-6% range, as per a Yahoo Finance survey [1][3] - Navy Federal leads the survey with an offered interest rate of 5.5%, with an APR of 5.614% after accounting for a 0.250 discount point [3][4] - The difference in APR between the top lender and the lowest-ranked lender is 1.185 percentage points [4] Mortgage Rate Trends - The lowest offered mortgage rate has decreased to 5.5%, marking a significant change in the mortgage rate landscape over the past few years [3] - A total of 16 lenders were surveyed, with notable lenders like Wells Fargo and Bank of America not making the top 10 based on APR [3] Importance of APR - The APR is emphasized as the most critical figure for borrowers, as it includes both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of annual borrowing costs [8] - Borrowers are advised to focus on APR rather than just the offered interest rate, which lenders often highlight [8] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Shopping around for mortgage rates can save borrowers an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan [7] - It is recommended that borrowers request quotes from multiple lenders without discount points to facilitate accurate comparisons [14] Special Offers and Discounts - Lenders are increasingly offering special discounts on interest rates and fees, with examples like Citi Mortgage providing $500 off closing costs [12] - Borrowers are encouraged to inquire about any available concessions if a lender is not currently promoting discounts [13]