Rates under 6%: Mortgage lenders with the best rates this week, Jan. 20-25, 2026

Core Insights - The current mortgage lending landscape shows that five out of the top ten lenders are offering rates just below 6% as per the Yahoo Finance survey [1][3] - Navy Federal has maintained its position as the top lender for four consecutive weeks, with Chase Home Loans closely following as a strong competitor [3][4] - The survey indicates a 1.279 percentage point difference in APR between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the lowest-ranked lender, Rocket Mortgage [4] Mortgage Rates Overview - The survey conducted from January 20-25, 2026, highlights the best interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate conventional loans [2] - Among the 16 lenders surveyed, PNC, Citizens Bank, Bank of America, Flagstar Bank, Third Federal, and Rocket Mortgage did not make the top 10 based on APR [3] Importance of APR - The APR is emphasized as a crucial metric for borrowers, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of annual borrowing costs [8][14] - Borrowers are advised to focus on APR rather than just the interest rate, which is often highlighted by lenders [8] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - It is recommended that borrowers shop around for mortgage rates, which could potentially save them an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan [7] - When comparing rates, borrowers should request quotes with zero discount points to facilitate an accurate side-by-side comparison of rates and fees [13] Special Offers and Discounts - Lenders are increasingly offering special discounts on interest rates and fees, with Chase Home Loans leading the way earlier this year [11] - For instance, Citi Mortgage is currently offering $500 off closing costs as part of their promotional efforts [11] Discount Points - Discount points are described as prepaid interest that can lower the interest rate, with one point typically costing 1% of the loan amount and reducing the rate by about 0.25% [10] - Borrowers have the option to decline discount points, which would result in a higher interest rate [10]