Core Insights - The article provides a guide to the best mortgage lenders for first-time homebuyers in 2026, focusing on criteria such as first-time buyer loans, low down payment options, and down payment assistance [1] Group 1: Best Mortgage Lenders - Chase offers a minimum credit score of 620 for conventional loans and 680 for jumbo loans, with a down payment minimum of 3% for conventional loans and 3.5% for FHA loans [2] - Veterans United Home Loans requires a credit score of 620 for conventional and VA loans, with a down payment minimum of 3% for conventional loans and 3.5% for FHA loans [2] - Bank of America has a credit requirement of 620 for conventional loans and a down payment minimum of 3% for conventional loans and 3.5% for FHA loans [2] - Better requires a credit score of 620 for conventional loans and 580 for FHA loans, with a down payment minimum of 3% for conventional loans and 3.5% for FHA loans [2] - PenFed Credit Union requires a credit score of 620 for conventional loans and 700 for jumbo loans, with a down payment minimum of 3% for conventional loans and 3.5% for FHA loans [2] - PNC Bank has a credit requirement of 620 for conventional loans and 600 for FHA loans, with a down payment minimum of 3% for conventional loans and 3.5% for FHA loans [2] - Wells Fargo requires a credit score of 620 for conventional loans, with a down payment minimum of 3% for conventional loans and 3.5% for FHA loans [2] Group 2: Mortgage Lender Types - Different types of mortgage lenders include banks, credit unions, independent institutions, and mortgage brokers, who can help find loan offers from various lenders [3] - First-time homebuyers should consider their goals and preferences, such as the type of loan, duration of stay, and support needs, to narrow down lender choices [4] Group 3: First-Time Homebuyer Programs - First-time homebuyer programs typically offer lower interest rates, reduced down payment requirements, and other savings options, such as lower mortgage insurance premiums [7] - Grants for first-time homebuyers may be available to assist with down payments or closing costs, often not requiring repayment if certain conditions are met [8] - The amount needed for a down payment varies, with options as low as 3% for conventional loans and no down payment for eligible military members or rural buyers [9] Group 4: Methodology - Bankrate evaluates over 75 lenders based on affordability, availability, and borrower experience, assigning a Bankrate Score out of five stars, with top lenders generally scoring 4.8 stars or higher [10]

Core Insights - The acquisition of TrueCar by Fair Holdings, Inc. aims to refocus the business on profitability and the evolving landscape of consumer mobility access [1][2] - TrueCar will no longer be publicly traded, and Scott Painter will return as CEO to lead the company [1][6] Business Strategy - TrueCar's core value proposition is to leverage technology to help consumers save time and money in the car-buying process, while also generating sales for dealer partners [2][3] - The partnership with PenFed Credit Union will enhance TrueCar's auto-lending capabilities, offering faster approvals and a simplified digital experience for members [2][3] - TrueCar plans to strengthen its relationships with over 11,500 dealers nationwide, which are central to its long-term strategy [3][5] Transaction Details - The transaction was valued at $227 million, with TrueCar stockholders receiving $2.55 per share in cash [6] - TrueCar's stock will be delisted from NASDAQ, and the company will no longer have reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act [6] Leadership and Advisory - Scott Painter, a recognized figure in automotive digital retail, will lead TrueCar, supported by Georg Bauer as Chairman of Fair Holdings, Inc. [4][9] - Morgan Stanley acted as the exclusive financial advisor for TrueCar, while B. Riley Securities served as the advisor for Fair Holdings, Inc. [7]

Core Insights - The mortgage lending landscape shows that four of the top ten lenders are offering rates just below 6%, indicating a slight decrease from the previous week [1] - The best mortgage rates are determined by a survey of 30-year fixed-rate conventional loans, with lenders ranked by their annual percentage rate (APR) [2] - Since mid-November, four leading lenders have consistently offered rates below 6%, while the national average remains above this threshold, highlighting the importance of comparing multiple lenders for potential savings [3] Lender Performance - Among the 16 lenders surveyed, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, PNC, Flagstar Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal did not rank in the top ten based on APR, with a notable 1.189 percentage point difference between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the lowest, Third Federal [4] Rate Shopping Strategies - Borrowers can save an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for mortgage rates, emphasizing the need for thorough comparison [7] - The APR is highlighted as the most critical figure for borrowers, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a clearer picture of annual borrowing costs [8] Discount Points and Offers - Lenders often provide mortgage discount points, which are prepaid interest fees that can lower the interest rate, but these points are optional and can be declined [10][11] - Special rate offers and fee discounts are becoming more common, with examples such as Citi Mortgage offering $500 off closing costs and Chase guaranteeing an on-time closing with a $5,000 compensation [12] Simplifying the Process - To streamline the mortgage rate shopping process, it is recommended that borrowers request quotes from multiple lenders without discount points and focus on the APR for accurate comparisons [13]

Core Insights - The current mortgage lending landscape shows that four out of the top 16 national mortgage lenders are offering rates below 6% [1][3] - The best mortgage rates are being provided by two large credit unions and two major banks, specifically Navy Federal Credit Union, PenFed Credit Union, Citi Mortgage, and Chase Home Loans [3] - A significant difference in APR exists among lenders, with the top lender, Navy Federal, having an APR that is 1.185 percentage points lower than the bottom-ranked Third Federal [4] Mortgage Rate Overview - The survey conducted on February 9, 2026, highlights the 10 mortgage lenders with the best interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate conventional loans [2] - National average rates, as reported by Freddie Mac, remain above 6%, indicating that borrowers can achieve savings by comparing multiple lenders [4] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Borrowers can save an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for mortgage rates [7] - The APR is emphasized as the most critical figure for borrowers, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a clearer picture of annual borrowing costs [8] Discount Points and Offers - Lenders often provide mortgage discount points, which are prepaid interest fees that can lower the interest rate [10] - Special offers and fee discounts are becoming more common, with lenders like Citi Mortgage and Chase providing promotional incentives [12] Simplifying the Process - To streamline the mortgage rate shopping process, it is recommended that borrowers request quotes from multiple lenders without discount points and focus on the APR for accurate comparisons [13]

Core Insights - The article highlights that four of the top ten mortgage lenders are currently offering rates just below 6%, indicating competitive pricing in the mortgage market [1][3]. Mortgage Rates Overview - A survey conducted from February 2-8, 2026, identified the ten mortgage lenders with the best interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate conventional loans, focusing on their annual percentage rates (APR) [2]. - Four lenders, including Navy Federal Credit Union, Citi Mortgage, PenFed Credit Union, and Chase Home Loans, have maintained rates below 6% since mid-November, contrasting with the national average rates above 6% as reported by Freddie Mac [3]. Lender Rankings - Among the 16 lenders surveyed, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, PNC, Flagstar Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal did not rank in the top ten based on APR, with a notable difference of 1.189 percentage points between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the lowest, Third Federal [4]. Importance of Shopping for Rates - Borrowers can save an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for mortgage rates, emphasizing the importance of comparing offers from multiple lenders [7]. - The APR is highlighted as the most critical figure for borrowers, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a clearer picture of annual borrowing costs [8]. Discount Points and Offers - Lenders often provide mortgage discount points, which are prepaid interest fees that can lower the interest rate. Borrowers have the option to decline these points, which will result in a higher rate [9][10]. - Special rate offers and fee discounts are becoming more common, with examples such as Citi Mortgage offering $500 off closing costs and Chase guaranteeing an on-time closing or a $5,000 payment [11]. Simplifying the Shopping Process - To streamline the mortgage rate shopping process, it is recommended that borrowers request quotes from multiple lenders without discount points and focus on the APR for accurate comparisons [12].

Core Insights - The top three mortgage lenders with the best rates are Citi Mortgage, Navy Federal Credit Union, and PenFed Credit Union, ranked by annual percentage rate (APR) [1][3] - Mortgage rates have decreased among most leading lenders, with the addition of three new lenders to the survey, bringing the total to 16 [3][4] - The difference in APR between the top lender and the bottom lender highlights the importance of comparing rates from multiple lenders [5] Lender Rankings - The latest survey shows Citi Mortgage at the top, followed by Navy Federal Credit Union and PenFed Credit Union [1][2] - New entrants Better Mortgage and Fifth Third Bank have made it into the top 10, displacing Wells Fargo and Bank of America [3][4] Membership and Loan Types - Navy Federal and PenFed are noted as dominant VA loan lenders, but the survey focuses on conventional loan rates [4] - PenFed allows membership to anyone, while Navy Federal is restricted to military personnel, veterans, and their families [4] Importance of APR - The APR is emphasized as the most important figure for borrowers, as it includes both the interest rate and lender fees [9] - Borrowers are advised to focus on APR rather than just the interest rate when comparing mortgage offers [9] Shopping for Rates - Shopping around for mortgage rates can potentially save borrowers up to $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan [8] - It is recommended to obtain quotes from multiple lenders with zero discount points for a clearer comparison of rates and fees [13][14]

Core Insights - Five of the top ten mortgage lenders are currently offering rates just below 6% as per the Yahoo Finance survey, which ranks lenders by annual percentage rate (APR) including lender fees [1][3] Mortgage Rates Overview - The survey conducted from January 26-31, 2026, identifies the ten mortgage lenders with the best interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate conventional loans, focusing on their APR [2] - Four of the top five lenders have maintained 30-year fixed mortgage rates below 6% since mid-November, including Navy Federal Credit Union, Citi Mortgage, PenFed Credit Union, and Chase Home Loans, with Better Mortgage joining this group on December 1 [3] Lender Performance - Among the 16 lenders surveyed, Fifth Third Bank, Bank of America, PNC, Flagstar Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal did not rank in the top ten based on APR, with a notable 1.185 percentage point difference between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the lowest-ranked Third Federal [4] Importance of Shopping for Rates - Borrowers can save an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for mortgage rates, highlighting the importance of comparing offers from multiple lenders [7] - The APR is emphasized as the most critical figure for borrowers, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of annual borrowing costs [8] Discount Points and Offers - Lenders may offer mortgage discount points to lower interest rates, where each point represents 1% of the loan amount and typically reduces the interest rate by about 0.25% [10] - Special rate offers and fee discounts are becoming more common, with examples including Citi Mortgage offering $500 off closing costs and Chase guaranteeing an on-time closing or paying $5,000 [12] Simplifying the Shopping Process - To streamline the mortgage rate shopping process, it is recommended that borrowers request quotes from multiple lenders with zero discount points and focus on the APR for accurate comparisons [13]

Core Insights - Four of the top ten mortgage lenders are currently offering rates just below 6%, which is one less than the previous week [1] - The survey ranks lenders based on the lowest annual percentage rate (APR), which includes lender fees [1][2] Mortgage Rates Overview - Four lenders have maintained 30-year fixed mortgage rates below 6% since mid-November: Navy Federal Credit Union, Citi Mortgage, PenFed Credit Union, and Chase Home Loans [3] - The national average rates, as reported by Freddie Mac, remain above 6%, indicating that borrowers can achieve significant savings by comparing multiple lenders [3] Lender Rankings - Among the 16 lenders surveyed, Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, PNC, Flagstar Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal did not make the top 10 based on APR [4] - The top lender, Navy Federal, had an APR that was 1.189 percentage points lower than Third Federal, which ranked at the bottom of the list [4] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Borrowers can save an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for mortgage rates [7] - The APR is emphasized as the most important figure, as it includes both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of annual borrowing costs [8] Discount Points and Offers - Discount points are an option for borrowers to lower their interest rates, where one point equals 1% of the loan amount and typically reduces the interest rate by about 0.25% [10] - Lenders are increasingly offering special discounts on interest rates and fees, such as Citi Mortgage's $500 off closing costs and Chase's guarantee of on-time closing or a $5,000 payment [12] Simplifying the Process - When comparing rates from multiple lenders, it is recommended to request quotes with zero discount points and focus on the APR for a clearer comparison [13] - The methodology for determining the lowest rates is based on sorting by APR, which includes both interest rates and lender fees [14]

Core Insights - The top three mortgage lenders with the best rates are Navy Federal Credit Union, Citi Mortgage, and PenFed Credit Union, with a slight change in ranking this week [1] - The consistency in rankings among the top lenders indicates a stable competitive landscape in the mortgage lending market [3] Lender Rankings - The top five lenders with the lowest mortgage rates include a mix of large national banks and credit unions, with Citi, Chase, Navy Federal, and PenFed consistently appearing [3] - Truist has moved into the fifth position, replacing Better this week [3] Rate Differences - There is a significant 1.185 percentage point difference in APR between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the lowest lender, Third Federal, highlighting the importance of comparing rates [4] Survey Details - A total of 16 lenders were surveyed, with several notable banks like Wells Fargo and Rocket Mortgage not making the top 10 based on APR [4] - Citizens Bank improved its position significantly, moving from near the bottom to the top 10 [4] Shopping for Rates - Borrowers can potentially save up to $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for mortgage rates [7] - The trend of promotional rates is growing, with lenders like Chase Home Lending offering limited-time rate reductions [8] Importance of APR - The APR is emphasized as the most critical figure for borrowers, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a clearer picture of borrowing costs [10] Discount Points - Lenders may offer discount points to lower interest rates, which are optional upfront fees that can reduce the interest rate by approximately 0.25% per point [11][12] - Borrowers can request quotes without discount points for a more straightforward comparison of rates and fees [13]

Of the top 10 mortgage lenders we scanned this week, five are still offering rates just below 6%. The Yahoo Finance survey ranks lenders by annual percentage rate (APR), which includes lender fees. The mortgage lenders with the best rates: Jan. 20-25, 2026 Here are the 10 mortgage lenders with the best interest rates this week, as determined by our survey of the lowest mortgage rates on 30-year, fixed-rate conventional loans. The following numbers are each lender’s annual percentage rate (APR). 5 lend ...