If you’re carrying a balance on your credit card, high interest rates can drain your wallet faster than you think. With average APRs (annual percentage rates) hovering around record highs, finding ways to cut interest costs is important for your mental financial health. With that in mind, it may be time to swipe some low APR credit cards, as they can be one of the smartest tools for saving money and reducing debt in 2026. Whether you’re paying off existing balances or planning for big purchases, here are ...

Key takeaways The interest rate on a mortgage indicates how much interest you’ll pay for the amount you borrow. The annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate plus additional fees and any points. When comparing loan offers, it’s best to compare APRs to get a fuller picture of the true cost of the financing. Understanding the distinction between a mortgage loan’s interest rate and annual percentage rate (APR) can make you a more savvy mortgage shopper — and potentially save you some money alon ...

Core Concept - The primary distinction between APR and interest rate is that APR encompasses all costs associated with a loan, while the interest rate solely reflects the monthly percentage charged on the borrowed amount [1][5]. Group 1: Understanding APR - APR reflects the total cost of borrowing, combining the interest rate with additional fees such as origination fees [5][6]. - A significant difference between the quoted interest rate and APR may indicate high fees from the lender [4][6]. - Many lenders provide APRs online, facilitating easier comparisons before applying for loans [5][10]. Group 2: Calculating APR - To calculate APR, lenders start with the offered interest rate and add relevant finance charges, including origination and administrative fees [3][6]. - The calculation involves expressing the interest rate as a decimal, multiplying by the loan term in years, and adjusting for the number of days in the loan term [2][18]. Group 3: Factors Influencing APR - Factors impacting a loan's APR include credit score, income, debt-to-income ratio, loan term, and lender policies [20][21]. - Borrowers with higher credit scores typically secure lower APRs, while those with poor credit may face rates as high as 36% [14][15]. - Shorter repayment terms generally result in lower APRs, although monthly payments may be higher [20][21]. Group 4: Average and Good APRs - The average APR for personal loans is reported to be 12.21%, with rates ranging from approximately 7% to 36% [13]. - A good APR is typically below the national average, often requiring a credit score above 670 [10][19].

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]

Of the top 10 mortgage lenders we scanned this week, four are still offering rates just below 6%. The Yahoo Finance survey ranks lenders by the lowest annual percentage rate (APR), which includes lender fees. The mortgage lenders with the best rates: Feb. 2-8, 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) ...

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 among the top ten lenders [2] - The lenders that did not make the top ten include PNC, Citizens Bank, Bank of America, Flagstar Bank, Third Federal, and Rocket Mortgage [3] Importance of APR - The annual percentage rate (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][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 can 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] - Citi Mortgage is noted for continuing to offer $500 off closing costs as part of its promotional efforts [11] Discount Points - Discount points are described as prepaid interest that can lower the offered interest rate, but they are optional and can be declined by the borrower [9][10]

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]

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 - The top five mortgage lenders have seen little change in rates, remaining mostly in the sub-6% range, with any modifications being incrementally higher [1] Mortgage Rates Overview - The best mortgage rates for the week of January 5-11, 2026, are based on a survey of 30-year, fixed-rate conventional loans, ranked by annual percentage rate (APR) [2] - Navy Federal offers the lowest rate at 5.5%, with an APR of 5.614%, unchanged from the previous week [3] - There is a 1.185 percentage point difference between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the lowest-ranked lender, Third Federal [4] Rate Calculation and Considerations - Sample mortgage rates are based on generic assumptions, including credit scores and down payments, which can vary by location [5][6] - Shopping around for mortgage rates can save borrowers an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan [7] Importance of APR - The APR is a crucial figure as it includes both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of annual borrowing costs [8] Discount Points - Lenders may offer mortgage discount points to lower interest rates, which are optional and represent prepaid interest [9][10] Special Offers and Discounts - Lenders are increasingly offering special discounts on interest rates and fees, with examples including Citi Mortgage's $500 off closing costs [11] - Borrowers are encouraged to inquire about any available concessions when shopping with multiple lenders [12] Simplifying the Shopping Process - When comparing rates, borrowers should request quotes with zero discount points and focus on APR for accurate comparisons [13] Methodology for Rate Determination - The methodology for determining the lowest mortgage rates is based on sorting by APR, which includes interest rates and lender fees [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]