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 ...

The primary difference between APR and interest rate is that APR considers all the costs of your loan, while your interest rate does not. When lenders display an interest rate, it only reflects the percentage they collect monthly on the amount you borrow.So, although your interest rate is just 13% , the true cost of your loan (when factoring in the cost of the origination fee) is 16.33% APR .Using the steps outlined above, here’s how to calculate your APR:Let’s say you borrowed a $15,000 personal loan with ...

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]

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. 26-31, 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 ...

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have decreased for many lenders, with six of the top ten home loan providers offering rates below 6% [1] - The best rates this week are led by Navy Federal and PedFed, both offering 30-year fixed-rate mortgages below 5.5% [3] - Competition among lenders is increasing, with Bank of America and Wells Fargo entering the top ten lowest rates, displacing Citizens Bank and Fifth Third Bank [3] Mortgage Rate Trends - The top lender, Navy Federal, has an APR that is 1.311 percentage points lower than the bottom-ranked lender, Third Federal [4] - A total of 16 lenders were surveyed, with several notable lenders not making the top ten based on APR [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 the best mortgage rates [7] - The APR is emphasized as the most important figure, as it includes both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a clearer picture of borrowing costs [8] Discount Points and Offers - Discount points can be used to lower interest rates, where one point typically costs 1% of the loan amount and reduces the interest rate by about 0.25% [10] - Lenders are increasingly offering special discounts on interest rates and fees, with examples including Citi Mortgage's $500 off closing costs [12] Simplifying the Process - When comparing rates, it is recommended to request quotes with zero discount points from multiple lenders and focus on the APR for accurate comparisons [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. 26-Feb. 1, 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 ...