Core Insights - The top five mortgage lenders are consistently offering rates in the upper-5% range, significantly outperforming competitors [1][3] - The best mortgage rates for 30-year fixed-rate loans are highlighted, with lenders ranked by their annual percentage rate (APR) [2][14] - A notable difference of 1.04 percentage points in APR exists between the top lender, Citi Mortgage, and the lowest-ranked lender, Third Federal, which can lead to substantial savings for borrowers [5] Mortgage Rate Trends - Leading lenders are offering rates below 6%, indicating a competitive market where rates vary significantly by lender [3] - Flagstar Bank has entered the top 10 list, although it ranks lower with APRs above 6% [4] Borrower Savings - The difference in APR from the best to the worst lender can save borrowers over $220 monthly and more than $80,000 in interest over the life of a 30-year loan [5] - Shopping around for mortgage rates can save borrowers an average of $44,000 over the life of a loan, emphasizing the importance of comparing offers [8] Importance of APR - The APR is a crucial metric as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of borrowing costs [9] - Borrowers are advised to focus on APR rather than just the interest rate when evaluating mortgage offers [9] Discount Points - Lenders may offer mortgage discount points to lower interest rates, which are optional upfront fees that can reduce the rate by approximately 0.25% per point [11][12] - Borrowers can request quotes without discount points to simplify the comparison process [13]

Core Insights - The top three mortgage lenders with the lowest rates are Navy Federal Credit Union, Citi Mortgage, and PenFed Credit Union, as per a survey by Yahoo Finance [1][3] - Mortgage rates have slightly increased despite a recent Federal Reserve rate cut, with the top five lenders including major banks and credit unions [3] - A significant difference of 0.91 percentage points in APR exists between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the bottom lender, Third Federal, highlighting the importance of comparing rates [4] Mortgage Rate Trends - The mortgage lenders with the best rates for the week of December 15-21, 2025, are ranked based on their annual percentage rates (APR) for 30-year fixed-rate conventional loans [2] - The survey indicates that Better and Truist are competing for the fifth position among lenders, with Better leading this week [3] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Borrowers can save up to $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 for borrowers, as it includes both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a clearer picture of borrowing costs [8] Discount Points - Lenders may offer mortgage discount points to lower interest rates, which are prepaid fees that can reduce the rate by approximately 0.25% per point [10][11] - Borrowers have the option to decline discount points, which will result in a higher interest rate [11] Methodology - The methodology for determining the lowest mortgage rates involves sorting lenders by APR, which accounts for both interest rates and lender fees, including points [13]

Core Insights - The top five mortgage lenders are consistently offering rates in the upper-5% range, significantly outperforming competitors [1][3] - The leading lenders are providing rates below 6%, highlighting the variability in mortgage rates among different lenders [3] - Citi Mortgage is the top lender with an APR that is 1.04 percentage points lower than Third Federal, indicating a substantial potential savings for borrowers [5] Mortgage Rates Overview - As of December 22, 2025, the best mortgage rates are being offered by the top 10 lenders, with specific APRs listed [2] - Flagstar Bank has entered the top 10 for the first time, although it ranks lower with APRs above 6% [4] - The difference in APR between the best and worst lenders can save borrowers over $220 monthly and more than $80,000 in interest over the life of a 30-year loan [5] 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 [8] - The APR is emphasized as the most important figure for borrowers, as it includes both the interest rate and lender fees [9] - Lenders may offer discount points to lower interest rates, which are optional and can complicate the comparison process [11][12] Simplifying the Comparison Process - When comparing rates from multiple lenders, it is recommended to request quotes without discount points to focus on the APR for accurate comparisons [13] - The methodology for determining the lowest mortgage rates is based on sorting by APR, which includes interest rates and lender fees [14]