Key Takeaways Start with no-cost mortgage quotes to compare lenders on equal footing without fee confusion. The lowest no-cost rates help you build a shortlist of the most competitive lenders. You can then use that shortlist to explore different rate options and choose the structure that best fits your plans. Why Comparing Mortgage Rates Is Harder Than It Looks Mortgage rate shopping seems straightforward: Collect a few quotes, compare rates, and pick the lowest one. But in reality, it’s not that ...

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 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 - 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 - 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] Group 1: Mortgage Lenders and Rates - The top lenders with the best rates include Navy Federal Credit Union, Citi Mortgage, PenFed Credit Union, Chase Home Loans, and Better Mortgage, with the first four maintaining rates below 6% since mid-November [3][4] - The national average mortgage rates, as reported by Freddie Mac, remain above 6%, indicating that borrowers can achieve significant savings by comparing rates from multiple lenders [3] Group 2: 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 more accurate measure of annual borrowing costs [8][14] - Borrowers are advised to focus on APR rather than just the interest rate, which lenders often highlight [8] Group 3: Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Shopping around for mortgage rates can potentially save borrowers an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan, according to Realtor.com [7] - It is recommended that borrowers request quotes from multiple lenders without discount points to facilitate a straightforward comparison of rates and fees [13] Group 4: Special Offers and Discounts - 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 with a $5,000 compensation [12] - Borrowers are encouraged to inquire about any available concessions if a lender is not currently promoting a discount [12]

Core Insights - The top five mortgage lenders have reduced their rates to the sub-6% range, with Navy Federal leading at an offered interest rate of 5.5% and an APR of 5.614% [1][3] - A significant difference of 1.185 percentage points exists between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the lowest-ranked lender, Third Federal [4] Mortgage Rates Overview - The survey conducted by Yahoo Finance indicates that the lowest offered mortgage rate is now at 5.5%, marking a notable shift in the mortgage rate landscape [3] - The survey included 16 lenders, with notable exclusions from the top 10 being Wells Fargo, Bank of America, PNC, Fifth Third Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal [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] - Borrowers are advised to focus on APR rather than just the offered interest rate, which lenders often highlight [8] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Shopping around for mortgage rates can lead to significant savings, potentially up to $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan [7] - It is recommended that borrowers request quotes from multiple lenders without discount points to facilitate accurate comparisons of rates and fees [14] Discount Points and Special Offers - Discount points can be used to lower interest rates, with each point representing 1% of the loan amount and typically reducing the interest rate by about 0.25% [10] - Lenders are increasingly offering special discounts on interest rates and fees, with examples such as Citi Mortgage providing $500 off closing costs [12]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve's recent rate cut may influence mortgage rates, but it does not guarantee immediate reductions in mortgage rates for borrowers [2][3] - Mortgage lenders are adjusting their rates in response to the Fed's actions, with some lenders like Rocket Mortgage lowering their rates following the Fed's cut [3] - The best mortgage rates this week are offered by PenFed Credit Union, Chase Home Lending, and U.S. Bank, as per a survey conducted by Yahoo Finance [1][4] Mortgage Rate Shopping - Shopping around is essential for borrowers to secure the lowest mortgage rates, as highlighted by research from Realtor.com [7] - The annual percentage rate (APR) is the most critical figure for borrowers, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a clearer picture of borrowing costs [8] - Borrowers should request quotes from multiple lenders without discount points to facilitate accurate comparisons of rates and fees [12] Discount Points - Discount points are upfront fees that borrowers can pay to lower their interest rates, with one point typically costing 1% of the loan amount and reducing the rate by about 0.25% [10] - Some lenders, like Truist, offer negative points or lender credits, which can help cover closing costs instead of increasing the loan cost [11]

Core Insights - The top three mortgage lenders with the lowest 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] Mortgage Rate Rankings - The top five lenders consistently include two major national banks (Citi and Chase) and two large credit unions (Navy Federal and PenFed), with the fifth position varying, currently held by Truist [3] - A significant difference of 1.185 percentage points in APR exists between the top lender, Navy Federal, and the bottom lender, Third Federal, highlighting the importance of comparing rates [4] Lender Performance - Six lenders, including Wells Fargo and Rocket Mortgage, did not make the top 10 based on APR, while Citizens Bank improved its position to enter the top 10 [4] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Borrowers can potentially save up to $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for mortgage rates [7] - Promotional rates are becoming more common, 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 [9] Discount Points - Discount points can be used to lower interest rates, but they are optional and represent prepaid interest [10][11] - Borrowers are advised to request quotes without discount points for a more straightforward comparison of rates and fees [12]

Core Insights - The top three mortgage lenders with the best rates are Citi Mortgage, Navy Federal Credit Union, and PenFed Credit Union, remaining unchanged from the previous week [1][3] - Mortgage rates have decreased among most leading lenders, with the top five lenders consistently offering the lowest rates [3] - A significant difference of 1.17 percentage points in APR exists between the top lender, Citi Mortgage, and the bottom lender, Third Federal, highlighting the importance of comparing rates [5] Lender Rankings - The survey conducted on December 1, 2025, evaluated 16 lenders, with Wells Fargo, PNC, Flagstar Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal not making the top 10 based on APR [4] - The methodology for determining the lowest rates is based on APR, which includes both interest rates and lender fees [14] Shopping for Mortgage Rates - Borrowers can save up to $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan by shopping around for the best mortgage rates [8] - The APR is emphasized as the most important figure, as it encompasses both the interest rate and lender fees, providing a more accurate measure of borrowing costs [9] Discount Points - Lenders may offer mortgage discount points to lower interest rates, which are prepaid interest fees paid at closing [11] - Each point typically costs 1% of the loan amount and reduces the interest rate by approximately 0.25% [12] - Borrowers can request quotes from lenders without discount points for a clearer comparison of rates and fees [13]