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] - Navy Federal offers the best rate at 5.5%, with an APR of 5.614%, unchanged from the previous week [3][4] - 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 ranks lenders based on their annual percentage rate (APR), which includes lender fees [1][14] - The lowest offered rate remains at 5.5%, with Navy Federal leading the list of surveyed lenders [3] - Wells Fargo, Bank of America, PNC, Flagstar Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal did not make the top 10 based on APR [3] 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 number to consider, as it includes both the interest rate and lender fees [8] - Lenders often include discount points to lower their offered interest rates, which can be optional for borrowers [9][10] Special Offers and Discounts - Lenders are increasingly offering special discounts on interest rates and fees, with examples like Citi Mortgage providing $500 off closing costs [11] - Borrowers are encouraged to ask lenders for any concessions if they are not currently promoting discounts [12] Simplifying the Process - When shopping with multiple lenders, it is recommended to request quotes with zero discount points and focus on the APR for accurate comparisons [13]

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]