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.
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).
-
Navy Federal Credit Union: 5.614%
-
Citi Mortgage: 5.708%
-
PenFed Credit Union: 5.79%
-
Chase Home Loans: 5.945%
-
Better: 5.986%
-
Truist: 6.061%
-
Rate: 6.109%
-
Citizens Bank: 6.121%
-
U.S. Bank: 6.159%
-
Wells Fargo: 6.162%
Four of the top five lenders in our survey have been offering 30-year fixed mortgage rates below 6% since mid-November: Navy Federal Credit Union, Citi Mortgage, PenFed Credit Union, and Chase Home Loans. Better Mortgage joined the sub-6% leaders on Dec. 1.
While national average rates, as measured by Freddie Mac, remain above 6%, it’s apparent that shopping among multiple lenders can yield significant interest-rate savings.
Of the 16 lenders surveyed on January 26, Fifth Third Bank, Bank of America, PNC, Flagstar Bank, Rocket Mortgage, and Third Federal did not make the top 10, based on annual percentage rates.
An APR with a 1.185 percentage point difference separated the top lender, Navy Federal, from Third Federal, which ranked at the bottom of our list.
These are all sample mortgage rates found on lender websites and are based on generic assumptions. Lenders advertise 30-year mortgage rates based on varying credit scores, down payments, and other credit qualifications. Even where you live affects your mortgage rate.
Your rate will be based on your particular credit profile.
If a mortgage lender required additional borrower information to provide a sample rate, we supplied a median home value and credit score, with a 20% down payment based on a home located in the Midwest.
The key to securing the lowest mortgage rate is shopping around, which could save borrowers up to an average $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan, according to analysis by Realtor.com. Our calculation above yielded even better results.
We’re also looking for details that you will want to consider. Often, borrowers focus on the offered interest rate, as that’s what lenders typically highlight. However, the mortgage annual percentage rate, or APR, is the most important number.
APR includes both the interest rate and lender fees (e.g., the mortgage origination fee), so it is the most accurate measure of your annual borrowing costs.
Lenders often include mortgage discount points to lower their offered interest rate. That’s where things can get confusing.
First off, discount points are prepaid interest — an up-front fee paid at closing that reduces your interest rate. Although lenders often include discount points in their advertised rates online, buying points is optional.
Each point represents 1% of your loan amount and generally lowers your interest rate by about 0.25%. For example, one point on a $400,000 mortgage would cost $4,000 and reduce a 6.25% home loan to 6%.
Just remember, no matter what the lender puts in an advertised rate, or in a loan offer, when you get a Loan Estimate and you see discount points under the lender fees section, you can say “no” and have them removed. But your rate will be higher.
Look for special rate offers and fee discounts
One thing we’re seeing more often: Lenders offering special discounts off their interest rates and fees. For example, on January 26, we found Citi Mortgage continuing to offer $500 off closing costs. Another promotion we’ve noticed: Chase guarantees an on-time closing or will pay you $5,000.
If a lender you are interested in is not currently promoting a discount, ask for any concessions they can offer and let them know you are shopping with multiple lenders.
That’s a lot of moving parts, we know.
If possible, when shopping with three or more lenders, have each of them quote a mortgage rate with zero discount points. Then, focus on the APR for an accurate side-by-side comparison of rates and fees.
See the table below to understand the Yahoo Finance methodology for determining which mortgage lenders have the best rates this week. Remember, we are sorting by APR, which includes both the interest rates and mortgage lender fees, including points.
Laura Grace Tarpley edited this article.
