What's the difference between APR and interest rate?

The interest rate sets your monthly payment. The APR folds in lender fees and points, so it reflects the true annual cost. When you compare offers, line up APRs, not just rates.

How many mortgage lenders should I apply with?

Get quotes from at least three. Credit scoring models treat multiple mortgage inquiries within a 45-day window as a single event, so rate shopping won't dent your score.

Should I pay points to buy down my rate?

Points make sense if you'll keep the loan long enough to recoup the upfront cost through lower payments. Divide the cost of the points by the monthly savings to find your break-even month.

Buy or refinance without overpaying on rate

Best Mortgage Loans of 2026

Your mortgage is likely the biggest financial commitment you'll ever make, and a fraction of a percent on the rate adds up to tens of thousands over the life of the loan. We ranked purchase and refinance lenders on rates, fees, closing speed and the quality of the digital application.

6 lenders comparedLast updated July 2026How we rate

At a glance

Top mortgage loans compared

At-a-glance comparison of the top lender options
#	Provider	Rating	Sample APR	Best for
1	RRocket Mortgage	4.9	6.74%	Best all-around online mortgage lender	See Rates
2	BBetter	4.7	6.61%	Best for low fees and fast pre-approval	See Rates
3	SSoFi	4.6	6.69%	Best for members with strong credit	See Rates
4	VVeterans United	4.5	6.58%	Best for veterans and active military	Get Quote
5	NNew American Funding	4.3	6.99%	Best for lower credit scores	Get Quote
6	GGuaranteed Rate	4.2	6.82%	Best for a hybrid online and branch experience	See Rates

Rates and terms shown are illustrative editorial examples — confirm current details on each lender’s site.

The full list

Our top-rated lenders, ranked

Rocket Mortgage

America's largest lender, fully online

Editor's Choice

Best for Best all-around online mortgage lender

Sample APR: 6.74%
Min. down payment: 3%
Loan types: Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo
Min. credit score: 620

Fully digital application with real-time approval letters
Verified Approval backs your offer like a cash buyer
Services 90%+ of its own loans instead of selling them off
RateShield locks your rate for up to 90 days while you shop

Pros

Best-in-class app and document upload workflow
Fast, reliable closings with dedicated loan-team support
Strong conventional, FHA, VA and jumbo menu under one roof

Cons

Rates and lender fees tend to run slightly above discount lenders
No USDA loans and limited in-person branch options

Better

No commission, no lender fees

Lowest Rates

Best for Best for low fees and fast pre-approval

Sample APR: 6.61%
Min. down payment: 3%
Loan types: Conventional, FHA, Jumbo
Min. credit score: 620

Charges $0 in lender fees on most loans
One Day Mortgage promises a commitment letter within 24 hours
Instant pre-approval in as little as three minutes
Price-match guarantee against a competing Loan Estimate

Pros

Among the lowest all-in costs of any lender we compared
Transparent rates shown before you talk to anyone
Genuinely quick underwriting for straightforward files

Cons

No VA or USDA loans
Fully online only, so complex files get less personal support
No physical branches if you prefer face-to-face closings

SoFi

Member perks on top of your mortgage

Best for Move-Up Buyers

Best for Best for members with strong credit

Sample APR: 6.69%
Min. down payment: 3%
Loan types: Conventional, Jumbo
Min. credit score: 660

0.25% rate discount for SoFi members who autopay
Down payments as low as 3% on conventional loans
Jumbo loans up to $3M with competitive pricing
Everything managed inside one financial app

Pros

Attractive discounts if you already bank or invest with SoFi
Strong jumbo and high-balance conventional options
Clean, mobile-first application experience

Cons

No FHA, VA or USDA loans
Best pricing is reserved for high-credit, high-income borrowers

Veterans United

The nation's top VA lender

Best for VA Loans

Best for Best for veterans and active military

Sample APR: 6.58%
Min. down payment: 0% (VA)
Loan types: VA, Conventional, FHA, Jumbo
Min. credit score: 620

Largest VA purchase lender in the United States
$0 down payment available on VA loans
Free credit counseling through its Lighthouse program
Loan teams staffed with military-relocation specialists

Pros

Unmatched VA-loan expertise and dedicated support
Helps borderline borrowers rebuild credit at no cost
Strong reputation for on-time VA closings

Cons

Built almost entirely around VA-eligible borrowers
Conventional and FHA menus are thin by comparison
Rates for non-VA products are not especially competitive

New American Funding

Flexible approvals, manual underwriting

Best for Bad Credit

Best for Best for lower credit scores

Sample APR: 6.99%
Min. down payment: 3.5%
Loan types: Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo
Min. credit score: 580

Manual underwriting for thin or bruised credit files
FHA loans accepted down to a 580 credit score
I CAN mortgage lets you pick a custom loan term
Bilingual loan officers and a large branch network

Pros

Realistic path to approval for lower-credit borrowers
Full menu including FHA, VA and USDA loans
In-person branches in most states

Cons

Rates and fees run higher than prime-only lenders
Online rate transparency is limited before you apply

Guaranteed Rate

Digital tools with a local loan officer

Best for Best for a hybrid online and branch experience

Sample APR: 6.82%
Min. down payment: 3%
Loan types: Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo
Min. credit score: 620

Digital Mortgage app with same-day approval
Local loan officers in most metro markets
Full lineup including FHA, VA and USDA loans
FlashClose lets you e-sign most closing documents

Pros

Good balance of self-serve tools and human support
Wide product range for nearly any borrower
Transparent rate quotes online

Cons

Lender fees can add up depending on your branch
Closing times slow down during high-volume months

How we chose

Independent research, no pay-to-play

Every lender above earns its place on the merits. We weigh the numbers that decide real outcomes in this category — cost, terms, eligibility, and the quality of the experience once you’re a customer — against verifiable data and hands-on testing. Advertising partners never buy a better ranking, and our editorial scores are set independently of any commission we may earn.

Read our full rating methodology

Good to know

Mortgage Loans questions, answered

On a $400,000 30-year loan, dropping the rate by half a point saves roughly $115 a month and more than $40,000 over the life of the loan. Comparing two or three lenders is the highest-value hour in the whole process.

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Top mortgage loans compared

Our top-rated lenders, ranked

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Independent research, no pay-to-play

Mortgage Loans questions, answered

How much does a lower rate actually save me?

What's the difference between APR and interest rate?

How many mortgage lenders should I apply with?

Should I pay points to buy down my rate?

Go deeper on mortgage loans

Selecting the Best Mortgage Lender in 2026

What First-Time Homebuyers Get Wrong About Mortgage Rates