The mortgage lenders with the lowest rates have been a quarter point or more above 6% since July 20. The Yahoo Finance weekly survey ranks lenders by the lowest annual percentage rate (APR), which includes lender fees. Read on to see the 10 lenders with the lowest rates this week.
Mortgage lenders with the best rates: September 8, 2026
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).
| Better | 6.390% |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | 6.406% |
| Flagstar Bank | 6.466% |
| PenFed Credit Union | 6.56% |
| Citi Mortgage | 6.612% |
| Chase Home Loans | 6.679% |
| U.S. Bank | 6.791% |
| Third Federal | 6.799% |
| Wells Fargo | 6.886% |
| Truist | 6.909% |
Higher fees don’t mean lower rates
For the third week in a row, Better tops the list of mortgage lenders with the lowest rates. The top 10 has seen some movement, with name-brand lenders swapping positions as minor pricing changes affect their rankings.
Of the 16 national lenders surveyed on September 8, Citizens Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Rate, PNC Bank, Bank of America, and Rocket Mortgage did not rank among the top 10 lenders sorted by annual percentage rates. An APR difference of 0.764 percentage point separated the top lender, Better Mortgage, from the bottom-ranked Rocket Mortgage.
That’s further proof that shopping multiple lenders can lead to significant savings.
Important note: Sample mortgage rates use generic data
These are 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.
How to shop for mortgage rates
The key to securing the lowest mortgage rate is shopping around, which could save borrowers up to an average of $44,000 over the life of a 30-year loan, according to an analysis by Realtor.com.
Focus on the APR
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 (for example, the mortgage origination fee), so it is the most accurate measure of your annual borrowing costs.
Discount points are an option
Lenders often include mortgage discount points to lower the interest rate they offer. 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 6.75% home loan to 6.50%.
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.
Simplify your mortgage rate shopping process
If possible, when shopping with three or more lenders, have each of them provide a quote for a mortgage rate with zero discount points. Then, focus on the APR for an accurate side-by-side comparison of rates and fees.
How we determined the mortgage lenders with the lowest rates
See the table below to understand the tax assistant 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.
Mortgage lenders ranked by APR: September 8, 2026
| Rank | Lender | Advertised 30-yearfixed rate | APR | Points/notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Better Mortgage | 6.125% | 6.390% | 2.33 points |
| 2 | Navy Federal | 6.250% | 6.406% | 0.625 point |
| 3 | Flagstar Bank | 6.375% | 6.466% | 1 point and $1,295 origination fee |
| 4 | PenFed Credit Union | 6.375% | 6.56% | 1.125 points and 1% origination fee |
| 5 | Citi Mortgage | 6.50% | 6.612% | 0.750 point |
| 6 | Chase Home Loans | 6.490% | 6.679% | 1.932 points |
| 7 | U.S. Bank | 6.625% | 6.791% | 0.831 point |
| 8 | Third Federal | 6.750% | 6.799% | 0 points |
| 9 | Wells Fargo | 6.750% | 6.886% | 0.750 point |
| 10 | Truist Bank | 6.700% | 6.909% | 0.952 point |
| 11 | Citizens Bank | 6.875% | 6.965% | 0.375 point |
| 12 | Fifth Third Bank | 6.875% | 7.018% | 0 points |
| 13 | Rate | 6.600% | 7.026% | 1.196 points |
| 14 | PNC Bank | 6.875% | 7.043% | 0.821 point |
| 15 | Bank of America | 6.875% | 7.047% | 0.898 point |
| 16 | Rocket Mortgage | 6.875% | 7.154% | 1.75 points |
Some advertised rates required no additional information. When asked for details, we used the U.S median home sales price of $410,800, a 20% down payment ($82,200; $328,600 loan), the current median FICO credit score of 715, and the ZIP code for Indianapolis, IN (46077)
A: Better’s advertised rate of 6.125% relies heavily on buying 2.33 discount points upfront. Points are an advance fee paid at closing to lower your rate. APR factors in these extra fees alongside the base interest rate. The $7,656 in upfront points on a $328,600 loan pushes the true annual cost (APR) up to 6.390%.
A: Discount points are completely optional. One point equals 1% of your total loan amount (e.g., $3,286 on a $328,600 mortgage) and typically lowers your interest rate by roughly 0.25%. While lenders often include points to make their advertised rates look attractive online, you can ask to remove them—though your baseline interest rate will go up.
A: You calculate your break-even point. Divide the total upfront cost of the points by your monthly payment savings. Break-Even Period (Months)=Cost of Discount Points/Monthly Payment Savings If buying points costs $4,000 upfront and saves you $80 a month, your break-even point is 50 months (about 4 years). Buying points only makes financial sense if you stay in the home and keep the same mortgage past that break-even period without selling or refinancing.
A: Third Federal ranks #8 on the list with an advertised rate of 6.750% and an APR of 6.799% with 0 points required. While their base rate looks higher than Better or Navy Federal, you won’t need to pay thousands of dollars in points at closing.
A: Request a loan estimate based on zero discount points from every lender you contact. This eliminates the confusion of hidden points, allowing you to directly compare each lender’s base interest rate and standard origination fees using their APR.
Manoj Sharma is a Senior Writer on the banking team at Tax Assistant. He provides information on budgeting, bank accounts, the banking industry, and other related topics. Using original data and methodologies, he helps you identify the best financial institutions, accounts, and products tailored to your needs. Manoj holds a degree in Journalism and Political Science from Syracuse University. All articles are strictly reviewed and fact-checked by our panel of expert Chartered Accountants, including CA Devendra Saini, CA Nikhil Khunteta, and CA Ankit Goyal
