Personal
Mortgages
Purchase mortgages, refinance, HELOC, jumbo, FHA, VA — the loan products underneath the largest single financial decision most households make.
Compare Mortgages
- Apply at Rocket Mortgage, LLCRocket Mortgage, LLC
Rocket Mortgage
Largest US lender by volume — fully digital refinance, all major refi types.
Full review - Apply at Better Mortgage CorporationBetter Mortgage Corporation
Better
$0 origination fee refinance — no commissions, fully digital close.
Full review - Apply at AmeriSave Mortgage CorporationAmeriSave Mortgage Corporation
AmeriSave Mortgage
Competitive published rates — rate-term, cash-out, FHA, VA, jumbo refi.
Full review - Apply at loanDepot.com, LLCloanDepot.com, LLC
loanDepot
National nonbank lender — digital-first refi platform and Lifetime Guarantee.
Full review - Apply at Veterans United Home LoansVeterans United Home Loans
Veterans United Home Loans
Largest VA lender — VA IRRRL and cash-out refi for military households.
Full review - Apply at PennyMac Loan Services, LLCPennyMac Loan Services, LLC
PennyMac
Full-service refinance lender and major servicer — FHA, VA, conventional, jumbo.
Full review - Visit HUD.govU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — Federal Housing Administration
FHA 203(b) Mortgage
The most flexible entry path for buyers with imperfect credit — 3.5% down at 580 FICO, backed by the federal government.
Full review - Visit VA.govU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Home Loan
Zero down payment, no PMI, competitive rates — the strongest first-time buyer program available for those who qualify.
Full review - Visit USDA Rural DevelopmentU.S. Department of Agriculture — Rural Development
USDA Single Family Housing Loan (Section 502)
0% down payment for eligible rural and suburban properties — an underused program most buyers don't know they qualify for.
Full review - See FHFA loan limitsFannie Mae (FNMA) — available through any Fannie Mae-approved lender
Conventional 97 (3% Down Conventional)
3% down on a conventional loan with no income cap and PMI that cancels at 20% equity — the flexible alternative to FHA.
Full review - Visit Fannie MaeFannie Mae (FNMA) — available through any Fannie Mae-approved lender
Fannie Mae HomeReady
3% down with income-based pricing discounts for low-to-moderate income buyers — more flexible than Conventional 97 for LMI borrowers.
Full review - Visit Freddie MacFreddie Mac (FHLMC) — available through any Freddie Mac-approved lender
Freddie Mac Home Possible
3% down, 80% AMI income limit, and the most flexible property types among conventional low-down-payment programs.
Full review - Apply at Rocket Mortgage, LLCRocket Mortgage, LLC
Rocket Mortgage
Largest US mortgage lender by origination volume — fully online, broad credit-box, fully digital close.
Full review - Apply at AmeriSave Mortgage CorporationAmeriSave Mortgage Corporation
AmeriSave Mortgage
Direct online mortgage lender with competitive published rates and a fully digital application.
Full review - Apply at Veterans United Home LoansVeterans United Home Loans
Veterans United Home Loans
The default pick for VA loan borrowers — both rate and process.
Full review - Apply at United Wholesale MortgageUnited Wholesale Mortgage
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM)
Largest wholesale lender — work with a UWM-approved mortgage broker for access.
Full review
Guides
What to know before you compare
Mortgages are heavily regulated and the rate spread between top-quartile and median lenders is typically 25-75 bps — meaningful money on a $400K loan over 30 years. The 2026 market splits between large banks (Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America), nonbank mortgage specialists (Rocket Mortgage, Better, loanDepot), credit unions (often the strongest combination of rate + service for members), and the FHA/VA-direct specialists.
Pre-approval (not just pre-qualification) and shopping at least 3-4 lenders within a 14-day window (which counts as a single credit inquiry for scoring purposes) are the two disciplines that capture most of the available rate improvement.
◆ ClearValue editorial analysis
Where mortgage rates actually stand right now
Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.40% as of October 8, 2026, up from 7.28% the prior week. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.73% over the same week, up from 6.60% the prior week. These are national averages for conforming purchase loans, not a quote — your own rate depends on credit score, down payment, points and the day you lock. Rates move weekly, so treat any single figure as a snapshot, not a locked-in number.
Primary sources: Freddie Mac — Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), week of October 8, 2026, via the Federal Reserve's FRED series MORTGAGE30US and MORTGAGE15US
Analysis by the ClearValue Editorial Team, applying our published scoring methodology.
This analysis combines cited public data (Federal Reserve, FDIC, FTC, CFPB, SBA/USDA, NAIC, ICI, BLS) with ClearValue's own cost math and category comparison — it is not proprietary ClearValue portfolio data. Rates, APYs, fees, and program terms move; figures carry an as-of date and you should verify current numbers at the linked primary sources and with the provider before deciding. Educational information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
What credit score do you need to buy a house?+
Requirements vary by loan program. Conventional loans generally start around 620, FHA loans can go lower — often 580 with a 3.5% down payment, or 500 with 10% down — and VA and USDA loans have no fixed minimum but lenders set overlays, frequently around 620. Higher scores unlock better rates and lower mortgage insurance costs. Lenders also weigh income, debt-to-income ratio, and down payment alongside the score.
What is the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval?+
Pre-qualification is an informal estimate based on self-reported information, useful for a rough budget. Pre-approval is a more rigorous step where the lender verifies income, assets, and credit and issues a conditional commitment for a specific amount. Sellers and agents take pre-approval far more seriously, and in competitive markets it is often expected with an offer. Pre-approval involves a hard credit inquiry; pre-qualification usually does not.
How much should you put down on a house?+
There is no universal answer. Conventional loans can allow as little as 3% down, FHA loans 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans 0% for eligible borrowers, while 20% down avoids private mortgage insurance on conventional loans. A larger down payment lowers the loan amount, monthly payment, and total interest, but tying up too much cash can leave you without reserves. The right figure balances payment, PMI, and liquidity.
What is the difference between a fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage?+
A fixed-rate mortgage keeps the same interest rate and principal-and-interest payment for the entire term, offering predictability. An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) starts with a lower fixed rate for an initial period — often five, seven, or ten years — then adjusts periodically based on an index, so payments can rise or fall. Fixed rates suit long-term holders; ARMs can favor those who expect to move or refinance before the rate adjusts.
What is private mortgage insurance (PMI)?+
Private mortgage insurance protects the lender, not the borrower, when a conventional loan has less than 20% down. It is added to the monthly payment and typically can be removed once the loan balance reaches about 80% of the original home value, and automatically terminates around 78% under federal rules. FHA loans carry a separate mortgage insurance premium with different removal rules. PMI raises the cost of a low-down-payment loan.
How many mortgage lenders should you compare?+
Comparing at least three to four lenders is a widely recommended discipline, because rate and fee spreads on the same borrower can be meaningful over a 30-year loan. Multiple mortgage inquiries made within a focused shopping window — commonly 14 to 45 days depending on the scoring model — are generally treated as a single inquiry, so rate-shopping does not heavily penalize your credit.