Best mortgage lenders to know now, plus advice on buying and refinancing

Finding the right mortgage lender can be tricky, but doing so can also pay off, both literally and figuratively, especially over time. William_Potter/ With mortgage interest rates experiencing big swings so far in 2026, it's arguably more important than usual to find the right mortgage broker. After all, it was only in early March when average rates on a 30-year mortgage were comfortably under 6%. They surged by more than half a percentage point in the weeks that followed, briefly dipped below 6% in mid-April and then bounced back above that rate following the Federal Reserve's April meeting . Against this backdrop, it's critical to note that the mortgage lender you choose can either cost or save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Still, many borrowers spend more time researching a new home appliance than they do comparing the mortgage lenders available to them. In a market where elevated rates and stubborn home prices continue to squeeze affordability , though, that oversight can carry real consequences. Today's lending landscape is broader than many buyers realize, too. Traditional banks, credit unions and online-first platforms all compete for your business, and each operates differently. Banks may reward loyal customers with rate discounts, credit unions often pass savings directly to members and digital lenders typically leverage lower overhead to move faster through underwriting. …