Homebuyers Can Beat the Headline Mortgage Rate by Shopping, Saving and Strengthening Credit

As mortgage rates crossed 7% for the first time since January 2025, reaching a 20-month high, a new Realtor.com® report finds that the rate in the headlines is only part of the affordability story. Using data from more than 1.35 million purchase loans originated from January 2023 through December 2025, borrowers with the same headline-rate environment can receive meaningfully different mortgage rates based on their financial profile and the choices they make before and during the loan process.