Compare mortgage, refinance and auto loans with real benchmark rates and honest math
Free, plain-English guides, this week's national average rates from Freddie Mac and the Federal Reserve, and calculators that show the true cost before you talk to a lender.
Benchmark rates
National averages, not an offer
Mortgages: information provided by Freddie Mac (PMMS). Auto: Federal Reserve G.19. All rates & methodology
Run the numbers first
Mortgage payment calculator (PITI + PMI)
Estimate your monthly mortgage payment: principal and interest plus optional property tax, homeowners insurance, PMI and HOA dues, with a yearly amortization schedule.
Home affordability calculator
Estimate a home price that fits your income, debts and down payment using housing and total debt-to-income ratios, with taxes, insurance and PMI included.
Refinance break-even calculator
Compare your current mortgage payment with a refinance, see monthly savings, months to break even on closing costs and the change in total interest.
Auto loan payment calculator
Estimate a car loan payment with price, down payment, trade-in, amount still owed, sales tax and fees, and see total interest and negative equity.
Loan offer comparison and APR calculator
Compare up to three loan offers side by side: monthly payment, estimated APR including upfront fees, total interest and the cost if you repay early.
Buying a home
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA and jumbo loans: which mortgage type fits you?
A plain-English comparison of the five main US mortgage types: who qualifies, minimum down payment, mortgage insurance or guarantee fees, and the 2026 conforming loan limit.
Fixed-rate vs adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs): how they work and how to choose
How fixed-rate mortgages and ARMs differ, what ARM labels like 5/6 mean, how rate caps work, and the questions to ask before choosing an ARM.
15-year vs 30-year mortgage: the real trade-off
Compare 15-year and 30-year fixed mortgages: monthly payment, total interest, typical rate difference shown by Freddie Mac's weekly survey, and when each makes sense.
How mortgage pre-approval works, step by step
What a mortgage pre-approval letter is, how it differs from prequalification, what documents lenders ask for, how it affects your credit and how to shop several lenders.
Mortgage closing costs and the Loan Estimate, explained
How to read the 3-page Loan Estimate, which closing costs you can shop for, which can't change, and how the Closing Disclosure works.
Mortgage discount points and lender credits: are they worth it?
How discount points lower your rate, how lender credits lower closing costs, and how to calculate your break-even point before you pay for points.
PMI and mortgage insurance: what it costs and how to get rid of it
When you pay private mortgage insurance, how it differs from FHA MIP, VA funding fees and USDA guarantee fees, and the federal rules for cancelling PMI at 80% and 78% loan-to-value.
How your credit score affects mortgage, auto and personal loan rates
Why your credit score changes the rate lenders offer, how rate shopping affects your score, soft vs hard inquiries, and practical steps to improve your credit before applying.
Already own a home or need cash?
Refinancing your mortgage: rate-and-term vs cash-out
How a rate-and-term refinance differs from a cash-out refinance, what refinancing costs, how to find your break-even point and when refinancing doesn't pay.
HELOC vs home equity loan: which way to borrow against your home?
How a home equity line of credit (HELOC) differs from a home equity loan: draw and repayment periods, variable vs fixed rates, fees and the risks of borrowing against your home.
Personal loans: how they work, what they cost and when to use one
How unsecured personal installment loans work, what affects the rate and origination fee, how to compare offers by APR, plus the Federal Reserve's latest average bank personal-loan rate.
Financing a car
Auto loans for new vs used cars: what changes and how to shop
How new and used car loans differ, what the Federal Reserve's latest average new-car loan rates are, and the CFPB's step-by-step approach to shopping for an auto loan.
Dealer financing vs a bank or credit union auto loan
How dealer-arranged auto financing works, what a buy rate and dealer markup are, and how a bank or credit union pre-approval helps you get a better deal.
How long should your car loan be? 36 to 84-month terms compared
How auto loan term length changes your monthly payment, total interest and risk of owing more than the car is worth, with Federal Reserve benchmark rates for 60 and 72-month loans.
Refinancing a car loan: when it saves money
When refinancing an auto loan can lower your rate or payment, what fees and trade-offs to check, and how to compare refinance offers by total cost.
Compare, negotiate and stay safe
APR vs interest rate: how to compare loan offers
The difference between a loan's interest rate and its APR, what fees the APR includes, its limits, and a step-by-step method for comparing mortgage, auto and personal loan offers.
How to spot and avoid loan scams
Warning signs of advance-fee loan scams, fake 'guaranteed approval' offers, mortgage relief scams and dealer financing tricks, plus where to report them.
How to negotiate fair loan terms on a mortgage or car loan
How to negotiate mortgage and car loans: shop lenders in the credit-inquiry window, compare Loan Estimates, get fees waived, weigh points vs credits, and avoid dealer markups.
38 loan terms explained
PMI, points, lender credits, APR, DTI, LTV, title insurance, GAP, money factor and more, with whether each is negotiable.
Equal Housing Opportunity. We support the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act: it is illegal to discriminate in housing or lending on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), familial status, disability or, for credit, age, marital status or receipt of public assistance. Learn more.