What's the Best Mortgage for You?

Short answer

It depends on your credit score and down payment. Start with the three programs below, then pick your numbers in FHA vs Conventional to see today's best loan and the full side-by-side math.

Today’s rates · Rates as of October 16, 2026

Know the programs

The three loans most buyers choose between

FHA

Built for good-but-not-perfect credit and a small down payment.

Down payment: 3.5% with 580+ credit (10% at 500–579)
Mortgage insurance: Upfront 1.75% (rolled into the loan) plus monthly. Same price at any credit score
How long it lasts: Life of the loan under 10% down; 11 years at 10%+
Seller can pay: Up to 6% of the price toward your closing costs

Best for: Credit from 580 to about 720, with 3.5% to 10% down.

More about FHA loans

Conventional

The standard loan. Gets cheaper as your credit gets stronger.

Down payment: 3% for first-time buyers, 5% otherwise
Mortgage insurance: None at 20% down. Below that it's priced on your credit score
How long it lasts: Drops off on its own at 78% of the home's value, sooner if you ask at 80%
Seller can pay: 3% under 10% down, 6% at 10–25% down

Best for: Credit of about 720+, or 20% down.

Today's conventional rates

VA

For veterans and service members. Usually the best loan if you're eligible.

Down payment: 0%
Mortgage insurance: None. A one-time funding fee instead (waived with a VA disability rating)
Seller can pay: Your normal closing costs plus up to 4% in concessions
Who qualifies: Veterans, active duty, and some surviving spouses

Best for: Anyone eligible, at almost any credit score.

More about VA loans

Compare, priced today

FHA vs Conventional

Pick your credit score and down payment to see the full side-by-side math.

Savings over 10 years. Tap a box for the full math.

Every comparison prices a 30-year fixed purchase of a $375,000 single-family primary residence in Virginia. “Saves” is the difference in total borrowing cost (closing costs, interest and mortgage insurance) over 10 years.

How we stack up

Lower rates than Zillow and Rocket

Rates up to

0.875%

lower

Save up to

$20,500*

over 10 years

30-year fixedMableZillowRocketThe Mable advantage

FHASave up to $20,500

Mable

6.250%

Zillow

7.125%

Rocket

6.990%

Up to 0.875% lower rate

FHA6.250%

7.125%

6.990%

Up to 0.875% lowerSave up to $20,500

VASave up to $13,700

Mable

6.499%

Zillow

7.000%

Rocket

6.990%

Up to 0.501% lower rate

VA6.499%

7.000%

6.990%

Up to 0.501% lowerSave up to $13,700

ConventionalSave up to $17,800

Mable

6.999%

Zillow

7.490%

Rocket

7.625%

Up to 0.626% lower rate

Conventional6.999%

7.490%

7.625%

Up to 0.626% lowerSave up to $17,800

See your custom rate

The Mable way

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Great rates, right up front, for every customer.

Our best rate from the start
No negotiating and no games. The rate we show you is the rate we honor.
A real person answers
Call or text and you'll hear back fast, all the way to closing.
No late surprises
We check your credit and documents before we pre-approve you.

Keep comparing

Best mortgage by credit score and down payment

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