# How to find the lowest interest rate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-lowest-interest-rate/479414>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 31, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-lowest-interest-rate/479414 "2008-12-31T22:32:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-lowest-interest-rate/479414/1 "2008-12-31T22:32:17Z")

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A coworker just asked me how to find the lowest available interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate real estate loan. The property is in the State of Washington, and she says the borrower’s credit rating is ‘in the top 1%’ (i.e., the person has excellent credit).

Usually I can answer her questions, but ISTM that if I google ‘lowest interest rates’ I’m likely to get a number of spammish results.

Does anyone know of a reputable site that compares interest rates?

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-lowest-interest-rate/479414/2 "2008-12-31T22:39:41Z")

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I’ve used [Bankrate.com](http://www.bankrate.com/) in the past. I can’t vouch for them, though, because I never followed through with any of the results they returned. Oh yeah, there’s also [Lending Tree](http://www.lendingtree.com/).

Your friend might find some useful information here, as well: [http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/mortgage/mortb\_1.htm](http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/mortgage/mortb_1.htm)

**HI!**

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-lowest-interest-rate/479414/3 "2008-12-31T22:41:18Z")

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Hi **Shayna**! 🙂

Thanks for the links. I’ll pass them along.

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**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-lowest-interest-rate/479414/4 "2009-01-01T20:04:02Z")

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Just yesterday I was offered a 30 year fixed mortgage at 4.5% interest from Wells Fargo. The mortgage company said that I was in the top 1% of credit scores with an 808 score. The 4.5% rate was with my employer paying 2 points to reduce the rate. I don’t know what the rate would have been without the points.

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**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-lowest-interest-rate/479414/5 "2009-01-01T20:12:10Z")

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> [@Shayna](#):
>
> I’ve used [Bankrate.com](http://www.bankrate.com/) in the past. I can’t vouch for them, though

I can vouch for them. While they also have sponsored links, their main content appears to be objective and fairly comprehensive. They are also great for shopping credit cards, CDs, money market rates, etc.