Guides to buying a home with a mortgage in the United States: FHA, VA, USDA and conventional loans, down payments, credit scores, current rates and how to compare lenders. Each guide links to official sources such as HUD, FHFA and the CFPB and shows when it was last reviewed.
Last updated: November 1, 2026 · Updated after each central bank decision · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research Short answer: most forecasters do not expect mortgage rates to fall soon. In the US, Fannie Mae now expects the 30-year fixed rate to average about 7.4% at the end of 2026 and
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research The best mortgage lender for a first-time buyer in the US is one that offers every low down payment program you might qualify for, works with your state’s down payment assistance and explains each step clearly. The loan program usually matters
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research A 15-year mortgage costs more each month but saves a huge amount of interest and builds equity much faster. A 30-year mortgage has a lower payment and more flexibility, at the price of far more interest over time. With Freddie Mac’s
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research You can get a mortgage with bad credit in the US, but which lender and loan you can use depends mainly on your exact score. FHA loans accept scores from 580 with 3.5% down, and from 500 with 10% down, although
Rates as of October 15, 2026 · Updated every week after Freddie Mac’s Thursday release · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate in the US is 7.40% this week, unchanged from last week, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The average 15-year fixed rate
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By the MortgageCompass Editorial Team · How we research The short answer: an FHA loan is usually cheaper if your credit score is below about 680 or your debts are high, while a conventional loan usually wins with a score of 740 or more, because its mortgage insurance is cheaper