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Are Mortgage Rate Quotes Online Accurate?

By Stephanie Donnell — Austin Mortgage Advisor (@BestAustinLender)

· first time homebuyer,interest rates,mortgage tips

Here’s the honest truth:
Those online rate quotes you see? They’re usually… not the whole story.

Most of the time, they’re built to capture your info — not give you the exact rate you’ll actually qualify for.

What REALLY Determines Your Interest Rate

Your personalized rate depends on things like:

  • Your credit score
  • Loan program (Conventional, FHA, VA, etc.)
  • How much you’re putting down
  • Your debt-to-income ratio
  • Whether the home is a primary, second home, or investment
  • Property type (single-family, condo, duplex)
  • The market that day — yes, rates literally move throughout the day

All of these pieces matter. Online calculators can’t account for real-life nuance.

Why Online Rates Look Too Good to Be True

Those super-low rates you see online usually assume:

  • Perfect credit
  • A big down payment
  • Zero debt
  • Buying a single-family home
  • You’re paying discount points upfront

Basically… the “unicorn buyer” profile.

Most real buyers don’t fit that picture — and that’s completely normal.

The Bottom Line

The best interest rate isn’t the one in a banner ad.
It’s the one you actually qualify for based on your situation, goals, and budget.

If you want a real rate quote you can trust — without the games — I’ve got you.

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