Consumers can be picky when it comes to every day shopping, often times buying something online or from a different store just to save a few dollars. But when it comes to comparing and shopping for mortgage rates, consumers appear to be less picky.
According to a new Fannie Mae survey, around a third of homeowners are not taking the time to look around for the best mortgage loans on the market.
In the first quarter of 2019, only 28% of buyers measured three mortgage quotes, Fannie Mae’s survey said. And the numbers drop dramatically for those who compared four loans (7%) and five loans (2%).
The report’s data reinforced Fannie Mae’s prior findings, which showed that many consumers “lack knowledge about mortgage basics.” A 2018 survey revealed that many consumers overestimated the minimum credit score and down payment needed to qualify for a mortgage.
According to Fannie Mae, two thirds of home-buyers sought multiple mortgage quotes in the first quarter. Breaking down those numbers showed how rate-shopping helped a significant portion of consumers to get more favorable outcomes.
Of that number, 47% of homeowners were able to negotiate their interest rates—and 36% were successful in that regard. Mortgage loan searchers also found success in negotiating discount points, with 20% engaging in negotiations while 13% successful.