USDA

VA vs Conventional vs FHA vs USDA Mortgage Rates (2026 Comparison)

VA vs Conventional vs FHA vs USDA Mortgage Rates: 2026 Comparison Government-backed loans carry the lowest note rates in 2026. VA and USDA mortgage rates typically run 0.25-0.50% below a comparable 30-year conventional rate, FHA lands roughly even with or slightly under conventional on the note rate, and conventional sits at the top of the range for average-credit borrowers. On a $400,000 loan, the gap between a 6.875% conventional rate and a 6.25% VA rate is about $165 a month and roughly $59,000 in interest over 30 years. But the note rate is only half the story. Mortgage insurance, funding fees, and guarantee fees change which loan is actually cheapest, so you have to compare APR and total cost, not just the advertised rate. This guide is about one thing: how the interest rate differs across the four major loan programs and what that rate gap costs you over time....