Four Steps. Full Privacy. Total Control.
From your first request to your final decision — exactly what happens, and what stays private at every step.
Step 01
Submit Your Rate Request
Tell us your loan amount, property value, occupancy type, and property state. It takes about two minutes — no name, SSN, phone, or email required.
What's asked: loan amount · property value · occupancy · state · loan purpose
Step 02
Mortgage Partners Respond
Verified Mortgage Partners review your anonymized scenario and respond with offers. You'll see them appear on your dashboard as they come in — partners never see who you are at this stage.
Partners see: your scenario only, never your identity
Step 03
Compare Your Offers
Review rate, APR, closing costs, lender credits, and estimated payment side by side. The lowest rate isn't always the lowest overall cost — RatesQ shows the full picture, not just the headline number.
Compare: rate · APR · costs · credits · payment
Step 04
You Choose What Happens Next
Review each Mortgage Partner's verification status and offer details. If one looks right, you initiate contact — on your terms. Nothing is shared automatically, and comparing offers never obligates you to reach out.
You control: if, when, and who to contact
Why It Matters
How much can you save by shopping around for a mortgage?
Mortgage rates vary from lender to lender for the same borrower — yet more than 75% of borrowers apply with only one. Freddie Mac research shows that shopping multiple lenders can save $600–$1,200 a year, while the CFPB finds that not shopping costs the average homebuyer around $300 a year and thousands over the life of the loan.
$600–$1,200
saved per year by shopping around
by comparing multiple lenders for the same loan
Source: Freddie Mac~$300
lost per year by not shopping
average annual cost of not comparison shopping — plus thousands over the life of the loan
Source: CFPBWhat could you save on your mortgage?
Adjust your loan amount to see the estimated impact of a 0.25% rate difference between lenders — the conservative midpoint of the lender-to-lender spread Freddie Mac has measured.
$400,000
Monthly Difference
$65
Over 30 Years
$23,545
Assumed base rate: 6.50% (illustrative — not a current rate quote). Assumed rate difference between lenders: 0.25% (conservative midpoint of Freddie Mac's measured 0.10%–0.50% lender-to-lender dispersion). 30-year fixed.
Why It Matters
Why Comparing Offers Matters
A borrower comparing multiple mortgage offers may find meaningful differences in APR, closing costs, lender credits, and monthly payment. Even small differences can create a meaningful impact over time.
Illustrative Example
A 0.375% APR difference on a $485,000 mortgage can create noticeable differences in monthly payment and long-term mortgage cost.
$143
Est. Monthly Difference
$8,580
Est. 5-Year Difference
$51,480
Est. Long-Term Difference
Illustrative example only. Not a loan offer, approval, rate lock, or guarantee of savings.
APR Differences
Even small APR differences can add up meaningfully over a 30-year mortgage.
Closing Cost Variations
Closing costs can vary significantly between offers. Comparing them helps you understand total upfront cost.
Lender Credits
Some offers include lender credits that reduce upfront costs — others may not. Compare the full picture.
The Full Cost Picture
The lowest rate is not always the lowest-cost offer. Review APR, costs, and credits together.
We Can't Share What We Don't Have
RatesQ was designed so Mortgage Partners see your loan scenario — not your personal identity — until you decide to share it.
Mortgage Partners Can See
- Loan amount
- Property value
- Occupancy type
- Property state
- Loan purpose
- Loan scenario details
Mortgage Partners Cannot See
- Social Security Number
- Full legal name
- Phone number
- Email address
- Sensitive personal information
Trust & Verification
Built Around Trustworthy Mortgage Partner Participation
Before Mortgage Partners can participate, RatesQ performs a verification review that may include NMLS review, license verification, company association review, business contact verification, profile review, and compliance review.
Mortgage Partner
NMLS #1234567
Sample profile for illustration only.
Quick Questions
Is RatesQ a lender?
No. RatesQ is a technology marketplace, not a lender or broker.
Is RatesQ free for borrowers?
Yes. RatesQ doesn't charge borrowers to submit a request or compare offers.
Do I need to provide my Social Security Number?
No. A quote request never asks for your SSN.
Will I receive spam calls?
No. Partners can't contact you — you decide if and when to reach out.
Can I compare APR and closing costs?
Yes. Every offer shows rate, APR, closing costs, and lender credits side by side.
Am I required to choose a Mortgage Partner?
No. Comparing offers never obligates you to contact anyone.
How are Mortgage Partners verified?
Every partner goes through NMLS review, license verification, business profile review, and a compliance review before joining.