Yet the interest rate that any particular buyer is able to qualify for depends at least partly on their credit score — meaning you have some control over whether you're able to get the best available rate, experts say.
"The score impacts practically everything: loan approval, interest rate, monthly mortgage insurance premiums … and ultimately their payment," said Al Bingham, a credit expert and mortgage loan officer with Momentum Loans.
The higher your score, the lower the interest rate you'll be charged.
For illustration only: On a $300,000, fixed-rate 30-year mortgage, the average rate is 6.41% (as of Thursday) if your credit score is in the 760-to-850 range, according to FICO.
"Improving your credit score really comes down to the fundamentals," said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for Bankrate.