Yes—but the available figures measure different things, and the most direct statistic is historical. In a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) survey, 30% of borrowers who took out a mortgage to buy a home in 2013 said they relied heavily on their real-estate agent for mortgage information. A 2023 Zillow survey found that 66% of mortgage buyers used an agent, realtor, or broker referral while looking at financing options. The figures are not a like-for-like trend: one asks about heavy reliance on information, the other about using a referral.
What the surveys say about agents and mortgage information
Buyers do turn to agents for mortgage-related information and lender introductions, but no single percentage captures both behaviors. The survey year and wording matter.
| Finding | What it measures | Source and period |
|---|---|---|
| 30% said they relied heavily on a real-estate agent for mortgage information | Self-reported heavy reliance on mortgage information, not simply receiving a referral | CFPB survey of borrowers who took out a mortgage to buy a home in 2013; summary published in January 2015. CFPB |
| 66% used an agent, realtor, or broker referral when looking at financing options | Use of a referral among financing resources; it does not establish that the agent gave mortgage advice | Zillow Consumer Housing Trends survey, fielded April–July 2023 and described as nationally representative of U.S. buyers. Zillow Research |
| 19% first heard about the lender they ultimately used through an agent, realtor, or broker referral | First discovery of the lender used, not necessarily the reason for choosing it or whether other sources were consulted | Zillow Consumer Housing Trends survey, fielded April–July 2023. Zillow Research |
The CFPB’s 2013 survey also found that 70% of borrowers relied “a lot” on a lender or broker. That is a separate response about a different source of mortgage information, not a comparison of the quality of lender and agent guidance. CFPB
Why agents become part of the financing conversation
Buying a home involves coordinating the property search, offer, financing, and closing. An agent may help a buyer understand how financing fits into the transaction or introduce a lender. Recent National Association of REALTORS® data show that 88% of buyers used an agent or broker, and 76% of first-time buyers said their agent helped them understand the process. Those figures describe the broader home-buying experience—not mortgage advice specifically. The report covers transactions from July 2024 through June 2025 and was published November 4, 2025. NAR
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These roles are complementary: an agent can help navigate the purchase and make an introduction, while lenders provide loan-specific information and offers. A referral is a useful lead, not proof that the lender is the best fit or that the agent has assessed your eligibility, rate, or loan terms.
Should you use your agent’s lender recommendation?
You can consider it alongside other options. The survey findings show that referrals are a common route into financing research; they do not establish that every referral is biased or that a referred lender will offer worse terms. If you are unsure about the relationship, ask whether your agent has a business or financial connection to the lender. Then compare offers directly rather than treating any single introduction as an endorsement of the loan.
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How to compare lenders after receiving a referral
Ask the referred lender and other lenders for offers using the same borrower, home, down-payment, and timing assumptions. Consistent inputs make differences easier to assess. Compare the terms that shape the loan and the experience of getting it:
- Interest rate and total loan cost: Compare the rate alongside fees and other costs, not in isolation.
- Loan type and term: Check that each offer is for the same kind of loan and repayment period.
- Communication: Consider whether the lender answers questions clearly and keeps you informed.
- Timing: Ask whether the lender can meet the purchase and closing schedule you are working toward.
Rates can vary between lenders, and loan type, term, and rate are important parts of an offer. The CFPB’s mortgage-shopping resources explain how to approach comparisons and mortgage costs. CFPB mortgage comparison guide
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Why shopping around matters
In a CFPB study page published May 15, 2018, the Bureau reported that more than 30% of borrowers said they did not comparison shop and more than 75% applied to only one lender. Those are historical mortgage-shopping findings, not current prevalence estimates. The CFPB also cited an estimate of approximately $300 per year in potential costs from not comparison shopping, based on previous research; it is not a guaranteed or individualized saving. Its work with prospective buyers in 2016 found that encouragement to shop increased knowledge and confidence, with suggestive evidence it could reduce mortgage costs. CFPB mortgage-shopping study
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the available numbers cannot tell you
The evidence here does not establish the current percentage of borrowers who rely heavily on agents specifically for mortgage information. The CFPB’s 30% figure concerns 2013 borrowers, while Zillow’s 2023 measures ask about referral use and first discovery of a lender. They cannot be combined into a trend or treated as equivalent measures.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency says its jointly managed National Survey of Mortgage Originations public-use file was updated May 27, 2026 and includes mortgages originated through 2024. Its landing-page summary does not itself report a comparable agent-reliance percentage. FHFA NSMO data
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