How do we choose the best mortgage?
In this guide, "best" means the lowest APR at the date of the update, for the standard profile described below. Last updated: 16 July 2026.
A mortgage ties you to the bank for two or three decades, so a small rate gap turns into tens of thousands of lei across the whole term.
The right choice weighs your available down payment, the rate type and the origination fees, not just the first month's instalment.
A fixed rate gives you a stable instalment for a few years, shielded from market rises. A variable rate, tied to the reference index, may start lower but climbs when the index goes up.
On a tight income, a predictable instalment is often worth more than a lower starting percentage.
On the list, the default „Kreditano order” is based on the APR; based on commercial agreements, certain lenders may occupy higher positions. You can always sort strictly by APR.
When you want a strict cost ranking, sort by APR. The first recommended card is a good starting point, yet the bank where you already hold accounts may offer better terms, so compare against your case.
Kreditano is an independent comparison platform. We are not a lender, we do not take credit applications and we do not offer financial advice. The information in this article is for information purposes; the final conditions are set exclusively by the creditor. Kreditano may receive a commission when you access a creditor's website through our links.
- ✓The full APR: interest, origination fee, property valuation and the mandatory insurances.
- ✓The minimum down payment required and how it shapes the rate: a larger one usually lowers the cost.
- ✓A fixed rate for an initial period or a variable one tied to the reference index.
- ✓The total cost over the whole term and the early repayment penalty, capped by law.
How Kreditano compares loan offers
All offers on Kreditano are sorted by ascending APR by default — the cheapest offer appears first. According to the National Bank of Romania, this is the fairest way to compare two loans, because APR includes not just the nominal interest rate but all mandatory fees: origination fee, monthly admin fee, mandatory insurance costs, and other recurring charges.
Two lenders with the same 9% nominal rate can have very different total costs because of these fees. On Kreditano you see APR alongside the estimated monthly payment for your chosen amount and term, plus the total cost — how many lei you pay in total by the end of the loan. In practice, total cost is the most relevant indicator when deciding between two similar offers.
No lender can pay to appear higher in the list. The displayed order is algorithmic (lowest APR first) and identical for every visitor. The only exception is when we explicitly tag an offer as "sponsored" or "partnership" — in that case the label appears visibly above the card.
What APR means and why it matters more than interest
APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the EU-standardized indicator showing a loan's total annual cost as a percentage. Unlike the nominal interest rate (which is just one component), APR includes all mandatory payments: application fee, admin fee, the cost of mandatory life insurance (if required), and regularly charged taxes.
Example: a 10,000 lei loan over 24 months with 8% nominal interest and a 0.3% monthly admin fee may have an APR close to 12%. Another loan of the same amount with 9% interest but no monthly fees may have an APR of 9.5%. Even though the second has a higher nominal rate, it is actually cheaper.
For variable-rate loans, the APR shown at the offer date is calculated using the current index (usually IRCC or ROBOR). If the index moves during the loan, the rate — and therefore the effective APR — adjusts automatically. For fixed-rate loans, the APR stays the same regardless of market movement.