Borrowers looking for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage will see rates averaging 6.378% today. The average rate is down nearly half a percentage point from yesterday, when it was nearly 7%. However, the average rates for almost all other types of loans are higher.
- The final rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 6.378%. ⇓
- The final rate on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage is 5.087%. ⇓
- The latest rate on a 5/1 ARM is 4.259%. ⇑
- The latest rate on a 7/1 ARM is 4.415%. ⇑
- The latest rate on an ARM 10/1 is 4.49%. ⇔
Money is daily mortgage the rates reflect what a borrower with a 20% down payment and a credit score of 700 — roughly the national average score — could pay if he or she applied for a home loan right now. Each day’s rates are based on the average rate that 8,000 lenders offered applicants the previous business day. Freddie Mac Weekly Rates will generally be lower since they measure the rates offered to borrowers with higher credit ratings.
Are you looking for a loan? See Money’s lists of best mortgage lenders and best refinance lenders.
Today’s 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates
- The 30-year rate is 6.378%.
- It’s a day offold by 0.497 percentage points.
- It’s a month increase by 1.427 percentage points.
The 30-year fixed rate mortgage is the most popular home loan in America. The long repayment time means monthly payments will be lower than on shorter loans, while the fixed rate means those payments will be predictable. The downside is that the interest rate on a 30-year loan will be higher than other loan types, so your total borrowing costs will also be higher.
Today’s 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates
- The rate over 15 years is 5.087%.
- It’s a day offold by 0.056 percentage points.
- It’s a month increase by 1.123 percentage points.
The shorter term and lower rate of the 15-year fixed rate mortgage makes it an attractive option for some borrowers. Paying a lower rate for less time means your total borrowing costs will be lower. The downside is that you have to pay off the loan faster, so your monthly payments will be much higher than with a loan of the same size over 30 years.
Use a mortgage calculator to determine which option is best for you.
The latest rates of adjustable rate mortgages
- The latest rate on a 5/1 ARM is 4.259%. ⇑
- The latest rate on a 7/1 ARM is 4.415%. ⇑
- The latest rate on an ARM 10/1 is 4.49%. ⇔
An adjustable rate mortgage will start with a fixed call rate. Once the fixed period is over, the rate will become variable and will adjust to market conditions at regular intervals. For example, the rate on a 5/1 ARM will be fixed for five years and then adjusts annually.
Although the variable rate of an ARM may decrease over the life of the loan, there is also a risk that it will increase significantly. You should consider these potentially higher rates when considering this type of loan.
The Latest VA, FHA, and Jumbo Loan Rates
The average rates for FHA, VA, and jumbo loans are:
- The rate on a 30-year FHA mortgage is 5.9%. ⇑
- The rate for a 30-year VA mortgage is 6.151%. ⇑
- The rate for a 30-year jumbo mortgage is 4.934%. ⇔
The latest mortgage refinance rates
The average refinance rates for 30-year loans, 15-year loans and ARMs are:
- The refinance rate on a 30-year fixed rate refinance is 6.427%. ⇓
- The refinance rate on a 15-year fixed rate refinance is 5.271%. ⇑
- The refinance rate on a 5/1 ARM is 4.303%. ⇑
- The refinance rate on a 7/1 ARM is 4.459%. ⇑
- The refinance rate on a 10/1 ARM is 4.536%. ⇑
Where are mortgage rates going this year?
Mortgage rates have fallen through 2020. Millions of homeowners have responded to low mortgage rates by refinancing existing loans and taking out new ones. Many people bought homes they might not have been able to afford if rates were higher. In January 2021, rates briefly fell to lowest levels on record, but rose slightly for the rest of the year.
Looking forward, experts believe that interest rates will rise further in 2022, but also modestly. Factors that could affect rates include continued economic improvement and further labor market gains. The Federal Reserve also began to scale back its purchases of mortgage-backed securities and raised the federal funds rate for the first time in March to combat rising inflation. The Fed has signaled that six more hikes are likely this year.
While mortgage rates are likely to rise, experts say the increase won’t happen overnight and it won’t be a dramatic jump. Rates are expected to remain near historic lows throughout the first half of the year, rising slightly later in the year. Even with rising rates, it will still be a good time to finance a new home or refinance a mortgage.
Factors that influence mortgage rates include:
- The Federal Reserve. The Fed acted quickly when the pandemic hit the United States in March 2020. The Fed announced its intention to keep money flowing in the economy by lowering the Federal Fund short-term interest rate between 0% and 0.25%, which is also low as you go. The central bank also pledged to buy mortgage-backed securities and treasury bills, supporting the housing finance market, but began to scale back those purchases in November.
- The 10-year Treasury bond. Mortgage rates keep pace with government 10-year Treasury bond yields. Yields first fell below 1% in March 2020 and have since risen. On average, there is typically a 1.8 point “spread” between Treasury yields and benchmark mortgage rates.
- The wider economy. Unemployment rates and changes in gross domestic product are important indicators of the overall health of the economy. When employment and GDP growth are weak, it means the economy is weak, which can lower interest rates. Thanks to the pandemic, unemployment levels reached historic highs early last year and have yet to recover. GDP has also taken a hit, and although it has rebounded somewhat, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Tips for getting the lowest possible mortgage rate
There is no universal mortgage rate that all borrowers receive. Qualifying for the lowest mortgage rates takes some work and will depend on both personal financial factors and market conditions.
Check your credit score and your credit report. Mistakes or other red flags can lower your credit score. Borrowers with the highest credit scores are the ones who will get the best rates, so it’s essential to check your credit report before you begin the home hunting process. Taking steps to correct mistakes will help increase your score. If you have high credit card balances, paying them off can also give you a quick boost.
Save money for a large down payment. This will lower your loan-to-value ratio, which is the share of the house price that the lender has to finance. A lower LTV usually translates to a lower mortgage rate. Lenders also like to see money that has been saved in an account for at least 60 days. It tells the lender that you have the money to finance the home purchase.
Shop around for the best rate. Don’t settle for the first interest rate a lender offers you. Check with at least three different lenders to see who offers the lowest interest rate. Also consider different types of lenders, such as credit unions and online lenders in addition to traditional banks.
Also, take the time to learn about the different types of loans. Although the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is the most common type of mortgage, consider a shorter-term loan such as a 15-year mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage. These types of loans often come with a lower rate than a conventional 30-year mortgage. Compare the costs of all to see which best suits your needs and financial situation. Government loans — such as those backed by the Federal Housing Authority, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Agriculture — may be more affordable options for those who qualify.
Finally, lock in your rate. Locking in your rate once you’ve found the right rate, the right loan product, and the right lender will help ensure that your mortgage rate doesn’t increase until the loan is closed.
Our mortgage rate methodology
Money’s Daily Mortgage Rates show the average rate offered by more than 8,000 lenders across the United States. The most recent rates are available. Today we are posting rates for Monday, April 18, 2022. Our rates reflect what a typical borrower with a 700 credit score might expect to pay for a home loan right now. These rates were offered to people depositing 20% deposit and include discount points.
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