Mortgage rates fell for a second day, reaching their lowest levels in at least a week.
The average on a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 5.69% from 5.75% the previous business day. Earlier this month it vaulted to 6.19%, its highest point since at least 2019, and likely much further back. (Our daily mortgage rate data only goes back to April 2021, but our data on yearly highs and lows date back to 2020, so we know rates weren’t higher in 2020, and if other measures are any indicator, may have hit their highest point in over a decade.)
The average rate on a 15-year mortgage fell to 4.81% from 4.84% the previous business day, backing further away from its recent peak of 5.26%.
Fixed mortgage rates tend to track the direction of 10-year Treasury yields, which usually rise with heightened inflation fears (and fall when those fears subside). While those yields have spiked as inflation and the Federal Reserve’s effort to lower it with higher interest rates have intensified, they’ve failed some over the past couple of days amid investor fears that the war in Ukraine could hurt global economic growth, analysts said.
During the pandemic, relatively low rates bolstered buying power, allowing house hunters to buy more expensive homes with the same monthly budget and helping to fuel a fiercely competitive residential real estate boom characterized by rapidly rising prices. But now that interest rates have spiked, the cost is increasingly putting homes out of reach for prospective buyers. Last week, Freddie Mac’s weekly measure of the average 30-year rate hit its highest point since 2010, although it’s still relatively low compared to the double-digits of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Note
Mortgage rates, like the rates on any loan, are going to depend on your credit score, with lower rates going to people with better scores, all else being equal. The rates shown reflect the average offered by more than 200 of the country’s top lenders, assuming the borrower has a FICO credit score of 700-759 (within the “good” or “very good” range) and a loan-to-value ratio of 80%. They also assume the borrower doesn’t purchase any mortgage or “discount” points. Other measures of rates may differ because they assume that the borrower does purchase points or has a higher credit score. These measures may also track the lowest possible rate advertised (rather than the average,) or reflect data collected once a week rather than daily.
Borrowers pay discount points, or upfront fees, to obtain a lower interest rate, spending more initially to save in the long run. Whether or not you should pay points depends on how long you plan to keep the loan. Here’s how to calculate that.
30-Year Mortgage Rates Fall
A 30-year fixed mortgage is by far the most common type of mortgage because it offers a consistent and relatively low monthly payment. (Shorter-term fixed mortgages have higher payments because the borrowed money is paid back more quickly.)
Besides conventional 30-year mortgages, some are backed by the Federal Housing Authority or the Department of Veterans Affairs. FHA loans offer borrowers with lower credit scores or a smaller down payment a better deal than they might otherwise get; VA loans let current or past members of the military and their families skip a down payment.
- 30-year fixed: The average rate fell to 5.69%, down from 5.75% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 6.09%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $579.77, or $25.58 less than a week ago.
- 30-year fixed (FHA): The average rate fell to 5.57%, down from 5.65% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 5.86%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $572.19, or $18.39 less than a week ago.
- 30-year fixed (VA): The average rate fell to 5.70%, down from 5.71% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 6.10%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments will cost about $580.40, or $25.59 less than a week ago.
Note
A lower rate can lower your monthly payment, but it can also give you more buying power, something you’ll want if you’re considering jumping into this fiercely competitive real estate market. For example, at 4% on a 30-year mortgage, your payments for a $380,000 home would be about $2,069 a month, assuming a 20% down payment, typical homeowners’ insurance costs, and property taxes. If you lock in a rate at 3.5%, though, you’ll have about the same monthly payment for a $397,500 home. To do the math specific to your situation, use our mortgage calculator below.
15-Year Mortgage Rate Declines
The best advantage of a 15-year fixed mortgage is that it offers a lower interest rate than the 30-year and you’re paying off your loan more quickly, so your total borrowing costs are far lower. But for the same reason—that the loan is paid back over a shorter time frame—the monthly payments will be higher.
- 15-year fixed: The average rate fell to 4.81%, down from 4.84% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 5.22%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $780.93, or $21.37 less than a week ago.
Note
Besides fixed-rate mortgages, there are adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), where rates change based on a benchmark index tied to Treasury bonds or other interest rates. Most adjustable-rate mortgages are actually hybrids, where the rate is fixed for a period of time and then adjusted periodically. For example, a common type of ARM is a 5/1 loan, which has a fixed rate for five years (the “5” in “5/1”) and is then adjusted every one year (the “1”).
Jumbo Mortgage Rates Drop or Stay Put
Jumbo loans, which allow you to borrow bigger amounts for more expensive properties, tend to have slightly higher interest rates than loans for more standard amounts. Jumbo means over the limit that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are willing to buy from lenders, and that limit went up in 2022. For a single-family home, it’s now $647,200 (except in Hawaii, Alaska, and a few federally designated high- cost markets, where the limit is $970,800).
- Jumbo 30-year fixed: The average rate fell to 4.77% from 4.90% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 4.77%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $522.85, the same as a week ago.
- Jumbo 15-year fixed: The average rate stayed at 4.77%, the same as the previous business day. A week ago, it was 4.77%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $778.86, the same as a week ago.
Refinance Rates Fall
Refinancing an existing mortgage tends to be slightly more expensive than getting a new one, especially in a low-rate environment.
- 30-year fixed: The average rate to refinance fell to 5.93% from 5.96% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 6.22%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $595.06, or $18.71 less than a week ago.
- 15-year fixed: The average rate to refinance fell to 4.96% from 4.99% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 5.17%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $788.71, or $10.97 more than a week ago.
Methodology
Our rates for “today” reflect national averages provided by more than 200 of the country’s top lenders one business day ago, and the “previous” is the rate provided the business day before that. Similarly, the week earlier references compare the data from five business days earlier (so bank holidays are excluded.) The rates assume a loan-to-value ratio of 80% and a borrower with a FICO credit score of 700 to 759—within the “good” to “very good” range. They’re representative of the rates customers would see in actual quotes from lenders, based on their qualifications, and may vary from advertised teaser rates.
Have a question, comment, or story to share? You can reach Diccon at [email protected].
Want to read more content like this? Sign up for The Balance’s newsletter for daily insights, analysis, and financial tips, all delivered straight to your inbox every morning!