The average 30-year mortgage rate rose for a third day, while the average 15-year fixed mortgage rate moved up as well.

The average rate for a 30-year conventional fixed mortgage moved up to 6.27% from 6.20% the previous business day. Likewise, the 15-year rate rose to 5.38% from 5.31% the previous business day. Our mortgage rate data dates back to 2020, but if other measures are any indication, both rates are near their highest levels in over a decade.

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). 10-year Treasury yields have generally spiked this year because of the Federal Reserve’s ongoing campaign to raise interest rates to combat inflation.12

During the pandemic, ultra low rates bolstered buying power, allowing house hunters to buy more expensive homes with the same monthly budget and helping fuel a fiercely competitive residential real estate boom characterized by rapidly rising prices. But interest rates have moved much higher this year, putting a home purchase out of reach for many prospective buyers. The Freddie Mac average 30-year rate—which dates back much further than our data and is collected weekly—is the highest since November 2008 (though still relatively low compared to the double digits of the 1980s and early 1990s).3 

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 Are Mixed

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 (FHA) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 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 rose to 6.27%, up from 6.20% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 6.40%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $617.02, or $8.49 less than a week ago.
  • 30-year fixed (FHA): The average rate rose to 6.12%, up from 6.10% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 6.27%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $607.29, or $9.73 less than a week ago.
  • 30-year fixed (VA): The average rate fell to 6.13%, down from 6.14% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 6.25%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments will cost about $607.93, or $7.79 less than a week ago.

Note

All else being equal, a higher rate increases your monthly payment, but there are other parts of the equation. For example, if you know your monthly payment can’t be more than $2,000, you could get a $383,500 home at a 3.5% rate or a $366,500 home at a 4% rate. Both assume a 30-year loan, a 20% down payment, typical homeowners’ insurance costs, and property taxes. To do the math specific to your situation, use our mortgage calculator below.

15-Year Mortgage Rate Climbs

The major 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 rose to 5.38%, up from 5.31% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 5.48%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $810.73, or $5.29 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 Rise

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).4

  • Jumbo 30-year fixed: The average rate rose to 5.27% from 5.15% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 5.40%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $553.44, or $8.09 less than a week ago.
  • Jumbo 15-year fixed: The average rate rose to 5.27% from 5.15% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 5.40%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $804.93, or $6.86 less than a week ago.

Refinance Rates Increase

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 rose to 6.59% from 6.52% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 6.77%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $638.00, or $11.93 less than a week ago.
  • 15-year fixed: The average rate to refinance rose to 5.68% from 5.59% the previous business day. A week ago, it was 5.72%. For every $100,000 borrowed, monthly payments would cost about $826.67, or $2.13 less 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 dhyatt@thebalance.com and Terry at tlane@thebalance.com.

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