Current Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates were virtually unchanged this week.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage ticked up to 7.19% for the week ending September 21, according to Freddie Mac. That's a change of 0.01 percentage points compared to a week ago. The rate on a 15-year fixed-rate loan also edged higher, increasing by 0.03 percentage points to 6.54%.

If you're offered a higher rate than expected, make sure to ask why and compare offers from multiple lenders. (Money's list of the Best Mortgage Lenders is a good place to start. Homeowners considering a mortgage refinance should consider our list of the Best Mortgage Refinance Companies.)

Use Money's mortgage calculator to get an estimate of your monthly payment, taking different rate scenarios into consideration.

• How are mortgage rates impacting home sales?
• What credit score do mortgage lenders use?
• What is a good interest rate on a mortgage?
• How are mortgage rates determined?
• How to get the best mortgage rate
• Difference between APR and interest rate

What's been happening in the housing market

Here's a round-up of the latest news in housing:

• Nearly 16% of sales contracts were canceled at the last minute in August, according to a Redfin report. That works out to about 1 out of every 7 pending home sales. The likely cause? According to the report, more buyers are realizing how big of a monthly payment they're signing up for after they've already initiated a home purchase, and are choosing to walk away while they still can.
• At its September meeting, the Federal Reserve opted to leave the federal fund rate unchanged at 5.25%. The pause is welcome news, since it relieves some of the upward pressure on rates, but the Fed also said one more rate hike is likely in the cards this year. That could push mortgage rates even higher than they are now.

Mortgage interest rates for the week ending September 21, 2023

Mortgage rate trends

Mortgage rates were higher:

• The current rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.19%, an increase of 0.01 percentage points from last week. Last year, the 30-year rate averaged 6.29%.
• The current rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.54%, up by 0.03 percentage points compared to a week ago. The 15-year rate averaged 5.44% a year ago.

For its weekly rate analysis, Freddie Mac looks at rates offered for the week ending each Thursday. The average rate represents roughly the rate a borrower with strong credit and a 20% down payment can expect to see when applying for a mortgage right now. Borrowers with lower credit scores will generally be offered higher rates.

Money's average mortgage rates for September 27, 2023

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan moved up once again on Tuesday, increasing by 0.039 percentage points to 8.161%. Other loan categories averaged lower rates.

• The latest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 8.161% ⇑ 0.039%
• The latest rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.215% ⇓ 0.057%
• The latest rate on a 5/6 ARM is 7.889%. ⇑ 0.06% `
• The latest rate on a 7/6 ARM is 7.913%. ⇓ 0.101%
• The latest rate on a 10/6 ARM is 8.149% ⇓ 0.056%

Money's daily mortgage rates are a national average and reflect what a borrower with a 20% down payment, no points paid and a 700 credit score — roughly the national average score — might pay if they applied for a home loan right now. Each day's rates are based on the average rate 8,000 lenders offered to applicants the previous business day. Your individual rate will vary depending on your location, lender and financial details.

These rates are different from Freddie Mac’s rates, which represent a weekly average based on a survey of quoted rates offered to borrowers with strong credit, a 20% down payment and discounts for points paid.

Today’s mortgage rates and your monthly payment

The rate on your mortgage can make a big difference in how much home you can afford and the size of your monthly payments.

If you bought a $250,000 home and made a 20% down payment — $50,000 — you would end up with a starting loan balance of $200,000. On a $200,000 home loan with a fixed rate for 30 years:

• At a 3% interest rate = $843 in monthly payments (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees)
• At a 4% interest rate = $955 in monthly payments (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees)
• At a 6% interest rate = $1,199 in monthly payments (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees)
• At an 8% interest rate = $1,468 in monthly payments (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees)

You can experiment with a mortgage calculator to find out how much a lower rate or other changes could impact what you pay. A home affordability calculator can also give you an estimate of the maximum loan amount you may qualify for based on your income, debt-to-income ratio, mortgage interest rate and other variables. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can also provide a range of rates being offered by lenders in each state.

Other factors determine how much you'll pay each month, which are detailed in the loan disclosures provided by your lender. These factors include:

Loan Term:

Choosing a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year mortgage will increase monthly mortgage payments but reduce the amount of interest paid throughout the life of the loan.

Fixed vs. ARM:

With a fixed-rate loan, payments remain the same throughout the life of the loan. The mortgage rates on adjustable-rate mortgages reset regularly (after an introductory period) and monthly payments change with it.

Taxes, HOA Fees, Insurance:

Homeowners' insurance premiums, property taxes and homeowners association fees are often bundled into your monthly mortgage payment. Check with your real estate agent to get an estimate of these costs.

Mortgage Insurance:

Mortgage insurance can cost up to 1% of your home loan's value per year. Borrowers with conventional loans can avoid private mortgage insurance by making a down payment of at least 20% or reaching 20% of the home's equity. FHA borrowers pay a mortgage insurance premium throughout the life of the loan.

Closing Costs:

Some buyers finance their new home's closing costs into the loan, which adds to the debt and increases monthly payments. Closing costs generally run between 2% and 5% of the value of the mortgage.

Current Mortgage Rates Guide

Mortgage rates are an important part of the homeownership puzzle. Our guide answers some of the most common questions surrounding mortgage rates and how they affect the housing market.

How are mortgage rates impacting home sales?

Home sales continue to slow as high home prices and mortgage rates push more buyers out of the market.

Existing home sales — a metric that includes closed contracts for single-family residences, condos, townhomes and co-ops — slid by nearly 1% between July and August, according to the National Association of Realtors. Compared to the same time last year, sales were about 15% lower.

Unsold inventory, or the number of homes available for sale on the market, was 1.1 million units, a decrease of 14% from last August. That represents a 3.3 months supply of homes at the current pace of sales, nearly half the number considered "normal" in a balanced market.

What credit score do mortgage lenders use?

Most mortgage lenders use your FICO score — a credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation — to determine your loan eligibility.

Lenders typically request a merged credit report that combines information from all three of the major credit reporting bureaus — Experian, Transunion and Equifax. This report will also contain your FICO score as reported by each credit agency.

Each of the three credit bureaus is likely to have a different FICO score, and your lender will typically use the middle score when evaluating your creditworthiness. If you are applying for a mortgage with a partner, the lender could base their decision on the average credit score of both borrowers.

Lenders may also use a more thorough residential mortgage credit report that includes more detailed information than that in your standard reports, such as employment history and current salary.

What is a good interest rate on a mortgage?

A good mortgage rate is one where you can comfortably afford the monthly payments, and where the other loan details fit your needs. Consider details such as the loan type (i.e. whether the rate is fixed or adjustable), length of the loan, origination and lender fees and other costs. Note that refinance rates tend to be higher than purchase rates for a primary residence.

That said, today's mortgage rates are near historic lows. Freddie Mac's average rates show what a borrower with a 20% down payment and a strong credit score might be able to get if they were to speak to a lender this week.

If you are making a smaller down payment, have a lower credit score, or are taking out a non-conforming (or jumbo loan) mortgage, you may see a higher rate. It’s also worth noting that jumbo loans have a higher down payment requirement than conventional loans. Money’s daily mortgage rate data shows borrowers with 700 credit scores are finding rates averaging above 7% right now.

How are mortgage rates determined?

Lenders use several factors to set rates each day. Every lender's formula will be a little different but will factor in the current federal funds rate (a short-term rate set by the Federal Reserve), competitors' rates and even how many staff they have available to underwrite loans. Your qualifications will also impact the rate you are offered, naturally.

In general, rates track the yields on the 10-year Treasury note. Average mortgage rates are usually about 1.8 percentage points higher than the yield on the 10-year note.

Yields matter because lenders don't keep the mortgage they originate on their books for long. Instead, to free up money to keep originating more loans, lenders sell their mortgages to entities like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. These mortgages are then packaged into what are called mortgage-backed securities, which are sold to investors. Investors will only buy these securities if they can earn a bit more than they can on the government notes.

Your qualifications will also impact the rate you are offered, as will the loan-to-value ratio (LTV). The LTV of your property is one way lenders assess the amount of risk posed by approving a loan and is calculated by dividing the maximum loan amount you qualify for by the appraised home value.

How to get the best mortgage rate

Shopping around for the best mortgage rate can mean a lower rate and big savings. On average, borrowers who get a rate quote from one additional lender save $600 over the life of the loan, according to Freddie Mac. That number goes up to $1,200 if you get three quotes. A larger down payment amount will also result in a lower interest rate.

The best mortgage lender for you will be the one that can give you the lowest rate and the terms you want. Your local bank or credit union is one place to look. Online lenders have expanded their market share over the past decade and promise to get you pre-approved within minutes.

Shop around to compare loan options, rates and terms, and make sure your lender has the type of mortgage you need. Not all lenders write FHA loans, USDA-backed mortgages or VA loans, for example. If you're not sure about a lender's credentials, ask for its NMLS number and search for online reviews.

What's the difference between interest rate and APR on a mortgage?

Borrowers often mix up interest rates and annual percentage rates (APR). That’s understandable since both rates refer to how much you’ll pay for the loan. While similar, the terms are not synonymous.

An interest rate is what a lender will charge on the principal amount being borrowed. Think of it as the basic cost of borrowing money for a home purchase.

An APR represents the total cost of borrowing money and includes the interest rate plus any fees, associated with generating the loan. The APR will always be higher than the interest rate.

For example, a $300,000 loan with a 3.1% interest rate and $2,100 in fees would have an APR of 3.169%.

When comparing rates from different lenders, look at both the APR and the interest rate. The APR will represent the true cost over the full term of the loan, but you’ll also need to consider what you’re able to pay upfront versus over time.

Summary of current mortgage rates

Mortgage rates were mixed:

• The current rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.18%, up by 0.06 percentage points over the past week. The 30-year rate averaged 6.02% a year ago.
• The current rate for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.51%, a decrease of 0.01 percentage points week-over-week. Last year, the 15-year rate averaged 5.21%.

Rates are subject to change. All information provided here is accurate as of the publish date.