Today's Mortgage Rates Trending Lower | March 13 & 14, 2021

Interest rates seesawed this week, but ended trending down. The rate decrease occurred across all loan types. At the start of the week the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate purchase loan was above 3.5%, but has dropped back down. Rates for refinance loans were also trending lower.

Compared to where rates started at the beginning of the year, average rates are up by more than 400 percentage points for the 30-year loan. Even with such an increase, rates are still at historic lows. It is still a good time for buying a home or refinancing a mortgage.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 3.437% today.
The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 2.543% today.
The average rate on a 5/1 jumbo ARM is 2.979% today.
The average rate on a 7/1 conforming ARM is 4.522% today.
The average rate on a 10/1 conforming ARM is 4.234% today.

Today's 30-year fixed mortgage rates

The 30-year rate is 3.437%.
That's a one-day decrease of 0.025 percentage points.
That's a one-month increase of 0.326 percentage points.

A 30-year fixed-rate loan will have both a fixed interest rate and a fixed monthly payment throughout the full term of the mortgage. If payments are made as required, the loan will be paid off in 360 months, unless you pay more than the required amount, sell the home or refinance the mortgage.

Compared to a shorter-term loan like a 15-year, the interest rate on a 30-year mortgage will be higher. On the other hand, because the payment are made over a longer period of time, the monthly payment will be lower than that of a 15-year loan. Lower monthly payments make the 30-year loan attractive to two-thirds of borrowers.

However, because you are paying a higher interest rate over a longer period of time, you will pay more in total interest on a 30-year loan compared to a 15-year mortgage.

Today's 15-year fixed mortgage rate

The 15-year rate is 2.543%.
That's a one-day decrease of 0.019 percentage points.
That's a one-month increase of 0.23 percentage points.

Just as with a 30-year loan, a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage will have both a fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payments throughout the full term of the loan. If required monthly payments are made, the loan will be paid off in 180 months unless you sell the home, pay more than the minimum due or refinance the loan.

Compared to the 30-year loan, a 15-year mortgage will have a lower interest rate. The monthly payments will be higher though, as you're paying back the principal in a shorter time span. However, because you're paying a lower interest rate over a shorter period of time, you will pay less in total interest, making it an attractive option for borrowers who want to save on interest or pay the debt of faster.

Today's 5/1 jumbo adjustable-rate mortgage rates

The 5/1 ARM rate is 2.979%.
That's a one-day decrease of 0.023 percentage points.
That's a one-month increase of 0.066 percentage points.

With an adjustable-rate mortgage, the first few years of the loan will actually have a fixed interest rate. After that period passes, the interest rate will change on a yearly basis in reaction to market conditions. As a result, the monthly payment will not change during the fixed-rate period but could increase or decrease along with changes in the rate later on.

For example, a 5/1 ARM will have a fixed interest rate and monthly payment during the first five years of the loan. Afterward, both the rate and the monthly payment will reset every year. Other ARM terms include the 7/1 and the 10/1.

The initial interest rate on a 5/1 ARM is typically lower than the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. That initial low rate is popular among borrowers who plan on selling the home before the fixed-rate period is up or who don't think interest rates will increase in the long run.

VA, FHA and jumbo loan rates today

The average rates for FHA, VA and jumbo loans are:

The rate a 30-year FHA mortgage is 3.357%.
The rate on a 30-year VA mortgage is 3.454%.
The rate on a 30-year jumbo mortgage is 3.63%.

Mortgage refinance rates today

The average rates for 30-year loans, 15- year loans and 5/1 jumbo ARMs are:

The refinance rate on a 30-year fixed-rate refinance is 3.763%.
The refinance rate on a 15-year fixed-rate refinance is 2.84%.
The refinance rate on a 5/1 jumbo ARM is 3.439%.
The refinance rate on a 7/1 conforming ARM is 4.812%.
The refinance rate on a 10/1 conforming ARM is 4.738%.

Where are mortgage rates heading this year?

Mortgage rates sunk through 2020. Millions of homeowners responded to low mortgage rates by refinancing existing loans and taking out new ones. Many people bought homes they may not have been able to afford if rates were higher.

In January 2021, rates briefly dropped to the lowest levels on record, but trended higher through the month and into February.

Looking ahead, experts believe interest rates will rise more in 2021, but modestly. Factors that could influence rates include how quickly the COVID-19 vaccines are distributed and when lawmakers can agree on another economic relief package. More vaccinations and stimulus from the government could lead to improved economic conditions, which would boost rates.

While mortgage rates are likely to rise this year, experts say the increase won’t happen overnight and it won’t be a dramatic jump. Rates should stay near historically low levels through the first half of the year, rising slightly later in the year. Even with rising rates, it will still be a favorable time to finance a new home or refinance.

Factors that influence mortgage rates include:

The Federal Reserve. The Fed took swift action when the pandemic hit the United States in March of 2020. The Fed announced plans to keep money moving through the economy by dropping the short-term Federal Fund interest rate to between 0% and 0.25%, which is as low as they go. The central bank also pledged to buy mortgage-backed securities and treasuries, propping up the housing finance market. The Fed has reaffirmed its commitment to these policies for the foreseeable future multiple times, most recently at a late January policy meeting.
The 10-year Treasury note. Mortgage rates move in lockstep with the yields on the government’s 10-year Treasury note. Yields dropped below 1% for the first time in March, and have been slowly rising since then. Currently, yields have been hovering above 1% since the beginning of the year, pushing interest rates slightly higher. On average, there is typically a 1.8 point “spread” between Treasury yields and benchmark mortgage rates.
The broader economy. Unemployment rates and change in gross domestic product are important indicators of the overall health of the economy. When employment and GDP growth are low, it means the economy is weak, which can push interest rates down. Thanks to the pandemic, unemployment levels reached all-time highs early last year and have not yet recovered. GDP also took a hit, and while it has bounced back somewhat, there is still a lot of room for improvement.

Tips for getting the lowest mortgage rate possible

There is no universal mortgage rate that all borrowers receive. Qualifying for the lowest mortgage rates takes a little bit of work and will depend on both personal financial factors and market conditions.

Check your credit score and credit report. Errors or other red flags that may be dragging your credit score down. Borrowers with the highest credit scores are the ones who will get the best rates, so checking your credit report before you start the house-hunting process is key. Taking steps to fix errors will help you raise your score. If you have high credit card balances, paying them down can also provide a quick boost.

Save up money for a sizeable down payment. This will lower your loan-to-value ratio, which means how much of the home’s price 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 you have the money to finance the home purchase.

Shop around for the best rate. Don’t settle for the first interest rate that a lender offers you. Check with at least three different lenders to see who offers the lowest interest. Also consider different types of lenders, such as credit unions and online lenders in addition to traditional banks.

Also take time to find out about different loan types. While the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the most common type of mortgage, consider a shorter-term loan like a 15-year loan 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 one best fits your needs and financial situation. Government loans — such as those backed by the Federal Housing Authority, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Agriculture — can be more affordable options for those who qualify.

Finally, lock in your rate. Locking your rate once you’ve found the right rate, loan product and lender will help guarantee your mortgage rate won’t increase before you close on the loan.

Our mortgage rate methodology

Money’s daily mortgage rates show the average rate offered by over 8,000 lenders across the United States the previous business day. Today, we are showing rates for Thursday, March 11. 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 putting 20% down and include discount points.

Today's Mortgage Rates Are Trending Lower | March 13 & 14, 2021