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Currently, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.31%, compared to 6.32% a week ago, according to the Mortgage Research Center.
For borrowers who want to pay off their home faster, the average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage is 5.42%, down 0.35% from the previous week.
If you’re thinking about refinancing to lock in a lower rate, compare your existing mortgage rate with current market rates to make sure it’s worth the cost to refinance.
30-Year Mortgage Rates Drop 0.06%
Today’s 30-year mortgage—the most popular mortgage product—is 6.31%, down 0.06% from a week earlier.
The interest rate is just one fee included in your mortgage. You’ll also pay lender fees, which differ from lender to lender. Both interest rate and lender fees are captured in the APR. This week the APR on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.34%. Last week, the APR was 6.34%.
Let’s say your home loan is $100,000 and you have a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage with the current rate of 6.31%, your monthly payment will be about $620, including principal and interest (taxes and fees not included), the Forbes Advisor mortgage calculator shows. That’s around $123,793 in total interest over the life of the loan.
15-Year Mortgage Rates Drop 0.35%
Today’s 15-year mortgage (fixed-rate) is 5.42%, down 0.35% from the previous week. The same time last week, the 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage was at 5.44%.
The APR on a 15-year fixed is 5.46%. It was 5.48% a week earlier.
A 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage with today’s interest rate of 5.42% will cost $813 per month in principal and interest on a $100,000 mortgage (not including taxes and insurance). In this scenario, borrowers would pay approximately $46,731 in total interest.
Jumbo Mortgage Rates Drop 0.86%
The current average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage (a mortgage above 2025’s conforming loan limit of $806,500 in most areas) is 6.68%. Last week, the average rate was 6.74%.
If you lock in the latest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage, you will pay $644 per month in principal and interest per $100,000 borrowed, which amounts to $132,228 in total interest over the life of the loan.
Trends in Mortgage Rates for 2025
After reaching 7.04% in January, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has steadily remained in the mid-to-high 6% range. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate has hovered between the low-6% and mid-to-high 5% range since its January peak of 6.27%.
Rates have trended downward since mid-January 2025, but experts aren’t forecasting further significant decreases in 2025. Rate drops may continue in 2026, especially if the Federal Reserve continues to cut the federal funds rate down.
When Will Mortgage Rates Go Down?
Mortgage rates are influenced by various economic factors, making it difficult to predict when they will drop.
Mortgage rates follow U.S. Treasury bond yields. When bond yields decrease, mortgage rates generally follow suit.
The Federal Reserve’s decisions and global events also play a key role in shaping mortgage rates. If inflation rises or the economy slows, the Fed may lower its federal funds rate. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fed reduced rates, which drove interest rates to record lows.
A significant drop in mortgage rates seems unlikely in the near future. However, they may decline if inflation eases or the economy weakens.
How To Calculate Mortgage Payments
One of the first steps in buying a house is budgeting. To get a general idea of how much owning a home will cost, start by using a mortgage calculator to crunch the numbers.
Just input the following data to get an idea of how much a house will cost:
- Home price
- Down payment amount
- Interest rate
- Loan term
- Taxes, insurance and any HOA fees
Find the Best Mortgage Lenders of 2025
How Are Mortgage Rates Determined?
Mortgage interest rates are determined by several factors, including some that borrowers can’t control:
- Federal Reserve. The Fed rate hikes and decreases adjust the federal funds rate, which helps determine the benchmark interest rate that banks lend money at. As a result, mortgage rates tend to move in the same direction with the Fed’s rate decision.
- Bond market. Mortgages are also loosely connected to long-term bond yields as investors look for income-producing assets—specifically, the 10-year U.S. Treasury Bond. Home loan rates tend to increase as bond prices decrease, and vice versa.
- Economic health. Rates can increase during a strong economy when consumer demand is higher and unemployment levels are lower. Anticipate lower rates as the economy weakens and there is less demand for mortgages.
- Inflation. Banks and lenders may increase rates during inflationary periods to slow the rate of inflation. Additionally, inflation makes goods and services more expensive, reducing the dollar’s purchasing power.
While the above factors set the base interest rate for new mortgages, there are several areas that borrowers can focus on to get a lower rate:
- Credit score. Applicants with a credit score of 670 or above tend to have an easier time qualifying for a better interest rate. Typically, most lenders require a minimum score of 620 to qualify for a conventional mortgage.
- Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. Lenders may issue mortgages to borrowers with a DTI of 50% or less. However, applying with a DTI below 43% is recommended.
- Loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. Conventional home loans charge private mortgage insurance when your LTV exceeds 80% of the appraisal value, meaning you need to put at least 20% down to avoid higher rates. Additionally, FHA mortgage insurance premiums expire after the first 11 years when you put at least 10% down.
- Loan term. Longer-term loans such as a 30-year or 20-year mortgage tend to charge higher rates than a 15-year loan term. However, your monthly payment can be more affordable over a longer term.
- Residence type. Interest rates for a primary residence can be lower than a second home or an investment property. This is because the lender of your primary mortgage receives compensation first in the event of foreclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a good mortgage rate?
Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates land in the mid-6% range, so any rate at or below this range would be considered a good rate. However, several factors impact mortgage rates, including the repayment term, loan type and borrower’s credit score, so if you are considering applying for a mortgage, it’s a good idea to compare rates from several lenders to find the best rate for your situation.
How often do mortgage rates change?
Lenders adjust mortgage rates daily based on economic conditions, inflation, bond market movements and Federal Reserve actions.
If you’re shopping around for a mortgage, remember that you might be able to lock in a rate for 30 up to 120 days, depending on the lender. Note that some lenders charge a fee to lock your rate while others offer the service for free.
What’s the difference between a mortgage interest rate and a mortgage APR?
A mortgage interest rate reflects what a lender is charging you on top of your loan amount in return for allowing you to borrow money.
Annual percentage rate (APR), on the other hand, is a calculation that includes both a loan’s interest rate and finance charges, expressed as an annual cost over the life of the loan. In other words, it’s the total cost of credit. APR accounts for interest, fees and time.
Since APRs include both the interest rate and certain fees associated with a home loan, the APR can help you understand the total cost of a mortgage if you keep it for the entire term. The APR will usually be higher than the interest rate, but there are exceptions.
