The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fallen below 5% for the first time since early June. While lower rates may give hopeful homebuyers some breathing room after months of steep increases, the reason they’re falling has to do with the current uncertainty in the economy.
The Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates to fight inflation, and some investors and economists are concerned that raising rates too high and too fast could trigger a recession. This fear has caused mortgage rates to trend downward.
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Mortgage Refinance Rates Today
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use our free mortgage calculator to see how current mortgage rates would affect your monthly payments. By entering different rates and terms, you’ll also understand how much you’ll pay over the entire life of your mortgage.
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$1,161
Your estimated monthly payment
- paying a 25% a higher down payment would save you $8,916.08 on interest charges
- Reduce the interest rate on 1% I would save you $51,562.03
- Paying an additional $500 each month would reduce the length of the loan by 146 months
Click “More Details” for tips on saving money on your mortgage over the long term.
30-year fixed mortgage rates
The current average 30 year fixed mortgage rate is 5.3%, according to freddy mac. This is a decrease from last week, when it was at 5.54%.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the most common type of home loan. With this type of mortgage, you’ll pay back what you borrowed over 30 years, and your interest rate won’t change over the life of the loan.
The long term of 30 years allows you to spread your payments over a long period of time, which means you can keep your monthly payments lower and more manageable. The trade-off is that you will have a higher rate than you would with shorter terms or adjustable rates.
15-year fixed mortgage rates
Average 15 year fixed mortgage rate is 4.58%, a decrease from the previous week, according to data from Freddie Mac.
If you want the predictability that comes with a fixed rate but want to spend less on interest over the life of your loan, a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage might be a good option for you. Because these terms are shorter and have lower rates than 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, you could potentially save tens of thousands of dollars in interest. However, you will have a higher monthly payment than with a longer term.
Adjustable Mortgage Rates 5/1
The 5/1 average adjustable mortgage rate is 4.29%, a decrease from the previous week.
Adjustable Rate Mortgages It can seem very attractive to borrowers when rates are high, because the rates on these mortgages are often lower than fixed mortgage rates. A 5/1 ARM It is a 30 year mortgage. For the first five years, you will have a fixed rate. After that, your rate will be adjusted once a year. If rates are higher when your rate adjusts, you’ll have a higher monthly payment than you started with.
If you’re considering an ARM, make sure you understand how much your rate could increase each time it adjusts and how much it could ultimately increase over the life of the loan.
Are mortgage rates going up?
Mortgage rates began to rise from record lows in the second half of 2021 and could continue to rise throughout 2022. This is due in large part to high levels of inflation and the political response to rising prices.
In the last 12 months, the Consumer Price Index increased by 9.1%. The Federal Reserve has been working to control inflation and plans to raise the target federal funds rate three more times this year, following hikes in March, May, June and July.
Although not directly tied to the fed funds rate, mortgage rates often rise as a result of Federal Reserve rate increases and investor expectations about how those increases will affect the economy. As long as inflation remains elevated and the central bank continues to tighten monetary policy, mortgage rates are likely to remain at their current levels. However, if rate hikes slow the economy so much that it enters a recession, mortgage rates could trend lower.
How do I find personalized mortgage rates?
Some mortgage lenders allows you to customize your mortgage rate on its websites by entering your down payment amount, zip code, and credit score. The resulting rate isn’t set in stone, but it can give you an idea of what you’ll pay.
If you’re ready to start buying homes, you can request preapproval with a lender. The lender does a hard credit check and looks at the details of your finances to secure a mortgage rate.