Today's mortgage and refinance rates
Average mortgage rates fell again yesterday. But the movement was so small that it was barely noticeable. And traditional loans today start at 2.875% (2.875% APR) for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
Find and Lock a Low Rate (Sep 24, 2020)
Current mortgage and refinancing rates
program
Mortgage rates
APR *
change
Conventional 30 years fixed
2.875%.
2.875%.
Unchanged
Conventional 15 years fixed
2.625%.
2.625%.
Unchanged
Conventional 5-year ARM
3%.
2.756%.
+ 0.01%
Fixed FTA for 30 years
2.25%.
3.226%.
Unchanged
Fixed FTA for 15 years
2.25%.
3.191%.
Unchanged
5 years ARM FHA
2.5%.
3,239%.
-0.01%
30 years permanent VA
2.25%.
2,421%.
Unchanged
15 years fixed VA
2.25%.
2.571%.
Unchanged
5 years ARM VA
2.5%.
2,419%.
-0.01%
Your rate could be different. Click here for a personalized price offer. See our tariff assumptions here.
Find and Lock a Low Rate (Sep 24, 2020)
COVID-19 Mortgage Updates: Mortgage lenders are changing interest rates and rules due to COVID-19. For the latest information on the impact of Coronavirus on your home loan, click here.
Should You Lock A Mortgage Rate Today?
In yesterday's version of this article, we repeated what we had been saying for a while:
Mortgage rates have hardly changed in the past few months. The general direction of travel is slightly downwards – interrupted by small, short peaks. The risk of unexpected volatility never goes away. The most likely cause of such volatility is news about the pandemic
Now, 39 days before the presidential (and general election) election, we should probably add this as another potential source of volatility.
Traditionally, markets can be skittish before these events. Investors typically prefer Republican candidates because of their business-friendly, low-tax, and easily regulative agendas. But that's not always the case. And other factors can weigh this time.
Of course, the markets usually calm down shortly after each election, whoever wins. But there is now an additional danger: the possibility of a controversial outcome. Investors hate uncertainty, and a drawn-out judicial drama is the last thing they want. Not that mortgage borrowers are necessarily being disadvantaged.
At the moment I have my personal recommendations. But I can visit again if the clock is up until November 3rd.
LOCK when you approach 7th DaysLOCK when you approach fifteen DaysHOVER when you approach 30th DaysHOVER when you approach 45 DaysHOVER when you approach 60 Days
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Market Data Affecting Mortgage Rates Today
Here is the current status at 9:50 a.m. (ET) this morning. The dates, compared to roughly the same time yesterday morning, were:
The 10-year Treasury yield decreased from 0.68% to 0.67%. (Good for mortgage rates.More than any other market, mortgage rates usually tend to follow these particular government bond yields, albeit more recentlyImportant stock indices were lower. (Good for mortgage Prices.Often times, when investors buy stocks, they sell bonds, which lowers the prices of those bonds and increases yields and mortgage rates. The opposite is true when the indices are lower. Oil prices fell from $ 39.96 a barrel to $ 39.73. (Neutral for mortgage rates * because energy prices play a huge role in creating inflation and also indicate future economic activity.) Gold prices dropped from $ 1,889 per ounce to $ 1,856. (Bad for mortgage rates *.) In general, it is better for interest rates when gold rises and worse when gold falls. Gold tends to rise when investors worry about the economy. And worried investors tend to cut rates. CNN Business Fear & Greed Index fell from 55 out of 100 possible points to 41. (Good for mortgage rates.) "Greedy" investors push bond prices down (and interest rates up) when they exit the bond market and invest in stocks, while "fearful" investors do the opposite. Lower readings are therefore better than higher ones
* A change in the price of gold by less than $ 20 or in cents in oil prices is a fraction of 1%. Hence, we count significant differences in mortgage rates only as good or bad.
Before the pandemic and Fed interventions in the mortgage market, you could look at the numbers above and get a pretty good idea of what would happen to mortgage rates that day. However, this is no longer the case. The Fed is a big player now and a few days can overwhelm investor sentiment.
Use markets only as a rough guide. They have to be exceptionally strong (rates are likely to rise) or weak (they could fall) to be relied on. Today they are looking something better for mortgage rates. Disappointing weekly jobless claims created a gloomy mood as investors' hopes for further federal stimulus measures faded.
Find and Lock a Low Rate (Sep 24, 2020)
Important Notes About Today's Mortgage Rates
Here are some things you need to know:
The Fed's ongoing intervention in the mortgage market (at least $ 1 trillion; some say close to $ 2 trillion) should continue to put pressure on these rates. But it can't always work miracles. So expect both short-term increases and decreases. And read: “For once, the Fed affects mortgage rates. Here's why: "If you want to understand this aspect of what is going on, mortgage rates usually go up when the economy is doing well and go down when they're in trouble." There are exceptions, however. Read about how mortgage rates are determined and why you should care. Only top notch borrowers (with great credit scores, high down payments, and very healthy finances) will get the ultra-low mortgage rates for which the listed lenders vary. Yours may or may not follow the crowd when it comes to interest rate movements – though they usually all follow the broader trend over time. When interest rate changes are small, some lenders will adjust closing costs and leave their interest rate cards the same during times of high demand, push-up rates as a way to manage their workflow. Neither the markets nor the Fed can help
So there is a lot going on here. And no one can claim to know for sure what will happen to mortgage rates in the coming hours, days, weeks, or months. But look at what 10 experts think is possible by the end of this year:
Are mortgage and refinancing rates rising or falling?
The general trend in mortgage rates has been falling significantly in recent months. A new all-time low was set in early August, and we have grown close since then. Still, a new one remains a real possibility.
Looking ahead, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) each have a team of economists devoted to monitoring and forecasting the impact on the economy, housing and mortgage rates.
Mortgage Forecast Experts
And here are their current interest rate forecasts for the last two quarters of 2020 (Q3 / 20 and Q4 / 20) and the first two of 2021 (Q1 / 21 and Q2 / 21).
Notice that fannies (published September 15th) and the MBA (September 21st) are updated monthly. Freddies are published quarterly, however, with the last being published in June and the next being published every day. Freddie is feeling stale right now. The numbers in the table below are for 30-year fixed rate mortgages:
ForecasterQ3 / 20Q4 / 20Q1 / 21Q2 / 21Fannie Mae 3.0% 2.8% 2.8% 2.7% Freddie Mac 3.3% 3.3% 3.2% 3.2% MBA 3.0% 3.1% 3.1% 3.2%
So expectations vary considerably. You pay your money …
Find your lowest price today
Everyone – from federal regulators to personal finance gurus – agrees that buying your new mortgage or refinance is important. You could save thousands in just a few years by solving quotes from multiple lenders. Even more so, if you hold your mortgage for a long time or have a large loan.
But you seldom have more to win than you are buying now. The mortgage market is very chaotic right now. And some lenders offer significantly lower interest rates than others. Worse, some make it harder to get a mortgage at all when you want a withdrawal refinance, an investment property loan, a jumbo loan, or a break in your credit score.
So buy your new mortgage or refinance soon. Chances are you'll find plenty in the type of loan you want if you spread your network widely.
Check your new plan (September 24, 2020)
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Mortgage rate method
The mortgage reports receive interest rates based on selected criteria from multiple credit partners on a daily basis. We'll find an average rate and an annual interest rate for each type of loan that we want to show on our chart. Since we calculate a series of average prices, this will give you a better idea of what you might find in the market. In addition, we calculate the interest rates for the same types of loans. For example, FHA was fixed with FHA. The end result is a good snapshot of the daily rates and how they change over time.
