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Written by Liz Knueven and Laura Grace Tarpley, CEPF
2023-12-04T18:47:26Z
- Average mortgage rates today
- Average rate by mortgage type
- Average rate by credit score
- Average rate by year
- Average rate by state
- How are mortgage rates determined?
- What to know before getting a mortgage
- FAQs
Our experts answer readers' home-buying questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess mortgages). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.
Interest rates for the most popular 30-year fixed mortgage averaged around 7.11% in the month of November, according to Zillow data. Rates for 15-year mortgages, which are also relatively popular, were 6.45%. The average monthly mortgage payment is currently $2,823 for a 30-year fixed mortgage.
Mortgage interest rates are always changing, and there are a lot of factors that can sway your interest rate. While some of them are personal factors you have control over, and some aren't, it's important to know what your interest rate could look like as you start the process of getting a home loan. While average mortgage and refinance rates can give you an idea of where rates are currently at, remember that they're never a guarantee of the rate a lender will offer you. Mortgage interest rates vary by borrower, based on factors like your credit, loan type, and down payment. To get the best rate for you, you'll want to get quotes from multiple lenders. This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow There are several types of first mortgages available. They generally differ by the loan's length in years, and whether the interest rate is fixed or adjustable. Two of the most popular types include: Mortgage refinance rates typically differ somewhat from purchase rates, and may be slightly higher. If you're considering a refinance, be sure to shop around with the best mortgage refinance lenders and get multiple rate quotes to be sure you're getting the best deal. HELOC rates are generally a little higher than rates on first mortgages, but they can still be worth it if you're looking to tap into your home's equity without having to take on a new rate on your main mortgage. As with other types of mortgages, you'll want to shop around and get multiple rate quotes to find the best HELOC lenders. National rates aren't the only thing that can sway your mortgage interest rates — personal information like your credit history also can affect the price you'll pay to borrow. See Insider's picks for the best mortgage lenders » Your credit score is a number calculated based on your borrowing, credit use, and repayment history, and the score you receive between 300 and 850 acts like a grade point average for how you use credit. You can check your credit score online for free. The higher your score is, the less you'll pay to borrow money. Generally, 620 is the minimum credit score needed to buy a house, with some exceptions for government-backed loans. Data from credit scoring company FICO shows that the lower your credit score, the more you'll pay for credit. Here's the average interest rate by credit level for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage of $300,000: 620 to 639 640 to 659 660 to 679 680 to 699 700 to 759 760 to 850 According to FICO, only people with credit scores above 660 will truly see interest rates around the national average. Mortgage rates are constantly in flux, largely affected by what's happening in the greater economy. Things like inflation, the bond market, overall housing market conditions, and Federal Reserve policy impact mortgage rates. Here's how the average mortgage interest rate has changed over time, according todata from Freddie Mac. Throughout 2020, the average mortgage rate fell drastically due to the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis. Rates throughout 2020 and into 2021 were lower than rates at the depths of the Great Recession. Thirty-year fixed mortgage interest rates hit a low of 2.65% in January 2021, according to Freddie Mac. Rates began to rise again in 2022. Most major forecasts expect rates to start dropping again toward the end of 2023 and throughout the next couple of years. Check the latest rates in your state at the links below. Alabama Multiple factors affect the interest rate you'll pay on a mortgage. Some are outside of your control. Others you can influence. For instance, the federal funds rate — the interest rate banks charge when they lend to each other — has an influence on all sorts of other interest rates, including those on mortgages. The Federal Reserve adjusts the federal funds rate as part of its effort to control inflation. Therefore, it's a factor that is beyond your control. Key determining factors that you do have control over include: A mortgage is a type of secured loan used to purchase a home. You pay back the lender over an agreed-upon amount of time, including an additional interest payment, which you can consider the price of borrowing money. (You can also pay off your mortgage early, but there are both pros and cons to be aware of.) Because a mortgage is a secured loan, it means you put your property up as collateral. Should you fail to make your payments over time, the lender can foreclose on, or repossess, your property. Learn more about how a mortgage works here. What is a mortgage rate? A mortgage rate, also known as a mortgage interest rate, is the fee charged by your lender for loaning you money. Your principal (payments on the amount of money you borrowed) and interest are rolled into one payment each month. Is a 6% mortgage rate high? Compared to where rates were just a couple of years ago, a 6% mortgage rate is extremely high. But now, with rates in the 6% to 7% range, a 6% mortgage rate would probably be considered pretty good for most borrowers. Are 8% mortgage rates coming? Average mortgage rates nearly reached 8% in October this year, but they've since come down. However, rates can vary a lot depending on your finances. If you have a lower credit score, you may get a rate that's around 8%. When was the last time mortgage rates were at 8%? The last time mortgage rates were at 8% was in August 2000, when the average 30-year mortgage rate was 8.04%, according to Freddie Mac. What credit score gets you the best mortgage rate? The better your credit score, the better the rate you'll get on your mortgage. To access the best mortgage interest rates, aim to have a credit score at least in the 700s. What is a good mortgage interest rate? In general, you can consider a good mortgage rate to be the average rate in your state or below. This will vary depending on your credit score — better scores tend to get better mortgage rates. Overall, a good mortgage rate will vary from person to person, depending on their financial situation. What is a discount point? A discount point is a fee you can choose to pay at closing for a lower interest rate on your mortgage. One discount point usually costs 1% of your mortgage, and it reduces your rate by 0.25%. So if your rate on a $200,000 mortgage is 6.5% and you pay $4,000 for two discount points, your new interest rate is 6%. How do I compare current mortgage rates? Because mortgage interest rates are so individual to the borrower, the best way to find the rates available to you is to get quotes from multiple lenders. If you're early in the homebuying process, apply for prequalification and/or preapproval with several lenders to compare and contrast what they're offering. Will mortgage rates go down? Mortgage interest rates are expected to fall soon, but when and how much depends on the path of inflation; if price growth continues to slow, rates should fall in the coming months. If inflation remains stubborn, we may have to wait a bit longer. But that doesn't mean you need to put off your homebuying plans — there are plenty of advantages to buying a house when rates are high, such as decreased competition. Liz Knueven Personal Finance Reporter Liz was a personal finance reporter at Insider. Before joining Insider, she wrote about financial and automotive topics as a freelancer for brands like LendingTree and Credit Karma. She earned her bachelor's degree in writing from The Savannah College of Art and Design. She lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio. Find her on Twitter at @lizknueven. Laura Grace Tarpley, CEPF Personal Finance Reviews Editor Laura Grace Tarpley (she/her) is a senior editor at Personal Finance Insider. She oversees coverage about mortgage rates, refinance rates, lenders, bank accounts, and borrowing and savings tips for Personal Finance Insider. She was a writer and editor for Business Insider's "The Road to Home" series, which won a Silver award from the National Associate of Real Estate Editors. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).She has written about personal finance for over seven years. Before joining the Business Insider team, she was a freelance finance writer for companies like SoFi and The Penny Hoarder, as well as an editor at FluentU. You can reach Laura Grace at ltarpley@businessinsider.com.Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services » Average mortgage rates today
Mortgage type Average rate today Average mortgage interest rate by mortgage type
First mortgage
Mortgage refinance
Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
Average mortgage interest rate by credit score
FICO Score National average mortgage APR 8.314% 7.768% 7.338% 7.124% 6.947% 6.725% Average mortgage interest rate by year
Year Average 30-year fixed mortgage rate (January) 2000 8.15% 2001 7.07% 2002 7.14% 2003 5.85% 2004 5.87% 2005 5.77% 2006 6.15% 2007 6.18% 2008 6.07% 2009 6.01% 2010 5.09% 2011 4.77% 2012 3.87% 2013 3.34% 2014 4.53% 2015 3.73% 2016 3.97% 2017 4.20% 2018 3.95% 2019 4.51% 2020 3.72% 2021 2.65% 2022 3.22% 2023 6.48% Average mortgage interest rate by state
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington, DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
WyomingHow are mortgage rates determined?
What to know before getting a mortgage
Frequently asked questions about average mortgage rates
© Zillow, Inc., 2006-2016. Use is subject to Terms of Use
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As an expert in personal finance and mortgages, I've delved into a comprehensive article on mortgage rates written by Liz Knueven and Laura Grace Tarpley for Personal Finance Insider. The depth of information provided in the article showcases a meticulous understanding of the mortgage landscape. Let's break down the concepts covered in the article:
-
Average Mortgage Rates Today:
- The article provides current data on the average interest rates for 30-year fixed mortgages and 15-year mortgages, quoting information from Zillow.
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Average Rate by Mortgage Type:
- Different types of mortgages are discussed, such as 30-year and 15-year mortgages, along with considerations for mortgage refinancing and home equity lines of credit (HELOC).
-
Average Rate by Credit Score:
- The impact of credit scores on mortgage rates is thoroughly explained. It includes a breakdown of average interest rates based on FICO scores, emphasizing the influence of credit history on borrowing costs.
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Average Rate by Year:
- The historical perspective of mortgage rates is presented, highlighting the changes over the years. This section provides insights into the factors affecting mortgage rates, including economic conditions, inflation, and Federal Reserve policies.
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Average Rate by State:
- The article offers readers the ability to check the latest mortgage rates specific to their state through provided links. This regional approach acknowledges the variability of rates across different states.
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How Are Mortgage Rates Determined?
- This section explains the various factors influencing mortgage rates, including the federal funds rate, which is outside the borrower's control, and factors that borrowers can influence, such as credit score, debt-to-income ratio, down payment, and loan type.
-
What to Know Before Getting a Mortgage:
- A concise overview of mortgages is provided, emphasizing the secured nature of home loans and the importance of understanding the repayment terms. It mentions the role of collateral and the consequences of failing to make payments.
-
FAQs:
- Commonly asked questions about mortgage rates are addressed, covering topics like what a mortgage rate is, whether a 6% rate is considered high, the possibility of 8% rates, the impact of credit scores on rates, what constitutes a good mortgage rate, the concept of discount points, and how to compare current mortgage rates.
The article is authored by Liz Knueven, a Personal Finance Reporter, and Laura Grace Tarpley, a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and Personal Finance Reviews Editor. Their expertise is evident in the thoroughness of the information provided, making this article a valuable resource for anyone seeking insights into mortgage rates and related considerations.
