Rates are unsteady after Fed comments

Mortgage rates are all over the place today — there hasn’t been a clear shift upward or downward since yesterday. For example, Zillow data shows that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is down five basis points at 6.01%, the 20-year fixed rate hasn’t changed and sits at 5.69%, and the 15-year fixed rate increased by one basis point to 5.35%.

The inconsistent trends may reflect comments from Federal Reserve board members yesterday. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said, “The time has come for policy to adjust.” This all but confirms that the Fed will finally cut the federal funds rate at its Sept. 18 meeting.

However, Philadelphia Fed president Patrick Harker said he thought a 25-basis-point cut was the right move for the Fed’s meeting. Some people have held out hope that the Fed would lower its rate by 50 points. So, while it’s good news that the Fed seems ready to cut rates, some may be disappointed that it will probably only be by 25 basis points.

Read more: Fed’s Powell says ‘time has come’ for interest rate cuts

Today’s mortgage rates

Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data:

• 30-year fixed: 6.01%

• 20-year fixed: 5.69%

• 15-year fixed: 5.35%

• 5/1 ARM: 6.33%

• 7/1 ARM: 6.32%

• 5/1 FHA: 4.89%

• 30-year VA: 5.32%

• 15-year VA: 4.79%

• 5/1 VA: 5.44%

Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth.

Learn more: 5 strategies for getting the lowest mortgage rates

Today’s mortgage refinance rates

These are today’s mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data:

• 30-year fixed: 6.32%

• 20-year fixed: 6.29%

• 15-year fixed: 5.68%

• 5/1 ARM: 6.34%

• 7/1 ARM: 6.24%

• 5/1 FHA: 4.86%

• 30-year VA: 5.63%

• 15-year VA: 5.35%

• 5/1 VA: 5.12%

Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that’s not always the case.

Use our mortgage calculator

Use Yahoo Finance’s free mortgage calculator to see how various interest rates and term lengths will impact your monthly mortgage payment. It also shows how the home price and down payment amount play into things.

Our calculator includes homeowners insurance and property taxes in your monthly payment estimate. You even have the option to enter costs for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowners’ association dues if those apply to you. These details result in a more accurate monthly payment estimate than if you simply calculated your mortgage principal and interest.

30-year fixed mortgage rates: Pros and cons

There are two main advantages to a 30-year fixed mortgage: Your payments are lower, and your monthly payments are predictable.

A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has relatively low monthly payments because you’re spreading your repayment out over a longer period of time than with, say, a 15-year mortgage. Your payments are predictable because, unlike with an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your rate isn’t going to change from year to year. Most years, the only things that might affect your monthly payment are any changes to your homeowners insurance or property taxes.

The main disadvantage to 30-year fixed mortgage rates is mortgage interest — both in the short and long term.

A 30-year fixed term comes with a higher rate than a shorter fixed term, and it’s higher than the intro rate to a 30-year ARM. The higher your rate, the higher your monthly payment. You’ll also pay much more in interest over the life of your loan due to both the higher rate and the longer term.

15-year fixed mortgage rates: Pros and cons

The pros and cons of 15-year fixed mortgage rates are basically swapped from the 30-year rates. Yes, your monthly payments will still be predictable, but another advantage is that shorter terms come with lower interest rates. Not to mention, you’ll pay off your mortgage 15 years sooner. So you’ll save potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the course of your loan.

However, because you’re paying off the same amount in half the time, your monthly payments will be higher than if you choose a 30-year term.

Dig deeper: 15-year vs. 30-year mortgages

Adjustable mortgage rates: Pros and cons

Adjustable-rate mortgages lock in your rate for a predetermined amount of time, then change it periodically. For example, with a 5/1 ARM, your rate stays the same for the first five years and then goes up or down once per year for the remaining 25 years.

The main advantage is that the introductory rate is usually lower than what you’ll get with a 30-year fixed rate, so your monthly payments will be lower. (Current average rates don’t reflect this, though — fixed rates are actually lower. Talk to your lender before deciding between a fixed or adjustable rate.)

With an ARM, you have no idea what mortgage rates will be like once the intro-rate period ends, so you risk your rate increasing later. This could ultimately end up costing more, and your monthly payments are unpredictable from year to year.

But if you plan to move before the intro-rate period is over, you could reap the benefits of a low rate without risking a rate increase down the road.

Learn more: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage

Is now a good time to buy a house?

It might not feel like a good time to buy a house, especially if you compare today’s mortgage rates to 2021, when you could lock in a rate of 3% or lower.

It might be a better time to buy than you’d expect, though. The highest mortgage rate on record was 18.63% in October 1981, which makes a 6.01% rate not seem so bad. It’s also very unlikely that rates will drop to below 3% again anytime soon.

To sum it up, it’s still not the best time to buy a house because rates are still relatively high and could fall more significantly in September, after the next Fed meeting. But if the timing is right for you, your budget can accommodate the higher rates, and you’ve found the home for you, there’s no time like the present.

Today’s mortgage rates: FAQs

What is a 30-year mortgage rate right now?

The national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.01% right now, according to Zillow. But keep in mind that averages can vary depending on where you live. For example, if you’re buying in a city with a high cost of living, rates could be even higher.

Are interest rates expected to go down?

Yes, mortgage interest rates are expected to decrease gradually over the next couple of years. Experts predict the average 30-year rate will settle somewhere between 6.4% to 6.5% by the end of 2024, and then to 5.9% by late 2025.

Are mortgage rates dropping?

Yes, mortgage rates are inching down overall. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has held under 6.20% all week, according to Zillow data.

How do I get the lowest refinance rate?

In many ways, securing a low mortgage refinance rate is similar to when you bought your home. Try to improve your credit score and lower your debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Refinancing into a shorter term will also land you a lower rate, though your monthly mortgage payments will be higher.