Today’s 30-Year Fixed Refinance Rates
National Average Mortgage Rates
Rates data is based on a borrower with good credit, a conforming loan amount (at least $200,000 but less than the national conforming loan amount), and a loan-to-value ratio of less than 80% (For purchase loans, this corresponds to a down payment of 20% or more). © Zillow, Inc., 2006-2016. Use is subject to Terms of Use
View today’s mortgage rates for a wide variety of products and find the best rates for your needs. Save thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.
U.S. News Expert Insights, Week Ending July 15
Mortgage Rates Surge to Yearly Highs
“The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is now hovering around 6.75%, compelling summer homebuyers to recalculate their purchase budgets. With mortgage rates now at their highest levels in about a year, and geopolitical uncertainty bleeding into the economy, prospective buyers may not feel motivated to jump into the market.
“New data substantiates this sense of unease as higher borrowing costs weigh on the housing sector. Mortgage applications have waned in recent weeks alongside rising rates, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Pending home sales decreased by 5.4% in June, per the National Association of Realtors.
“Today’s high mortgage rates are a result of the resurgence of the U.S. war in Iran. The Middle East conflict has led to higher oil prices, fueling inflation throughout the economy. Mortgage interest rates, which follow 10-year Treasury yields, are highly sensitive to price changes. The bottom line: mortgage rates will stay high due to the inflationary pressures of the war.”
– Erika Giovanetti, U.S. News Consumer Lending Analyst
Average Mortgage Rates, Daily
Product |
Interest Rate |
APR |
|---|---|---|
|
30 Year Fixed Refinance |
6.85% |
6.856% |
|
20 Year Fixed Refinance |
6.778% |
6.79% |
|
15 Year Fixed Refinance |
5.858% |
5.868% |
|
10 Year Fixed Refinance |
6.029% |
6.05% |
|
5 ARM Refinance |
6.273% |
6.281% |
|
VA 30 Year Fixed Refinance |
5.822% |
6.153% |
|
VA 15 Year Fixed Refinance |
5.508% |
6.054% |
|
FHA 30 Year Fixed Refinance |
5.99% |
6.721% |
|
FHA 15 Year Fixed Refinance |
5.51% |
6.282% |
|
Jumbo 30 Year Fixed Refinance |
6.601% |
6.601% |
Rates data is based on a borrower with good credit, a conforming loan amount (at least $200,000 but less than the national conforming loan amount), and a loan-to-value ratio of less than 80% (For purchase loans, this corresponds to a down payment of 20% or more). © Zillow, Inc., 2006-2016. Use is subject to Terms of Use
When comparing 30-year fixed refinance rates, the slightest difference can have a big impact over the life of the loan. “If your goal is to reduce your monthly payments as much as possible, you will want a loan with the lowest interest rate for the longest term,” says Shelby McDaniels, national director of business development at Chase Home Lending.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends getting preapprovals from at least three different lenders to compare rate quotes. But when shopping for a refinance loan, don’t only look at the interest rate. The annual percentage rate, or APR, incorporates any fees into your total cost and is a better way to do an apples-to-apples comparison.
Your loan estimate will include the loan’s interest rate and APR, as well as other fees and closing costs that may vary from one lender to the next. Check out a sample loan estimate from the CFPB to get a better idea of what to expect while you shop around.
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By refinancing into a 30-year mortgage, you’ll pay off your current mortgage and start over with the new home loan, ideally putting yourself in a better financial situation. Refinancing your mortgage is a similar process to purchasing a home:
- Choose a lender. After comparing quotes, go with the lender that provides the best rate and that you feel most comfortable working with.
- Fill out a lender’s refinance application. You might complete the application online, over the phone or in person, depending on availability. You’ll share your personal contact information, details about your current mortgage and answer questions about your current income. You may be asked to upload or share documents like bank statements, pay stubs and tax returns, and the lender will also check your credit score.
- Get a home appraisal. Once you’re approved, most lenders will require a home appraisal to determine the home’s current value. The amount of equity you have is important in a refinance because, if you don’t have enough, you may not qualify.
- Provide additional documents. During the underwriting process, you may be asked to share additional documents or answer questions about any recent changes in employment or income.
- Close the loan. You’ll receive the documents in advance to review before the closing date. Once signed, your current mortgage payoff will begin to process and your new loan will be issued. If you’re doing a cash-out refinance, you’ll receive your lump sum payment within a few days of closing.
Pros
-
You may be able to lower your monthly payment if you qualify for a lower rate.
-
You have the flexibility to pay extra when you can afford it, or just pay the minimum.
-
You could move into a more favorable type of loan.
Cons
-
Interest rates for 30-year refinances are typically higher compared to shorter-term loans.
-
You’re restarting the clock on a long-term loan.
-
The closing costs are significant.
Refinancing May Be Good For:
- People who have a high interest rate who’ve made recent credit improvements.
- Those who plan to stay in the home for a long time.
- Someone who has an adjustable-rate mortgage and wants to convert to a fixed rate.
- People with an FHA loan who want to stop paying mortgage insurance premiums.
- Divorcing couples or joint owners who want to move the loan into one person’s name.
Refinancing May Not Be Good For:
- People who might move within the next few years.
- Those who only have a few years left on their current mortgage.
- People close to retirement.
- Those with poor credit.
- People who are already paying a lower interest rate than what’s currently available.
The first thing to examine is how long you plan to stay in the home, says Erik Katz, president and founder of Rustic Country Real Estate. “The statistic is that people move around every seven years,” he says. “You’re barely paying down any principal in those first few years and the banks make a killing.”
At the very least, you want to be sure you stay long enough to recoup the closing costs, also known as your break-even point. Your loan officer can help you figure out how long that will take.
Next, think about where you are in your current mortgage timeline. If you have 25 years left on your current mortgage, refinancing into another 30-year mortgage means you’ll be paying off your debt more slowly – which will cost significantly more money over time. If you need to lower your monthly payment, there may be better avenues of relief, such as forbearance or asking for a temporary rate adjustment.
Do you need to draw cash from your equity? If you’re going to pull equity for a second home or some other important expense, a refinance could be a good move for you, says Katz. “But do not treat your house like a credit card,” he warns.
Refinancing a mortgage means you take out a new home loan to pay off your existing mortgage. The process is similar to purchasing a home, but it would ideally have some benefit, such as helping you save money on your monthly mortgage bill.
Mortgage interest rate ranges are based on a variety of economic factors, and every lender’s formula varies. Common influences include the price of mortgage-backed securities, the Federal Reserve’s benchmark rate, inflation, competitors’ rates and other outside economic factors. From there, lenders will consider a borrower’s creditworthiness to determine whether they qualify for the lower or higher end of a rate range.
Shorter terms typically offer lower rates, but your monthly payments will be higher. Longer terms offer lower payments but will cost more to repay over time. Plus, extending your term by refinancing an existing 30-year mortgage into a new one will keep you in debt for longer. If you’re on the fence about which type of loan is better for you, here’s a tip: “You can effectively turn your 30-year into a 15-year mortgage by making bimonthly payments,” says McDaniels, “but you won’t be locked into the terms of a shorter-term mortgage in case you hit a rough patch.”
A fixed-rate mortgage has the same interest rate for the life of the loan, offering stability and a fixed monthly payment. With an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, you’ll get a short period of fixed interest at the beginning of the term, and then the rate will fluctuate for the remainder of the loan. You may get a competitive rate in the beginning of an ARM, but there is more risk involved since payment amounts can change drastically. Many people refinance their ARMs into fixed-rate mortgages to avoid higher monthly payments when the rate adjusts.
