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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, June 8, 2025: A sharp turn higher
Mortgage rates are noticeably higher today. According to Zillow, the average 30-year fixed interest rate is up 12 basis points to 6.85%, while the 15-year fixed rate gained a whopping 21 basis points to 6.16%. The Mortgage Bankers Association forecasts 30-year rates to remain mostly unchanged and near 6.7% through September, ending the year close to 6.6%. Only a sudden shock to the nation's economy could change that outlook. If you're looking to buy in 2025, you'll want to work to earn the lowest mortgage rate you deserve. Dig deeper: 6 steps to choosing the right mortgage lender Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo's panel of Realtors using this Google form. Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.85% 20-year fixed: 6.58% 15-year fixed: 6.16% 5/1 ARM: 7.16% 7/1 ARM: 7.23% 30-year VA: 6.42% 15-year VA: 5.86% 5/1 VA: 6.44% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. These are today's mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.89% 20-year fixed: 6.78% 15-year fixed: 6.23% 5/1 ARM: 7.57% 7/1 ARM: 7.68% 30-year VA: 6.51% 15-year VA: 6.28% 5/1 VA: 6.30% 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. Read more: Is now a good time to refinance your mortgage? Use the mortgage calculator below to see how various mortgage terms and interest rates will impact your monthly payments. Our free mortgage calculator also considers factors like property taxes and homeowners insurance when determining your estimated monthly mortgage payment. This gives you a more realistic idea of your total monthly payment than if you just looked at mortgage principal and interest. The average 30-year mortgage rate today is 6.85%. A 30-year term is the most popular type of mortgage because by spreading out your payments over 360 months, your monthly payment is lower than with a shorter-term loan. The average 15-year mortgage rate is 6.16% today. When deciding between a 15-year and a 30-year mortgage, consider your short-term versus long-term goals. A 15-year mortgage comes with a lower interest rate than a 30-year term. This is great in the long run because you'll pay off your loan 15 years sooner, and that's 15 fewer years for interest to accumulate. But the trade-off is that your monthly payment will be higher as you pay off the same amount in half the time. Let's say you get a $300,000 mortgage. With a 30-year term and a 6.85% rate, your monthly payment toward the principal and interest would be about $1,966, and you'd pay $407,680 in interest over the life of your loan — on top of that original $300,000. If you get that same $300,000 mortgage with a 15-year term and a 6.16% rate, your monthly payment would jump to $2,558. But you'd only pay $160,364 in interest over the years. With a fixed-rate mortgage, your rate is locked in for the entire life of your loan. You will get a new rate if you refinance your mortgage, though. An adjustable-rate mortgage keeps your rate the same for a predetermined period of time. Then, the rate will go up or down depending on several factors, such as the economy and the maximum amount your rate can change according to your contract. For example, with a 7/1 ARM, your rate would be locked in for the first seven years, then change every year for the remaining 23 years of your term. Adjustable rates typically start lower than fixed rates, but once the initial rate-lock period ends, it's possible your rate will go up. Lately, though, some fixed rates have been starting lower than adjustable rates. Talk to your lender about its rates before choosing one or the other. Dig deeper: Fixed-rate vs. adjustable-rate mortgages Mortgage lenders typically give the lowest mortgage rates to people with higher down payments, great or excellent credit scores, and low debt-to-income ratios. So, if you want a lower rate, try saving more, improving your credit score, or paying down some debt before you start shopping for homes. Waiting for rates to drop probably isn't the best method to get the lowest mortgage rate right now. If you're ready to buy, focusing on your personal finances is probably the best way to lower your rate. To find the best mortgage lender for your situation, apply for mortgage preapproval with three or four companies. Just be sure to apply to all of them within a short time frame — doing so will give you the most accurate comparisons and have less of an impact on your credit score. When choosing a lender, don't just compare interest rates. Look at the mortgage annual percentage rate (APR) — this factors in the interest rate, any discount points, and fees. The APR, which is also expressed as a percentage, reflects the true annual cost of borrowing money. This is probably the most important number to look at when comparing mortgage lenders. Learn more: Best mortgage lenders for first-time home buyers According to Zillow, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.85%, and the average 15-year mortgage rate is 6.16%. But these are national averages, so the average in your area could be different. Averages are typically higher in expensive parts of the U.S. and lower in less expensive areas. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.85% right now, according to Zillow. However, you might get an even better rate with an excellent credit score, sizable down payment, and low debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Mortgage rates aren't expected to drop drastically in the near future, though they may inch down now and then.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, May 17, 2025: It's a good weekend to lock in your rate
Mortgage rates are down across the board today. They had been steadily inching up, but now they've decreased for two days straight. According to Zillow, today's 30-year fixed mortgage rate has fallen by eight basis points to 6.77%, and the 15-year fixed rate has dropped by 10 basis points to 6.03%. Two consecutive days of declines could make it a good weekend to start shopping for homes and mortgage lenders. You may want to lock in your mortgage rate with a lender — in this type of volatile rate environment, it can be good to lock in a rate to protect yourself from rate increases later. Read more: What determines mortgage rates? It's complicated. Here are the current mortgage rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.77% 20-year fixed: 6.25% 15-year fixed: 6.03% 5/1 ARM: 7.08% 7/1 ARM: 7.40% 30-year VA: 6.31% 15-year VA: 5.64% 5/1 VA: 6.29% Remember, these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth. Learn more: 8 strategies for getting the lowest mortgage rates These are today's mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data: 30-year fixed: 6.97% 20-year fixed: 6.64% 15-year fixed: 6.25% 5/1 ARM: 7.56% 7/1 ARM: 7.51% 30-year VA: 6.47% 15-year VA: 6.17% 5/1 VA: 6.37% 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 the mortgage calculator below to see how today's interest rates would affect your monthly mortgage payments. For a deeper dive, you can use Yahoo's free mortgage calculator to see how homeowners insurance and property taxes factor into 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. 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. 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-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 necessarily reflect this, though — in some cases, 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 First of all, now is a relatively good time to buy a house compared to a couple of years ago. Home prices aren't spiking like they were during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you want or need to buy a house soon, you should feel pretty good about the current housing market. However, mortgage rates are unpredictable right now due to the political and economic climate. Experts don't think rates will plummet in 2025, so you might not want to base your decision on whether to buy on interest rates. The best time to buy is typically whenever it makes sense for your stage of life. Trying to time the real estate market can be as futile as timing the stock market — buy when it's the right time for you. Read more: Which is more important, your home price or mortgage rate? Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo's panel of Realtors using this Google form. According to Zillow, the national average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.77% right now. 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 higher. Overall, mortgage rates are expected to decrease slightly in 2025. However, they probably won't significantly drop anytime soon. Mortgage rates are down today, but they're mostly flat since this time last month. 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.
