There's been an ever-so-slight increase in mortgage rates today. After easing the past few days, average mortgage rates across the U.S. rose about 0.01%, though adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) climbed 0.03%. Nonetheless, rates remain near historical lows, so it's still a good time to shop for a new home.
The Federal Reserve's recent increase in its benchmark rate, and subsequent rise in many banks' prime rates, has not had led to the spike in mortgage rates that many expected. The prime rate is what banks charge their most creditworthy customers and, much like the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, is often used to determine ARM rates.
Here are today’s average mortgage rates across the U.S., along with where they stood a month ago.
|
Mortgage Type |
Mortgage Rates Today |
Mortgage Rates 1 month ago |
|---|---|---|
|
30-year fixed jumbo |
4.46% |
4.61% |
|
30-year fixed |
3.94% |
4.11% |
|
15-year fixed |
3.14% |
3.23% |
|
30-year fixed refinance |
3.94% |
4.13% |
|
15-year fixed refinance |
3.17% |
3.24% |
|
5/1 ARM |
3.14% |
3.25% |
|
5/1 ARM refinance |
3.32% |
3.34% |
Data source: Bloomberg. National average rates which may include points.
Rates may have creeped up a notch today, but they are nowhere near what home shoppers faced just 10 years ago. For some perspective, here are a few of the rates as of April, 2007.
|
Mortgage Type |
Mortgage Rates April, 2007 |
|---|---|
|
30-year fixed |
6.18% |
|
15-year fixed |
5.88% |
|
1-year ARM |
5.45% |
|
5/1-year ARM |
5.91% |
Data source: Freddie Mac. Rates do not include points.
Exploring a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or equity loan? No news is good news on the equity front today. HELOC and equity loan rates stayed at 5.23% and 5.31%, respectively. HELOC and home equity loan rates are slightly above March’s respective rates of 5.22% and 5.21%.
