Some good news today: The slow but steady increase in mortgage rates many expected following the Federal Reserve's recent 0.25% bump in its benchmark rate has failed to materialize. After an across-the-board bump in rates yesterday, mortgages stayed the course on Thursday. In fact, the shorter-term rates actually eased a touch.
Homebuyers are still enjoying what are relatively inexpensive mortgage loans. Even adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), which are often tied to the recently increased prime rate -- what banks charge their most creditworthy customers -- held steady.
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 |
4.54% |
4.48% |
|
30-year fixed |
4.01% |
3.99% |
|
15-year fixed |
3.18% |
3.13% |
|
30-year fixed refi |
4.02% |
4.01% |
|
15-year fixed refi |
3.19% |
3.18% |
|
5/1 ARM |
3.20% |
3.15% |
|
5/1 ARM refi |
3.30% |
3.32% |
Data source: Bloomberg. National average rates which may include points.
Mortgage rates are undeniably attractive, but compared to last year, today's rates almost seem expensive. For some perspective, here are the average rates from a year ago:
|
Mortgage Type |
Mortgage Rates (National Average) March, 20016 |
|---|---|
|
30-year fixed |
3.69% |
|
15-year fixed |
2.97% |
|
5/1 year ARM |
2.90% |
Data source: Freddie Mac. Rates do not include points.
For homeowners looking into a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or equity loan, both rates inched up today. HELOC and equity loan rates are 5.20% and 5.29%, respectively. HELOC rates are still below last month's 5.26%, but home equity loans are above February's 5.26%.
