Sometimes no news is good news, and that's the case with today's mortgage rates. After easing the past few days, average mortgage rates across the U.S. stayed the course today. With rates near historical lows, more of the same translates to great news if you're looking for a new home.
The Federal Reserve's recent increase in its benchmark rate, and the subsequent rise in many banks' prime rate, sparked fears that mortgage rates would rise. But this has not come to pass. Many adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are tied to the prime rate, which is what banks charge their most creditworthy customers, but even those loans stayed the course.
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 |
4.47% |
4.60% |
|
30-year fixed |
3.93% |
4.09% |
|
15-year fixed |
3.13% |
3.21% |
|
30-year fixed refinance |
3.93% |
4.11% |
|
15-year fixed refinance |
3.15% |
3.23% |
|
5/1 ARM |
3.13% |
3.25% |
|
5/1 ARM refinance |
3.29% |
3.34% |
Data source: Bloomberg. National average rates which may include points.
Not that home shoppers can complain about today's low rates, but believe it or not, those in the market for a mortgage last year enjoyed even more attractive rates. For some perspective, here's where a few of the rates were sitting as of April, 2016.
|
Mortgage Type |
Mortgage Rates March, 2012 |
|---|---|
|
30-year fixed |
3.61% |
|
15-year fixed |
2.87% |
|
5/1-year ARM |
2.83% |
Data source: Freddie Mac. Rates do not include points.
For homeowners in search of a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or equity loan, both rates bucked the trend today by inching up a bit. HELOC and equity loan rates are now at 5.23% and 5.31%, respectively. HELOC and home equity loan rates are slightly above March's respective rates of 5.22% and 5.26%.
