Current Mortgage Rates -- August 5, 2021: Most Rates Drop

Here's what mortgage rates look like today. Should you apply now?

Mortgage rates have mostly dropped from yesterday. Here's what they look like on Aug. 5, 2021:

Data source: The Ascent's national mortgage interest rate tracking.

30-year mortgage rates

The average 30-year mortgage rate today is 3.004%, down 0.003% from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $422.00 for every $100,000 you borrow. That doesn't include added expenses like property taxes and homeowners insurance premiums.

20-year mortgage rates

The average 20-year mortgage rate today is 2.746%, up 0.011% from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $542.00 for every $100,000 you borrow. Though your monthly payment will go up by $120.00 with a 20-year, $100,000 loan versus a 30-year loan of the same amount, you'll save $21,682.00 in interest over the course of your repayment period for every $100,000 you borrow.

15-year mortgage rates

The average 15-year mortgage rate today is 2.259%, down 0.014% from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $655.00 for every $100,000 you borrow. Compared to the 30-year loan, your monthly payment will be $233.00 higher per $100,000 in mortgage principal. Your interest savings, however, will amount to $33,812.00 over the life of your repayment period per $100,000 of mortgage debt.

5/1 ARMs

The average 5/1 ARM rate is 2.861%, down 0.046% from yesterday. If you take out a 5/1 ARM, you're guaranteed the same interest rate for five years, but after that five-year period ends, your rate can climb. While a 5/1 ARM will give you lower monthly payments initially than a 30-year mortgage, over time, you could get stuck paying more for your home, and so a 30-year fixed mortgage could make a lot more sense. Furthermore, if you can swing the higher monthly payments that come with a 20-year loan, you'll actually lock in a lower interest rate from the start that's guaranteed to last.

Should I lock in my mortgage rate now?

A mortgage rate lock guarantees you a specific interest rate for a certain period of time -- usually 30 days, but you may be able to secure your rate for up to 60 days. You'll generally pay a fee to lock in your mortgage rate, but that way, you're protected if rates climb between now and when you close on your home loan.

If you plan to close on your home within the next 30 days, then it pays to lock in your mortgage rate based on today's rates -- especially since they're very attractive, historically speaking. But if your closing is more than 30 days away, you may want to choose a floating rate lock instead for what will usually be a higher fee, but one that could save you money in the long run. A floating rate lock lets you secure a lower rate on your loan if rates fall before you close on your mortgage. While today's rates are extremely low, we don't know if rates will go up or down over the next few months. As such, it pays to:

• LOCK if closing in 7 days
• LOCK if closing in 15 days
• LOCK if closing in 30 days
• FLOAT if closing in 45 days
• FLOAT if closing in 60 days

If you're ready to get a mortgage, get in touch with a few different lenders to see what rates they come back with. And if you're not happy with the rates you're quoted, see if it's possible to boost your credit score and apply again in a few months. The higher your score, the lower an interest rate you're likely to snag, and that could be your ticket to major savings in the course of paying off your home.