Today's Mortgage Rates -- January 14, 2021: Rates Climb Again

Mortgage rates have risen since yesterday but are still attractive. Are you ready to apply for a home loan?

Mortgage rates climbed a bit from yesterday. This is what they look like today:

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

30-year mortgage rates

The average 30-year mortgage rate today is 2.856%, up 0.012% from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $413.88 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 2.630%, up 0.019% from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $536.16 for every $100,000 you borrow. Though your monthly payment will go up by $122.28 with a 20-year, $100,000 loan versus a 30-year loan of the same amount, you'll save $20,316.64 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 2.266%, unchanged from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $655.92 for every $100,000 you borrow. Compared to the 30-year loan, your monthly payment will be $242.04 higher per $100,000 in mortgage principal. Your interest savings, however, will amount to $30,928.91 over the life of your repayment period per $100,000 of mortgage debt.

5/1 ARMs

The average 5/1 ARM rate is 3.355%, up 0.223% from yesterday. A 5/1 ARM gives you the same rate for the first five years of your mortgage, after which that rate adjusts once a year. Now your rate could fall if that's what market conditions call for, but it could also rise. As such, an adjustable-rate mortgage really only makes sense when it offers a lower interest rate than a fixed loan. Since that's not the case today, you're better off with a fixed-rate mortgage.

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 still quite low. 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, and while today's rates are very competitive, 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 apply for a mortgage, reach out to different lenders and see what offers they come back with. But remember, you don't just want to look at interest rates when assessing an offer. Rather, see what closing costs you'll be charged as well. And also, make sure your lender can get your loan closed in a reasonable time frame. It's always a good idea to look at the big picture when deciding which mortgage offer is best for you.