Darryl Linnington

Published On: July 24, 2026
30-Year Fixed
6.63%

15-Year Fixed
5.94%

5/1 ARM APR
6.20%
Source: Bankrate (780 FICO, single-family, primary residence)

Mortgage rates today pushed the 30-year fixed up to 6.63%, three basis points above 6.60%. The 15-year fixed sits at 5.94% and the 5/1 ARM at 6.20%, putting today’s 30-year rate at the top of its 30-day range of 6.41% to 6.63%.

30-Year Fixed Rate Trend

Daily 30-year fixed from Optimal Blue (OBMMI) via FRED

6.63%

Up 0.03% from 6.60%

5.75%

6.00%

6.25%

6.50%

6.75%

7.00%

May 25Sep 25Dec 25Apr 26Jul 26
52-Week High

6.92% (May 23, 2025)
52-Week Low

5.90% (Feb 27, 2026)
Current

6.63%

Mortgage Rates Today: What’s Trending

Today’s 6.63% rate has homebuyers doing math on a three basis point jump from yesterday’s 6.60%. On a $400,000 loan, principal and interest now runs $2,563 a month. A three-basis-point move barely changes that payment, though it confirms rates keep drifting higher.

Mortgage rates today in context

A year ago, the 30-year sat at 6.75%. Mortgage rates today still sit inside the same tight band that has defined this summer, without a clean breakout in either direction. Homebuyers weighing a purchase now face a market that looks like the one from a month ago.

What to do right now

If your closing falls within the next two weeks, get your paperwork finalized today rather than waiting on a rate dip that may not come.

Rate Outlook
6.63%
30-yr fixed
+0.04
7 days

+0.18
30 days

Market direction
Rising

Rates falling
Rates rising


Compare personalized rates from multiple lenders

Where Mortgage Rates Today Are Headed

Where Rates Are Headed

Catalysts for mortgage rates today

Mortgage rates today sit at 6.63% on the 30-year fixed, up from yesterday’s 6.60%. That extends a climb from 6.41% a month ago. Rates have climbed in small, steady increments over the past month.

What is most likely from here

The 10-year Treasury yield sets the floor for mortgage pricing, and the spread between it and mortgage-backed securities widens when inflation expectations rise. Investors demand more yield to hold MBS when future price growth looks uncertain. That premium flows straight into your rate quote.

A pullback needs softer inflation data or a flight to safety that pushes Treasury yields down. Absent that, the drift toward 6.70% or higher continues this week. Lock now if you’re within 30 days of closing.

Mortgage Rates Today: Rate Comparison

30-Year Fixed
6.63%

15-Year Fixed
5.94%

5/1 ARM APR
6.20%

Lower is better. Rates updated daily from market data.

News Moving Mortgage Rates Today

The Fed holds its benchmark rate at 3.50%–3.75%, and that stance keeps 10-year Treasury yields elevated. Mortgage rates track those yields closely, which explains why 6.63% has held firm. Inflation remains the key obstacle: core PCE sits at 3.4%, still above the Fed’s comfort zone. Until that cools, expect the central bank to stay put and mortgage rates to stay sticky.

What’s moving mortgage rates today

Watch August 7 for the next jobs report, with unemployment currently at 4.2%. A weak payrolls number would push yields lower and give mortgage rates room to ease. The Consumer Price Index report for June lands August 12, and current CPI sits at 3.7% year-over-year with core CPI at 2.8%. A hotter print revives rate-hike fears and pressures mortgage pricing higher; a cooler one strengthens the case for a rate cut later this year.

What Mortgage Rates Today Mean for Homebuyers

A $400,000 loan at 6.63% runs $2,563 a month in principal and interest. A year ago the 30-year sat at 6.75%, pricing that same loan at $2,594: a gap of $32 more per month, or $382 a year, compared with mortgage rates today.

Lock or float at mortgage rates today

If your closing is within 45 days, lock. A rate this close to last year’s level can slip the other direction fast, and even a quarter-point jump adds real cost to your payment. If you have 60+ days, float if you expect softer inflation data to pull rates down before you close. Ask your lender about a float-down option, which lets you lock now and capture a lower rate later for a fee, often 0.25% to 0.5% of the loan amount.

Smart shopping moves

Recalibrate your price target around $2,563 before you start touring homes, not around last year’s numbers. Then stress-test the budget at 6.88%, where that same loan costs $2,629 a month, so you know your ceiling if rates tick up before closing. Shop at least three lenders, since quotes on a $400,000 loan can vary by hundreds of dollars a month, and ask sellers for concessions or a temporary buydown that can cut your first-year payment by $200 or more.

Mortgage Rates Today: Monthly Payment Estimates

Home Price 3% Down 10% Down 20% Down
$300K $1,864 $1,730 $1,538
$400K $2,486 $2,306 $2,050
$500K $3,107 $2,883 $2,563

Principal and interest only. Does not include taxes, insurance, or PMI.

Mortgage Rates Today for First-Time Homebuyers

A $300,000 home with 5% down means financing $285,000. At 6.63%, your monthly principal and interest runs $1,826. Add taxes, insurance and PMI, and that payment fits comfortably within a $100,000 income, which supports a home price up to about $332,000.

First-time buyers and mortgage rates today

FHA loans require 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher. VA loans offer zero down for eligible veterans and active-duty troops, while USDA covers zero down in eligible rural areas. State housing agencies often price loans 0.25% to 0.75% below market and add down-payment grants.

How to compete and win

Pre-qualification only estimates what you might borrow. A fully underwritten pre-approval verifies your income, assets and credit upfront, giving sellers real confidence in a multiple-offer situation. A well-priced home today can beat waiting on a lower rate.

Affordability Snapshot

Based on $100K income at 6.63% rate

$332K
Max Home Price ($100K income)

Stretched
Affordability

What Mortgage Rates Today Mean for Refinancers

Anyone who purchased between 2022 and early 2024 at rates above 7% has a real opportunity. For example, on a $350,000 balance, dropping from 7.25% to 6.63% cuts your payment from $2,388 to $2,242, a savings of $145 a month. Over the life of that loan, the total savings reach $52,334.

Refinancing at mortgage rates today

Closing costs run $3,000 to $6,000, so the break-even math matters. At $145 a month, a $3,000 bill pays back in about 21 months, and a $6,000 bill takes about 41. Even so, shop aggressively: quotes swing 0.25% to 0.50% between lenders, and that gap alone can decide whether refinancing pays off.

Cash-out versus rate-and-term

That said, cash-out refinancing to erase high-interest credit-card debt is compelling math today. Pulling equity for discretionary spending deserves more caution, since you’re trading unsecured debt for a lien on your house. If you’re still paying above 7%, today’s 6.63% rate makes a straightforward rate-and-term refinance worth pursuing now.

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Monthly Payment Breakdown

$350K home at 6.63% with 10% down

Principal & Interest:$2,018

Property Tax:$350

Home Insurance:$150

PMI (10% down):$144

Estimated Total Monthly Payment
$2,662

Mortgage Rates Today for Real Estate Investors

Investor loans carry a 0.50 to 0.75-point surcharge over the primary rate today. That puts a rental purchase closer to 7.23%. On a $300,000 property with 25% down, your $225,000 loan pays $1,532 a month in principal and interest.

Investors and mortgage rates today

Higher rates cut both ways for you. Rate-sensitive owner-occupants drop out of bidding wars, leaving less competition on entry-level rentals. Run the numbers on gross rent multiplier, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return before you write an offer.

Alternative financing options

DSCR loans, underwritten on rental income rather than your personal tax returns, price around 7.25% to 7.75% right now. Fix-and-flip buyers using hard money or bridge financing should expect 10% to 12% for short-term capital. Model every deal at today’s actual financing cost, not last year’s rate, and only move forward if the math still works.

Quick Tips by Buyer Type

First-Time Buyers
Look into FHA loans with 3.5% down payment
Move-Up Buyers
Consider timing your sale with market conditions
Refinancers
Break-even typically at 0.5-0.75% rate drop
Investors
Factor in higher rates for investment properties

15-Year vs 30-Year: Which Is Right for You?

A $350,000 loan at 6.63% over 30 years runs $2,242 a month. Shrink the term to 15 years at 5.94% and the payment jumps to $2,942. That gap buys you a faster payoff. Total interest tells the real story: $457,208 over 30 years versus $179,590 over 15, a swing of $277,619.

Who the 15-year fits

The 15-year fits borrowers further into their careers with stable paychecks and thin emergency-fund risk. You need room in your budget for that higher payment without strain. For the right household, 5.94% locked in for 15 years is a powerful wealth-building tool.

Why most pick the 30-year

Most buyers still belong in the 30-year. The lower payment protects your cash flow for repairs, retirement accounts, and job changes. Add one extra principal payment a year and you capture much of the 15-year’s interest savings anyway. For first-time buyers stretching their budget to buy, the 30-year is almost always the more prudent choice.

15-Year vs 30-Year on a $350,000 Loan

30-Year Fixed at 6.63%
$2,242/mo
Total interest: $457,208

15-Year Fixed at 5.94%
$2,942/mo
Total interest: $179,590

15-Year saves you $277,619 in interest

Mortgage Programs & Assistance

FHA loans require 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher. With a score between 500 and 579, you’ll need 10% down instead. Still, FHA rates often run 0.2% to 0.3% below conventional loans, since government insurance cuts lender risk.

VA and USDA advantages

VA loans need zero down and skip PMI, with rates 0.25% to 0.50% below conventional financing. In addition, USDA loans require no down payment in eligible rural and suburban areas, covering more of the map than most buyers assume. Both programs sit significantly underutilized, even though qualifying veterans and rural borrowers often skip them.

State and local programs

State housing finance agencies price loans 0.25% to 0.75% below market, plus down-payment assistance grants. Income limits frequently reach $120,000 or higher, opening eligibility to plenty of middle-income households. Even so, spend an hour on your state agency’s website before you rule out buying at 6.63%.

Rate Lock Tips

Rate Lock Period
Most locks last 30-60 days. Longer locks may cost more.
Float Down Option
Some lenders let you lower your rate if markets improve.
Points vs Rate
Paying points upfront can lower your rate by 0.25%.
Best Time to Lock
Lock when you’re comfortable, not waiting for perfection.

Mortgage Rates Today: The Bottom Line

Mortgage rates today climbed 3 basis points, from 6.60% to 6.63%. That’s the very top of the past month’s 6.41% to 6.63% range. As a result, lock now if you’re closing within 30 to 45 days; float with a float-down option if you have 60 days or more before closing.

Mortgage rates today: your move

Homebuyers should request a formal quote today and model payments on a $400,000 loan at $2,563 before you shop. Meanwhile, refinancers above 7% need to run a break-even calculation now, weighing closing costs against the monthly savings this rate offers. Investors should hold the line on cap rates and rent-to-payment ratios instead of chasing a rate move you can’t control.

What to watch next

The next mover to watch lands at PCE inflation report (Jul 28), FOMC rate decision (Jul 29). A cooler reading pulls the 10-year Treasury yield down and opens room for rates to ease; a hotter one keeps this climb going. Stay in contact with your lender and make sure you understand your lock window before any key data releases.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are mortgage rates today for a 30-year fixed?

Mortgage rates today for a 30-year fixed average 6.63%. Rates vary by lender and depend on factors like credit score, down payment, and loan amount.

What are mortgage rates today for a 15-year fixed?

Mortgage rates today for a 15-year fixed average 5.94%. This shorter term typically offers lower rates but higher monthly payments.

Should I lock in mortgage rates today?

Whether to lock in mortgage rates today depends on your timeline and risk tolerance. With 30-year rates at 6.63%, consider locking if you’re closing within 30-60 days and are comfortable with current rates.

How do I get the best mortgage rates today?

To get the best mortgage rates today, compare quotes from at least 3 lenders, lock your rate when you’re comfortable, and improve your credit score before applying. With current 30-year rates at 6.63%, even a 0.25% difference saves thousands over the life of the loan.

Sources & further reading: Optimal Blue (OBMMI) via FRED, the Federal Reserve, and Freddie Mac PMMS.

30-Year Fixed
Today's rates starting at
6.69%
▲ +0.03%
30 YEAR FIXED
15-Year Fixed
Today's rates starting at
6.01%
▼ -0.03%
15 YEAR FIXED
5/1 ARM
Today's rates starting at
6.32%
5/1 ARM
Home Equity
Today's rates starting at
7.44%
▲ +0.03%
HOME EQUITY
HELOC
Today's rates starting at
7.25%
HELOC
Updated: Aug 6, 2026 · Source: Freddie Mac / FRED
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