Darryl Linnington

Published On: July 29, 2026
30-Year Fixed
6.65%

15-Year Fixed
5.99%

5/1 ARM APR
6.45%
Source: Bankrate (780 FICO, single-family, primary residence)

Mortgage rates today held the 30-year fixed at 6.65%, unchanged from yesterday’s 6.65%. The 15-year fixed sits at 5.99% and the 5/1 ARM at 6.45%, keeping the 30-year within its 30-day range of 6.41% to 6.68%.

30-Year Fixed Rate Trend

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

6.65%

Flat 0.00% from 6.65%

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

6.65%

Mortgage Rates Today: What’s Trending

Rates held at 6.65% again today, matching yesterday’s print for a second straight day. On a $400,000 loan, that rate locks in a monthly payment of $2,568. Homebuyers are stuck weighing that number against thin summer inventory in their price range.

Mortgage rates today in context

Mortgage rates today sit well below where they stood a year ago, when the 30-year averaged 6.74%. That gap changes the math on a delayed purchase. Even so, two flat days in a row point to a market pausing for its next catalyst.

What to do right now

If you need to close within 30 days, this stretch of flat pricing is your window. Get your rate lock in writing this week. Waiting on a hunch that rates drop further could cost you the stability you have right now.

Rate Outlook
6.65%
30-yr fixed
+0.09
7 days

+0.20
30 days

Market direction
Rising

Rates falling
Rates rising


Compare personalized rates from multiple lenders

Where Mortgage Rates Today Are Headed

The 30-year fixed remains parked at 6.65%, holding for a second straight day. Over the past 30 days, rates ranged from 6.41% to 6.68%. That is a steady climb, with the average rate creeping higher week over week.

Catalysts for mortgage rates today

The 10-year Treasury yield sets the floor for mortgage pricing, and mortgage-backed securities trade at a spread above it. When inflation expectations rise, investors demand more yield to hold those securities. Lenders then pass that cost straight into your quoted rate.

What is most likely from here

A drop this week needs softer inflation data to pull Treasury yields down. An increase is more likely if bond markets keep pricing in sticky inflation, pushing MBS spreads wider. Given the recent climb, lock now rather than float.

Mortgage Rates Today: Rate Comparison

30-Year Fixed
6.65%

15-Year Fixed
5.99%

5/1 ARM APR
6.45%

Lower is better. Rates updated daily from market data.

News Moving Mortgage Rates Today

The Fed holds its federal funds rate at 3.50%–3.75%, and that stance keeps pressure on the 10-year Treasury yield that drives your mortgage quote. Inflation sits at 3.7% year-over-year, with core CPI at 2.8% and core PCE at 3.4%. Unemployment reads 4.2%. Until inflation cools further, the Fed has little reason to cut, and 6.65% reflects that standoff.

What’s moving mortgage rates today

Watch the calendar over the coming weeks. The jobs report lands August 7, and a weak payrolls number would pull yields down fast, while a hot print keeps rates elevated. The Consumer Price Index report for June arrives August 12: a cooler reading revives rate-cut bets, a hot one kills them. The PCE report follows on August 25, and the Fed meets next on July 29. Lock in before any of these prints if your closing falls within that window.

What Mortgage Rates Today Mean for Homebuyers

A $400,000 loan at 6.65% runs $2,568 a month in principal and interest. A year ago the 30-year sat at 6.74%, pricing that same loan at $2,592. That gap works out to $24 more per month, or $286 a year, than today.

Lock or float at mortgage rates today

If your closing is within 45 days, lock now, because mortgage rates today can swing on a single inflation print, and you have little time to absorb a bad surprise. If you have 60+ days, float if you expect softer data to pull rates down before you sign. Ask your lender about a float-down option: it lets you lock now but claim a lower rate if pricing improves before closing, often for a small upfront fee.

Smart shopping moves

Reset your price target around $2,568 on that $400,000 loan, then stress-test it. At 6.90%, a quarter point higher, the payment climbs to $2,634. Shop at least three lenders, since quoted rates on the same day can vary by 0.25% or more. Ask sellers for concessions toward closing costs, and consider a temporary buydown that cuts your rate by a full point in year one, easing the payment while you settle in.

Mortgage Rates Today: Monthly Payment Estimates

Home Price 3% Down 10% Down 20% Down
$300K $1,868 $1,733 $1,541
$400K $2,491 $2,311 $2,054
$500K $3,114 $2,889 $2,568

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

Mortgage Rates Today for First-Time Homebuyers

On a $300,000 home with 5% down, your loan comes to $285,000. At 6.65%, principal and interest run $1,830 a month. Add taxes, insurance and PMI, required below 20% down, and your total housing payment can eat a big share of your budget as a first-time buyer.

First-time buyers and mortgage rates today

FHA loans need just 3.5% down, with credit scores starting at 580. VA and USDA loans go further, offering zero down for eligible veterans and rural buyers. State housing finance agencies often price 0.25% to 0.75% below market and layer on down-payment grants.

How to compete and win

Pre-qualification is a quick estimate based on what you tell a lender. Full underwriting verifies your income, assets and credit before you start touring homes. That verification carries weight when multiple offers land on one house. Even so, the right home at the right price often matters more than waiting for a perfect rate.

Affordability Snapshot

Based on $100K income at 6.65% rate

$331K
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. On a $350,000 loan, the payment at 7.25% runs $2,388 a month. Refinance into a 6.65% mortgage rate today, and that payment falls to $2,247, saving $141 monthly. That adds up to $50,666 in interest saved over the loan’s full term.

Refinancing at mortgage rates today

Meanwhile, closing costs run $3,000 to $6,000 on a refinance. At $141 in monthly savings, a $3,000 cost recovers in about 21 months, and $6,000 in about 43 months. Don’t take the first rate quoted. Lender pricing on the same loan can vary by 0.25% to 0.50%, so shop at least three lenders.

Cash-out versus rate-and-term

Cash-out refinancing to pay off high-interest credit-card debt at 20%+ APR is compelling math. Swapping that debt into a 6.65% mortgage rate cuts the interest cost well below what plastic charges. However, tapping equity for discretionary spending, like a vacation or a car, deserves more caution. If you’re still above 7% on a rate-and-term refinance, now is the time to move.

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Monthly Payment Breakdown

$350K home at 6.65% with 10% down

Principal & Interest:$2,022

Property Tax:$350

Home Insurance:$150

PMI (10% down):$144

Estimated Total Monthly Payment
$2,666

Mortgage Rates Today for Real Estate Investors

Investor loans carry a rate surcharge of 0.50% to 0.75% above primary residences. On a $300,000 rental with 25% down, your loan comes to $225,000. At 7.25%, principal and interest run $1,535 a month.

Investors and mortgage rates today

Higher rates also cut the number of owner-occupant buyers chasing the same listings. Fewer bidding wars give you room to negotiate on price. Focus on gross rent multiplier, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return, not the rate. on the sign.

Alternative financing options

Meanwhile, DSCR loans, underwritten on rental income instead of your tax returns, price between 7.25% and 7.75% today. Fix-and-flip buyers using hard money or bridge loans should expect 10% to 12% for short-term capital. Model the deal at 7.25%, not last year’s numbers, and confirm it still cash flows.

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?

On a $350,000 loan, the 30-year fixed at 6.65% runs $2,247 a month. Drop to the 15-year at 5.99% and the payment jumps to $2,952. That gap buys you a mortgage that’s paid off a decade and a half sooner, with total interest of $458,876 on the 30-year versus $181,289 on the 15-year, a swing of $277,586.

Who the 15-year fits

The 15-year fits borrowers with stable paychecks and thin emergency risk, often later in their careers. If your income is secure and your reserves can absorb a job gap, that higher payment builds equity fast. At 5.99%, the 15-year is a powerful wealth-building tool.

Why most pick the 30-year

For most buyers, the 30-year still wins on flexibility. The lower payment protects your cash flow for repairs, retirement accounts, and bad months. Add one extra principal payment a year and you capture much of the 15-year’s savings anyway. For first-time buyers stretching to qualify, the 30-year is almost always the more prudent choice.

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

30-Year Fixed at 6.65%
$2,247/mo
Total interest: $458,876

15-Year Fixed at 5.99%
$2,952/mo
Total interest: $181,289

15-Year saves you $277,586 in interest

Mortgage Programs & Assistance

At 6.65%, the FHA loan still gives you the lowest entry cost in the market. Put down 3.5% with a credit score of 580 or higher, or 10% if your score sits between 500 and 579. FHA rates typically price 0.2% to 0.3% below conventional loans, since government mortgage insurance cuts the lender’s risk.

VA and USDA advantages

VA and USDA loans go further, and both sit significantly underutilized by eligible borrowers. VA loans require no down payment and no PMI, with rates running 0.25% to 0.50% below conventional pricing. USDA loans offer zero down in eligible rural and suburban areas, a footprint far wider than most homebuyers assume.

State and local programs

State housing finance agencies round out the picture, often pricing 0.25% to 0.75% below market with down-payment assistance layered on top. Income limits frequently reach $120,000 or higher, so don’t assume you’re over the line. Before you decide 6.65% puts a purchase out of reach, spend an hour on your state agency’s website. That hour could save you more than any rate-shopping call you make this week.

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 sit exactly where they did yesterday: 6.65%, unchanged from 6.65%. That flat reading keeps you near the top of the 30-day range, which spans 6.41% to 6.68%. As a result, lock now if you close in 30 to 45 days. Still, float with a float-down if you have 60 days or more, in case rates ease.

Mortgage rates today: your move

Homebuyers should get a formal quote today and model their payments, including taxes and insurance. On a $400,000 loan, that rate pencils out to $2,568 a month in principal and interest. Meanwhile, refinancers above 7% should run a break-even calculation today, weighing costs against savings. Investors need discipline on cap rates and cash flow, not a rate chase.

What to watch next

Watch the August 7 report for the next real catalyst. A hotter-than-expected print would push yields and mortgage rates higher. By contrast, a cooler reading would give the Fed room to ease and rates room to fall. 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 6.65%. 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 5.99%. 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 6.65%, 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 6.65%, 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
6.67%
▼ -0.02%
30 YEAR FIXED
15-Year Fixed
Today's rates starting at
5.96%
▼ -0.05%
15 YEAR FIXED
5/1 ARM
Today's rates starting at
6.32%
5/1 ARM
Home Equity
Today's rates starting at
7.42%
▼ -0.02%
HOME EQUITY
HELOC
Today's rates starting at
7.25%
HELOC
Updated: Aug 13, 2026 · Source: Freddie Mac / FRED
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