Mortgage rates today held the 30-year fixed at 6.65%, flat from yesterday. The 15-year fixed sits at 5.95% and the 5/1 ARM at 6.20%, keeping the 30-year within the past month’s range of 6.41% to 6.68%.
Mortgage Rates Today: What’s Trending
Rates held flat at 6.65% today, unchanged from yesterday. On a $400,000 loan, that rate pencils out to $2,568 a month in principal and interest. Buyers closing soon face a straightforward call: lock the 6.65% rate or bet on a pullback.
Mortgage rates today in context
A year ago, the 30-year sat at 6.65%, and that comparison matters for anyone who paused their home search back then. That difference reshapes your qualifying income and monthly budget. Even a modest shift in rate can swing your qualifying income by thousands.
What to do right now
If you’re closing within 30 days, lock now rather than gamble on a short-term drop. Buyers with a longer runway, say 60 to 90 days out, have more room to watch the next few economic reports before deciding.
Where Mortgage Rates Today Are Headed
Mortgage rates today sit at 6.65% on the 30-year fixed, unchanged from yesterday. Over the past 30 days, rates have climbed from a low of 6.41% to a high of 6.68%. That is a steady grind higher across four weeks.
Catalysts for mortgage rates today
The 10-year Treasury yield sets the floor for mortgage pricing, and the spread between that yield and the 30-year fixed has stayed wide by historical standards. Mortgage-backed securities price off that spread. When inflation expectations rise, MBS investors demand more yield, and your rate follows.
What is most likely from here
This week favors a modest increase over a drop. Rates ease only if incoming inflation data surprises to the downside. Barring that, expect the 30-year to hold near 6.65% or drift toward 6.70%.
News Moving Mortgage Rates Today
The Fed holds its benchmark rate at 3.50%–3.75%, and that stance still drives the quotes you see today. Inflation sits at 3.7% year-over-year, with core CPI at 2.8%, both above the central bank’s comfort zone. Unemployment at 4.2% gives policymakers little reason to rush a cut. As a result, Treasury yields stay elevated, and your 30-year quote follows them higher.
What’s moving mortgage rates today
Watch August 7 for the next jobs report and August 12 for the Consumer Price Index report for July. A hotter print on either pushes yields up and your rate with them. A cooler core PCE reading, currently 3.3%, at August 25 would give the Fed room to ease. Mark September 16 on your calendar too: that meeting sets the tone for where 6.65% goes next.
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 6.65% too, so your payment hasn’t budged in twelve months.
Lock or float at mortgage rates today
If your closing falls within 45 days, lock your rate. Rates can swing on a single jobs report or inflation print, and a lock protects your budget from that risk. With 60 or more days until closing, float if you expect data to cool inflation, but ask your lender about a float-down option, which lets you capture a lower rate if the market improves before you close.
Smart shopping moves
Mortgage rates today should reset your price target as much as your monthly budget. Run your numbers at 6.65% and again at the stress-test level of $2,634 to see how a 0.25% move affects affordability. Shop at least three lenders, since pricing on the same loan can vary by thousands over the life of the loan. Ask sellers for concessions to cover closing costs, and consider a temporary buydown that lowers your rate by a full point in year one, easing the payment while you settle into the home.
Mortgage Rates Today for First-Time Homebuyers
On a $300,000 home with 5% down, you finance $285,000. At 6.65%, principal and interest runs $1,830 a month. Add taxes, insurance and PMI, though, and your total payment climbs several hundred dollars higher, stretching a typical entry-level budget.
First-time buyers and mortgage rates today
FHA loans need just 3.5% down and accept credit scores as low as 580. Meanwhile, VA loans offer zero down for eligible veterans. USDA financing does the same in eligible rural areas. State housing finance agencies often beat market rates by 0.25 to 0.75 percentage points and add down-payment grants.
How to compete and win
Pre-qualification estimates what you can borrow from numbers you self-report. Full pre-approval verifies income and assets, giving sellers real confidence in your offer. As a result, that distinction often wins bidding wars over a higher offer backed only by pre-qualification. The right home at the right price often matters more than waiting for a perfect rate.
What Mortgage Rates Today Mean for Refinancers
What This Means for Refinancers
Refinancing at mortgage rates today
Anyone who purchased between 2022 and early 2024 at rates above 7% has a real opportunity right now. On a $350,000 balance, dropping from 7.25% to 6.65% moves your payment from $2,388 to $2,247, a savings of $141 a month. Over the full loan term, that adds up to $50,666 in interest saved.
Cash-out versus rate-and-term
Closing costs typically run $3,000 to $6,000, so run the break-even math before you sign. At $141 a month in savings, a $3,000 bill pays for itself in about 21 months, while $6,000 takes roughly 43 months to recover. Shop at least three lenders: quoted rates can swing 0.25 to 0.50 percentage points for the same borrower profile.
Cash-out refinancing to wipe out high-interest credit card debt still makes strong financial sense at 6.65%. Tapping equity for discretionary spending deserves more caution given closing costs and a higher loan balance. If you are sitting above 7% with a rate-and-term option, this window favors acting now.
Mortgage Rates Today for Real Estate Investors
Investor loans do not track the primary rate. Lenders tack on a surcharge for rental property, pushing your quote to 7.25%. On a $300,000 rental with 25% down, that $225,000 loan runs $1,535 a month in principal and interest.
Investors and mortgage rates today
Here is the upside. Higher rates push rate-sensitive owner-occupants out of the bidding, and you face less competition at the offer table. Run your numbers on gross rent multiplier, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return before you write an offer.
Alternative financing options
Conventional financing is not your only path. DSCR loans, underwritten on the property’s rental income rather than your tax returns, price between 7.25% and 7.75% right now. For a fix-and-flip, hard money and bridge loans run 10% to 12% short-term. Model the deal at these actual rates, and only move forward if the math still works.
Quick Tips by Buyer Type
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. The 15-year fixed at 5.95% runs $2,944. Even so, the shorter term slashes total interest to $179,929, versus $458,876 on the 30-year, a difference of $278,946.
Who the 15-year fits
For example, the 15-year suits homebuyers later in their careers with stable income and solid cash reserves. Dual-income households with room in the budget benefit most from the faster payoff. At 5.95%, that loan turns into a powerful wealth-building tool, building equity fast.
Why most pick the 30-year
That said, the 30-year at 6.65% keeps your payment lower, preserving cash flow for emergencies or investing elsewhere. One extra principal payment a year replicates much of that payoff speed, without a higher required bill. For first-time buyers stretching to afford a home, the 30-year is almost always the more prudent choice.
Mortgage Programs & Assistance
FHA loans open the door at 6.35% to 6.45% today, roughly 0.2 to 0.3 points below that 6.65% conventional rate. You qualify with 3.5% down and a 580 credit score. Scores between 500 and 579 still work, but you need 10% down.
VA and USDA advantages
VA and USDA loans go further. VA borrowers skip the down payment entirely and never pay PMI, with rates running 0.25% to 0.50% below conventional. USDA offers zero-down financing in eligible rural and suburban areas, a footprint wider than most homebuyers assume. Both remain significantly underutilized.
State and local programs
State housing finance agencies add another layer. Many price loans 0.25% to 0.75% below market and pair them with down-payment assistance, often for households earning up to $120,000 or more. Before you write off buying at 6.65%, spend an hour on your state agency’s website.
Rate Lock Tips
Mortgage Rates Today: The Bottom Line
Mortgage rates today are flat: 6.65%, unchanged from 6.65% yesterday, a 0 basis point move. As a result, the 30-year sits 3 basis points below the top of its 6.41% to 6.68% range. Still, lock now if you close within 30 to 45 days: this rate has little room left before it meets resistance.
Mortgage rates today: your move
Homebuyers need a formal quote today; run your budget against a $400,000 loan payment of $2,568 before you keep shopping. Refinancers still above 7% should run a break-even calculation now, since even a partial rate drop can cover the closing costs. Even so, investors should stick to cap rate discipline and pass on deals that only work if rates fall further.
What to watch next
August 7 and August 12 are the next real movers for rates. A cooler reading drags rates lower with the 10-year yield, while a hotter one pushes them back up. Stay in contact with your lender and make sure you understand your lock window before any key data releases.
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 5.95%. 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.
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Sources & further reading: Optimal Blue (OBMMI) via FRED, the Federal Reserve, and Freddie Mac PMMS.
















