Darryl Linnington

Published On: August 10, 2026
30-Year Fixed
6.69%

15-Year Fixed
6.01%

5/1 ARM APR
6.25%
Source: Bankrate (780 FICO, single-family, primary residence)

Mortgage rates today held the 30-year fixed at 6.69%, flat against yesterday’s 6.69%. The 15-year fixed sits at 6.01% and the 5/1 ARM at 6.25%, with the 30-year still within the past month’s range of 6.41% to 6.72%.

30-Year Fixed Rate Trend

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

6.69%

Flat 0.00% from 6.69%

5.75%

6.00%

6.25%

6.50%

6.75%

7.00%

May 25Sep 25Jan 26Apr 26Aug 26
52-Week High

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

5.90% (Feb 27, 2026)
Current

6.69%

Mortgage Rates Today: What’s Trending

Rates held flat at 6.69% today, unchanged from yesterday’s print. On a $400,000 loan, that rate pencils out to $2,578 a month in principal and interest. Homebuyers are weighing whether to buy now or wait out the summer for a better print, and that math is the whole debate.

Mortgage rates today in context

A year ago, the 30-year sat at 6.60%. That gap changes what a given budget can afford, even before you factor in home prices. Mortgage rates today look calmer than the swings earlier this year, but the 30-year is still holding near the top of its recent range.

What to do right now

If you’re closing within 30 days, lock now and stop watching the daily print. Waiting for a dip costs you certainty without guaranteeing savings. Set your budget off today’s 6.69% and move.

Rate Outlook
6.69%
30-yr fixed
+0.07
7 days

+0.19
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 sat at 6.41% a month ago. It has climbed to 6.69% today, matching yesterday’s read and holding at the top of the range. That path looks like a steady climb over the past month.

Catalysts for mortgage rates today

Mortgage-backed securities drive day-to-day pricing here. When bond investors demand a wider spread over the 10-year Treasury yield, lenders reprice loans higher to match. Inflation expectations feed that spread: sticky price pressure keeps investors cautious, and caution costs you basis points.

What is most likely from here

Mortgage rates today point toward more of the same unless data breaks the pattern. A cooler inflation print would pull yields down and drag rates with them. A hot reading does the opposite, pushing the 30-year fixed past 6.72% and toward new highs for the range.

Mortgage Rates Today: Rate Comparison

30-Year Fixed
6.69%

15-Year Fixed
6.01%

5/1 ARM APR
6.25%

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 pressure on the 10-year Treasury yield mortgage rates track. Inflation sits at 3.7% annually, with core CPI at 2.8%. Core PCE, the Fed’s preferred gauge, runs at 3.3%. Unemployment at 4.1% gives policymakers little urgency to cut, and that patience is what’s nudging your 30-year quote toward 6.69% this week.

What’s moving mortgage rates today

Watch September 4 for the next jobs report and August 12 for the Consumer Price Index report for July. A hotter jobs number or a CPI print above expectations would push yields higher and drag mortgage rates up with them. A cooler reading on either would revive rate-cut bets and could pull your quote back down. The Fed’s next meeting lands September 16, and until then, lenders are pricing off every data point in between.

What Mortgage Rates Today Mean for Homebuyers

A $400,000 loan at 6.69% runs $2,578 a month in principal and interest. A year ago the 30-year sat at 6.60%, pricing that same loan at $2,555, so today’s payment is $24 less per month, or $286 a year. That gap changes what you can offer on a house right now.

Lock or float at mortgage rates today

If your closing falls within 45 days, lock your rate. Purchase contracts rarely survive a rate spike, and a float-down option lets you capture a lower rate later without walking away from your lock. With 60 or more days until closing, floating can make sense if you expect softer inflation data to pull rates down before you sign.

Smart shopping moves

Rerun your budget at 6.69% before you keep shopping. Then stress-test it at $2,645, the payment if rates climb another 0.25%, so a small move doesn’t blow up your approval. Get quotes from at least three lenders since pricing spreads of a quarter point are common. Ask sellers for concessions toward a temporary buydown, which can shave your first-year payment by hundreds of dollars while you wait for mortgage rates today to ease.

Mortgage Rates Today: Monthly Payment Estimates

Home Price 3% Down 10% Down 20% Down
$300K $1,876 $1,740 $1,547
$400K $2,501 $2,321 $2,063
$500K $3,126 $2,901 $2,578

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

Mortgage Rates Today for First-Time Homebuyers

Put 5% down on a $300,000 house and your loan comes to $285,000. At 6.69%, principal and interest run $1,837 a month. As a result, once you add taxes, insurance, and private mortgage insurance, your total housing payment totals close to $2,700, a stretch on a typical income.

First-time buyers and mortgage rates today

FHA loans require just 3.5% down with a credit score of 580 or higher. In addition, veterans qualify for zero-down VA loans, and rural buyers can tap USDA financing with no down payment required. Meanwhile, state housing finance agencies often shave 0.25% to 0.75% off market rates and add down-payment grants on top.

How to compete and win

Pre-qualification takes minutes and relies on your word alone. A fully underwritten pre-approval, by contrast, verifies your income, assets, and credit before a lender issues a letter. Sellers weigh a verified pre-approval far more heavily in a multiple-offer situation. The right home at the right price often matters more than waiting for a perfect rate.

Affordability Snapshot

Based on $100K income at 6.69% rate

$330K
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. Refinancing a $350,000 balance from 7.25% to 6.69% cuts your payment from $2,388 to $2,256. That is a savings of $131 a month, which adds up to $47,327 in saved interest over the loan’s life.

Refinancing at mortgage rates today

Closing costs run $3,000 to $6,000, so the break-even period matters. At $131 a month, the low end recovers in about 23 months, the high end in about 46 months. Shop lenders hard: quotes on mortgage rates today can vary by 0.25% to 0.50%, which changes that math fast.

Cash-out versus rate-and-term

Cash-out refinancing to erase high-interest credit-card debt is compelling math when those cards charge 20% or more. Pulling equity for discretionary spending deserves more caution. If your rate sits above 7%, moving to 6.69% now is the straightforward call.

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Monthly Payment Breakdown

$350K home at 6.69% with 10% down

Principal & Interest:$2,031

Property Tax:$350

Home Insurance:$150

PMI (10% down):$144

Estimated Total Monthly Payment
$2,675

Mortgage Rates Today for Real Estate Investors

Investor loans carry a 0.50% to 0.75% surcharge over primary rates. Your quote runs roughly 7.29% on a rental purchase. On a $300,000 property with 25% down, your $225,000 loan runs $1,541 a month in principal and interest.

Investors and mortgage rates today

Higher rates thin out rate-sensitive owner-occupant competition, though. That leaves less competition for you at the open house. Run the numbers instead: gross rent multiplier, cap rate, cash-on-cash return.

Alternative financing options

DSCR loans, underwritten on rental income rather than your tax returns, price around 7.25% to 7.75% right now. For fix-and-flip projects, hard money and bridge loans run 10% to 12% short-term. Model your financing at today’s actual rate and confirm the deal still cash flows before you sign.

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 6.69% on a 30-year term runs $2,256 a month. Shift to a 15-year at 6.01% and that payment climbs to $2,955. The 30-year loan costs $462,215 in interest before it’s paid off; the 15-year version costs just $181,970. Even so, shortening the term saves you $280,244 in interest.

Who the 15-year fits

The 15-year fits borrowers further along in their careers. Stable income and a solid emergency fund matter more than the higher payment. For these homeowners, 6.01% locks in a powerful wealth-building tool: every dollar builds equity instead of interest.

Why most pick the 30-year

Most buyers still need the 30-year’s breathing room. The lower payment protects cash flow for repairs, retirement accounts, and daily life. On top of that, one extra principal payment a year captures much of the 15-year’s payoff speed. For someone stretching to afford a first home, the 30-year is almost always the more prudent choice.

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

30-Year Fixed at 6.69%
$2,256/mo
Total interest: $462,215

15-Year Fixed at 6.01%
$2,955/mo
Total interest: $181,970

15-Year saves you $280,244 in interest

Mortgage Programs & Assistance

FHA loans still open doors at 6.69%. Put down just 3.5% with a credit score of 580 or higher, or 10% if your score falls between 500 and 579. Government insurance lowers lender risk, so FHA rates often run 0.2% to 0.3% below conventional pricing.

VA and USDA advantages

VA and USDA loans sit even lower, yet both remain badly underused. VA loans require zero down and no PMI, with rates typically 0.25% to 0.50% below conventional. USDA loans offer zero-down financing across more suburban and rural zip codes than most buyers assume.

State and local programs

State housing finance agencies add another layer of savings. Many offer rates 0.25% to 0.75% below market, plus down-payment assistance, with income limits often reaching $120,000 or higher. Before you rule out buying at 6.69%, spend an hour on your state agency’s website.

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

Today’s 30-year rate held at 6.69%, flat versus 6.69%, zero basis points of movement. As a result, you’re near the top of the 30-day range, just 3 basis points under the 6.72% high. In short, lock within 30 to 45 days of closing, or float with a float-down past 60 days.

Mortgage rates today: your move

Homebuyers should get a formal quote today and model payments using $2,578 on a $400,000 loan as your baseline. In addition, refinancers above 7% should run a break-even calculation now, before mortgage rates today drift any lower. Investors should stick to cap rates and rent coverage, not rate bets.

What to watch next

CPI inflation report (Aug 12) brings the next major data release, and it will set the tone for where rates head next. A hotter reading pushes rates toward 6.72% or beyond; a cooler one opens the door toward 6.41%. 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 6.69%. 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 6.01%. 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 6.69%, 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 6.69%, 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.

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