Current Mortgage Interest Rates on July 20, 2022: Rates Go Up
Some principal mortgage rates grew today. The average 15-year fixed and 30-year fixed mortgage rates both inched up. Average rates for 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages also were raised.
Mortgage rates have been rather consistently going up since the start of this year, and are expected to climb throughout 2022.
Of course, interest rates are dynamic and unpredictable — at least on a daily or weekly basis — as they respond to a wide variety of economic factors. At the moment, inflation and the federal funds rate are particularly influential. The Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year and has signaled its intention to hike rates again to try to contain inflation.
That will likely translate into higher mortgage rates and, for prospective borrowers, steeper monthly mortgage payments. As such, homebuyers may have better luck locking in a lower mortgage interest rate sooner than later. It’s always a good idea to interview multiple lenders to compare rates and fees to find the best mortgage for your specific situation.
30-year fixed-rate mortgages
The average interest rate for a standard 30-year fixed mortgage is 5.81%, which is an increase of 12 basis points as seven days ago. (A basis point is equivalent to 0.01%.) Thirty-year fixed mortgages are the most frequently used loan term.
A 30-year fixed rate mortgage will usually have a lower monthly payment than a 15-year one — but often a higher interest rate. You won’t be able to pay off your house as quickly and you’ll pay more interest over time, but a 30-year fixed mortgage is a good option if you’re looking to minimize your monthly payment.
15-year fixed-rate mortgages
The average rate for a 15-year, fixed mortgage is 4.98%, which is an increase of 8 basis points from the same time last week. Compared to a 30-year fixed mortgage, a 15-year fixed mortgage with the same loan value and interest rate will have a higher monthly payment.
But a 15-year loan will usually be the better deal, as long as you’re able to afford the monthly payments. You’ll usually get a lower interest rate, and you’ll pay less interest in total because you’re paying off your mortgage much quicker.
5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages
A 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage has an average rate of 4.26%, a rise of 4 basis points compared to a week ago. With an ARM mortgage, you’ll usually get a lower interest rate than a 30-year fixed mortgage for the first five years.
However, shifts in the market may cause your interest rate to increase after that time, as detailed in the terms of your loan. Because of this, an adjustable-rate mortgage could be a good option if you plan to sell or refinance your house before the rate changes. But if that’s not the case, you might be on the hook for a significantly higher interest rate if the market rates change.
Mortgage rate trends
Though mortgage rates were historically low at the beginning of 2022, they have been climbing somewhat steadily since then.
The Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates by 0.75 percentage points — the highest rate increase since 1994 — in an attempt to curb record-high inflation. As a general rule, when inflation is low, mortgage rates tend to be lower. When inflation is high, rates tend to be higher.
Though the Fed does not directly set mortgage rates, the central bank’s policy actions influence how much you pay to finance your home loan. And the Fed has signaled it will continue to raise rates over the course of this year. So, if you’re looking to buy a house in 2022, expect mortgage rates to generally increase as the year goes on.
We use data collected by Bankrate, which is owned by the same parent company as CNET, to track changes in these daily rates. This table summarizes the average rates offered by lenders nationwide:
Current average mortgage interest rates
30-year fixed rate | 5.81% | 5.69% | +0.12 |
15-year fixed rate | 4.98% | 4.90% | +0.08 |
30-year jumbo mortgage rate | 5.78% | 5.67% | +0.11 |
30-year mortgage refinance rate | 5.74% | 5.68% | +0.06 |
Updated on July 20, 2022.
How to shop for the best mortgage rate
You can get a personalized mortgage rate by reaching out to your local mortgage broker or using an online calculator. When looking into home mortgage rates, take into account your goals and current finances.
Things that affect what the interest rate you might get on your mortgage include: your credit score, down payment, loan-to-value ratio and your debt-to-income ratio. Generally, you want a good credit score, a larger down payment, a lower DTI and a lower LTV to get a lower interest rate. Aside from the mortgage interest rate, other factors including closing costs, fees, discount points and taxes might also impact the cost of your home.
You should shop around with multiple lenders — including credit unions and online lenders in addition to local and national banks — in order to get a mortgage loan that works best for you.
What’s the best loan term?
One important factor to consider when choosing a mortgage is the loan term, or payment schedule. The mortgage terms most commonly offered are 15 years and 30 years, although you can also find 10-, 20- and 40-year mortgages. Mortgages are further divided into fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages.
For fixed-rate mortgages, interest rates are stable for the life of the loan. Unlike a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rates for an adjustable-rate mortgage are only fixed for a certain amount of time (most frequently five, seven or 10 years). After that, the rate changes annually based on the current interest rate in the market.
When choosing between a fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage, you should consider how long you plan to live in your home. Fixed-rate mortgages might be a better fit if you plan on living in a home for a while. While adjustable-rate mortgages might have lower interest rates upfront, fixed-rate mortgages are more stable over time.
However you might get a better deal with an adjustable-rate mortgage if you only plan to keep your home for a couple years.
The best loan term is entirely dependent on your situation and goals, so make sure to consider what’s important to you when choosing a mortgage.