Current Mortgage Interest Rates on Feb. 26, 2024: Important Mortgage Rate Recedes
Written by
Katherine Watt
Staff writer
Katherine Watt is a CNET Money writer focusing on mortgages, home equity and banking. She previously wrote about personal finance for NextAdvisor. Based in New York, Katherine graduated summa cum laude from Colgate University with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.
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Marc is senior editor at CNET Money, overseeing such topics as banking and home equity. He’s been a writer and editor in the financial field for more than two decades, including for such media organizations as The Kiplinger Washington Editors, U.S. News & World Report, Bankrate and Dow Jones. Before joining CNET Money, Wojno was Senior Editor of Finance for ZDNet, writing on blockchain, cryptocurrency, finserv, investing and taxes. Outside the digital world, Marc can be found spinning vinyl, threading reel-to-reel tapes, shooting film with his Bolex and hosting an occasional pub quiz.
Laura Michelle Davis
Editor
Laura is a professional nitpicker and good-humored troubleshooter with over 10 years of experience in print and digital publishing. Before becoming an editor with CNET, she worked as an English teacher, Spanish medical interpreter, copy editor and proofreader. She is a fearless but flexible defender of both grammar and weightlifting, and firmly believes that technology should serve the people. Her first computer was a Macintosh Plus.
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Melissa Cohn
Expert Reviewer
Melissa Cohn has been in the mortgage industry for over 35 years. She began her career with CitiMortgage before launching her own mortgage company, The Manhattan Mortgage Company, in 1985. As one of the very first independent mortgage brokers, Cohn exponentially grew her business into the #1 residential mortgage broker on the East Coast with more than $5 billion in annual volume. In 2020, she joined William Raveis Mortgage, where she is currently a top originator in the company. Her insights are regularly featured in the press — including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Bloomberg.
Updated Feb. 24, 2024
4 min read
Written, edited and reviewed by
Katherine Watt
+ 3 others
Written by
Katherine Watt
Staff writer
Katherine Watt is a CNET Money writer focusing on mortgages, home equity and banking. She previously wrote about personal finance for NextAdvisor. Based in New York, Katherine graduated summa cum laude from Colgate University with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.
Edited by
Marc is senior editor at CNET Money, overseeing such topics as banking and home equity. He’s been a writer and editor in the financial field for more than two decades, including for such media organizations as The Kiplinger Washington Editors, U.S. News & World Report, Bankrate and Dow Jones. Before joining CNET Money, Wojno was Senior Editor of Finance for ZDNet, writing on blockchain, cryptocurrency, finserv, investing and taxes. Outside the digital world, Marc can be found spinning vinyl, threading reel-to-reel tapes, shooting film with his Bolex and hosting an occasional pub quiz.
Laura Michelle Davis
Editor
Laura is a professional nitpicker and good-humored troubleshooter with over 10 years of experience in print and digital publishing. Before becoming an editor with CNET, she worked as an English teacher, Spanish medical interpreter, copy editor and proofreader. She is a fearless but flexible defender of both grammar and weightlifting, and firmly believes that technology should serve the people. Her first computer was a Macintosh Plus.
Reviewed by
Melissa Cohn
Expert Reviewer
Melissa Cohn has been in the mortgage industry for over 35 years. She began her career with CitiMortgage before launching her own mortgage company, The Manhattan Mortgage Company, in 1985. As one of the very first independent mortgage brokers, Cohn exponentially grew her business into the #1 residential mortgage broker on the East Coast with more than $5 billion in annual volume. In 2020, she joined William Raveis Mortgage, where she is currently a top originator in the company. Her insights are regularly featured in the press — including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and Bloomberg.
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Average mortgage rates have climbed back into the 7% range after a dramatic fall of over 1% toward the end of 2023.
The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 7.13% this week, according to data from CNET sister site Bankrate. That’s an increase of two basis points (or 0.02%) from the week prior.
The recent uptick in rates has put a lid on demand for mortgages ahead of the spring homebuying season. Mortgage applications fell 10.6% from last week, according to a weekly survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Mortgage rates are determined by an array of economic conditions as well as specific factors like your credit score and loan type. They can also vary widely by lender. Because of this, it’s important to compare loan offers from multiple lenders and choose the offer with the best rate and fees for you.
Read more: Mortgage Predictions: How Jobs Data Could Impact Mortgage Rates in 2024
Today’s mortgage interest rate trends
Toward the end of 2023, mortgage rates saw their first significant decline in months after cooler inflation and labor data sent yields on the 10-year Treasury (the key benchmark for 30-year fixed mortgage rates) lower.
But mortgage rates are volatile, and they kicked off February by doing the opposite of what we saw in the fall. Recent economic data, specifically strong labor and inflation reports, now have market watchers betting against interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve this March. Unless next month’s economic reports show a sharp downturn in inflation or an increase in unemployment, it’s unlikely we’ll see the Fed make its first rate cut until early summer.
While experts still predict mortgage rates to ease throughout the year, how much will continue to depend on economic data and the timing of the Fed’s interest rate cuts. Though the Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, adjustments to the federal funds rate influence consumer borrowing rates, including for home loans.
“If all goes well, by the time 2025 comes around, we could see mortgage rates closer to 6%, or maybe even lower,” said Jacob Channel, senior economist at online lending marketplace LendingTree.
Current mortgage and refinance rates
What are today’s mortgage rates?
As of Feb. 23, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 7.32% with an annual percentage rate of 7.34%. The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.73% with an APR of 6.76%. And the average 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage is 6.17% with an APR of 7.33%, according to Bankrate’s latest survey of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders.
Current mortgage rates
| Product | Interest rate | APR |
|---|---|---|
| 30-year fixed-rate | 7.30% | 7.32% |
| 30-year fixed-rate FHA | 6.38% | 7.06% |
| 30-year fixed-rate VA | 6.68% | 6.79% |
| 30-year fixed-rate jumbo | 7.33% | 7.35% |
| 20-year fixed-rate | 7.17% | 7.20% |
| 15-year fixed-rate | 6.73% | 6.76% |
| 15-year fixed-rate jumbo | 6.76% | 6.77% |
| 5/1 ARM | 6.17% | 7.33% |
| 5/1 ARM jumbo | 5.96% | 7.03% |
| 7/1 ARM | 6.41% | 7.29% |
| 7/1 ARM jumbo | 6.11% | 6.95% |
| 10/1 ARM | 7.21% | 7.87% |
| 30-year fixed-rate refinance | 7.23% | 7.25% |
| 30-year fixed-rate FHA refinance | 6.48% | 7.18% |
| 30-year fixed-rate VA refinance | 6.69% | 6.89% |
| 30-year fixed-rate jumbo refinance | 7.24% | 7.26% |
| 20-year fixed-rate refinance | 7.12% | 7.15% |
| 15-year fixed-rate refinance | 6.81% | 6.84% |
| 15-year fixed-rate jumbo refinance | 6.83% | 6.85% |
| 5/1 ARM refinance | 6.10% | 7.20% |
| 5/1 ARM jumbo refinance | 6.00% | 7.00% |
| 7/1 ARM refinance | 6.33% | 7.20% |
| 7/1 ARM jumbo refinance | 6.09% | 6.93% |
| 10/1 ARM refinance | 7.22% | 7.87% |
Updated on February 26, 2024.
We use information collected by Bankrate, which is owned by the same parent company as CNET, to track daily mortgage rate trends. The above table summarizes the average rates offered by lenders across the country.
What is a mortgage rate?
Your mortgage rate is the percentage of interest a lender charges for providing the loan you need to buy a home. Multiple factors determine the rate you’re offered. Some are specific to you and your financial situation, and others are influenced by macro market conditions, such as inflation, the Fed’s monetary policy and the overall demand for loans.
What factors determine my mortgage rate?
While the broader economy plays a key role in mortgage rates, some key factors under your control affect your rate:
- Your credit score: Lenders offer the lowest available rates to borrowers with excellent credit scores of 740 and above. Because lower credit scores are deemed riskier, lenders charge higher interest rates to compensate.
- The size of your loan: The size of your loan can impact the interest rate you qualify for.
- The loan term: The most common mortgage is a 30-year fixed-rate loan, which spreads your payments over three decades. Shorter loans, such as 15-year mortgages, typically have lower rates but larger monthly payments.
- The loan type: The type of mortgage you choose impacts your interest rate. Some loans have a fixed rate for the entire life of the loan. Others have an adjustable rate that have lower rates at the start of the loan but could result in higher payments down the road.
What’s an annual percentage rate for mortgages?
The annual percentage rate, or APR, is usually higher than your loan’s interest rate and represents the true cost of your loan. It includes the interest rate and other costs such as lender fees or prepaid points. So, while you might be tempted with an offer for “interest rates as low as 6.5%,” look at the APR instead to see how much you’re really paying.
Pros and cons of getting a mortgage
Pros
-
You’ll build equity in the property instead of paying rent with no ownership stake.
-
You’ll build your credit by making on-time payments.
-
You’ll be able to deduct the interest on the mortgage on your annual tax bill.
Cons
-
You’ll take on a sizable chunk of debt.
-
You’ll pay more than the list price — potentially a lot more over the course of a 30-year loan — due to interest charges.
-
You’ll have to budget for closing costs to close the mortgage, which add up to tens of thousands of dollars in some states.
How does the APR affect principal and interest?
Most mortgage loans are based on an amortization schedule: You’ll pay the same amount each month for the life of the loan, but the generated interest will be highest at the beginning and will taper as the principal (the amount you borrowed) decreases. Your amortization schedule will show how much of your monthly payment goes to interest and how much pays down the principal. Most borrowers find a fixed, predictable monthly payment more convenient.
Mortgage lenders often publish their rates for different mortgage types, which can help you research and narrow down where you’ll apply for preapproval. But an advertised rate isn’t always the rate you’ll get. When shopping for a new mortgage, it’s important to compare not just mortgage rates but also closing costs and any other fees associated with the loan. Experts recommend shopping around and reaching out to multiple lenders for quotes and not rushing the process.
FAQs
Most conventional loans require a credit score of 620 or higher, but Federal Housing Administration and other loan types may accommodate borrowers with scores as low as 500, depending on the lender.
Your credit score isn’t the only factor that impacts your mortgage rate. Lenders will also look at your debt-to-income ratio to assess your level of risk based on the other debts you’re paying back such as student loans, car payments and credit cards. Additionally, your loan-to-value ratio plays a key role in your mortgage rate.
A rate lock means your interest rate won’t change between the offer and the time you close on the house. For example, if you lock in a rate at 6.5% today and your lender’s rates climb to 7.25% over the next 30 days, you’ll get the lower rate. A common rate-lock period is 45 days, so you’re still on a tight timeline. Be sure to ask lenders about rate lock windows and the cost to secure your rate.
Mortgage rates are always changing, and it’s impossible to predict the market. However, most experts think mortgage rates will gradually decline over the course of 2024. Fannie Mae predicts the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage will end the year at 5.8%.
Written by
Katherine Watt
Staff writer
Katherine Watt is a CNET Money writer focusing on mortgages, home equity and banking. She previously wrote about personal finance for NextAdvisor. Based in New York, Katherine graduated summa cum laude from Colgate University with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.
