Today’s lowest mortgage rate? Try 15-year terms | August 28, 2023
Longer terms have remained unchanged for both mortgage purchase and mortgage refinance rates, giving borrowers the opportunity to lock in lower monthly payments without missing out on any savings
Written by
Editorial assistant
Sarah earned her Bachelor’s degree at Rowan University through the university’s 3+1 program. Born with a love for all things reading and writing, Sarah enjoys crafting anything literary whether it be a single sentence or an entire story.
Updated October 16, 2024, 2:57 AM EDT
- 30-year fixed mortgage rates: 8.125%, unchanged
- 20-year fixed mortgage rates: 8.125%, unchanged
- 15-year fixed mortgage rates: 6.625%, up from 6.375%, +0.250
- 10-year fixed mortgage rates: 6.875%, up from 6.500%, +0.375
Rates last updated on August 28, 2023. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary. Credible, a personal finance marketplace, has 5,000 Trustpilot reviews with an average star rating of 4.7 (out of a possible 5.0).
What this means: Mortgage purchase rates for 20- and 30-year terms have held steady at 8.125% for the past two weeks. Meanwhile, rates for 10-year terms have stayed near the 6% range since the beginning of the month. Additionally, rates for 15-year terms have also stayed in the 6% range, though for the past week and a half. Today, rates for 15-year terms have risen by a quarter of a percentage point to 6.625%. Rates for 10-year terms have also risen, jumping by over a quarter of a percentage point to 6.875%. Homebuyers looking to save the most on interest should consider 15-year terms, as 6.625% is today’s lowest purchase rate. Borrowers who would rather have a smaller monthly payment should instead consider either of today’s longer terms.
- 30-year fixed-rate refinance: 7.125%, unchanged
- 20-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.875%, unchanged
- 15-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.375%, up from 6.250%, +0.125
- 10-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.500%, unchanged
Rates last updated on August 28, 2023. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary. With 5,000 reviews, Credible maintains an "excellent" Trustpilot score.
What this means: Mortgage refinance rates have remained unchanged for the past two weekdays for 20- and 30-year terms. Meanwhile, rates for 10- and 15-year terms have stayed in or near the 6% range since the beginning of the month. Today, rates for 10-year terms have stayed the same, remaining at 6.5%. Meanwhile, rates for 15-year terms have edged up to 6.375%. Borrowers interested in a lower monthly payment should consider 20-year terms, as their rates are a quarter of a percentage point lower than those of 30-year terms. Homeowners who would rather refinance in order to maximize their interest savings should instead consider today’s lowest rate, 15-year terms at 6.375%.
How mortgage rates have changed over time
Today’s mortgage interest rates are well below the highest annual average rate recorded by Freddie Mac — 16.63% in 1981. A year before the COVID-19 pandemic upended economies across the world, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for 2019 was 3.94%. The average rate for 2021 was 2.96%, the lowest annual average in 30 years.
The historic drop in interest rates means homeowners who have mortgages from 2019 and older could potentially realize significant interest savings by refinancing with one of today’s lower interest rates. When considering a mortgage or refinance, it’s important to take into account closing costs such as appraisal, application, origination and attorney’s fees. These factors, in addition to the interest rate and loan amount, all contribute to the cost of a mortgage.
How Credible mortgage rates are calculated
The rates assume a borrower has a 700 credit score and is borrowing a conventional loan for a single-family home that will be their primary residence. The rates also assume no (or very low) discount points and a down payment of 20%.
How to get low mortgage rates
If you want to get the lowest possible monthly mortgage payment, taking the following steps can help you secure a lower rate on your home loan:
- Improving your credit score
- Paying down debt
- Making a bigger down payment
It’s also a good idea to compare rates from different lenders to find the best rate for your financial goals. According to research from Freddie Mac, borrowers can save $1,500 on average over the life of their loan by shopping for just one additional rate quote — and an average of $3,000 by comparing five rate quotes.
If you’re trying to find the right mortgage rate, consider using Credible. You can use Credible's free online tool to easily compare multiple lenders and see prequalified rates in just a few minutes.
Have a finance-related question, but don't know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at [email protected] and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.