Looking for today’s lowest mortgage rates? Consider 15-year terms | September 8, 2023
Mortgage purchase rates for 15-, 20-, and 30-year terms have either remained unchanged or have fallen, giving borrowers the opportunity to lock in their preferred rate from yesterday 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: 8.000%, unchanged
- 20-year fixed mortgage rates: 7.875%, down from 8.000%, -0.125
- 15-year fixed mortgage rates: 6.375%, down from 6.625%, -0.250
- 10-year fixed mortgage rates: 6.750%, up from 6.500%, +0.250
Rates last updated on September 8, 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 have had a handful of new patterns emerge. Rates for 30-year terms have remained unchanged at 8% and 15-year terms have stayed in the 6% range for the past three days. Meanwhile, rates for 10-year terms have remained in the 6% range for over four weeks. Today, rates for 20-year terms have edged down to 7.875%. Rates for 15-year terms have also fallen, dropping by a quarter of a percentage point to 6.375%. Meanwhile, rates for 10-year terms have increased by a quarter of a percentage point to 6.75%. Homebuyers looking for a smaller monthly payment should consider 20-year terms, as their rates are lower than those of 30-year terms. Borrowers who would rather maximize their interest savings should instead consider 15-year terms, as 6.375% is today’s lowest purchase rate.
- 30-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.990%, down from 7.125%, -0.135
- 20-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.875%, down from 7.125%, -0.250
- 15-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.250%, down from 6.500%, -0.250
- 10-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.625%, down from 6.750%, -0.125
Rates last updated on September 8, 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 returned to the 6% range. While longer terms saw a small bump yesterday, rates for 10- and 15-year terms have remained in the 6% range for the past four weeks. Today, rates for 10- and 30-year terms have edged down, hitting 6.625% and 6.99%, respectively. Meanwhile, rates for 15- and 20-year terms have fallen by a quarter of a percentage point, reaching 6.25% and 6.875%, respectively. Borrowers interested in saving the most on interest should consider 15-year terms, as 6.25% is today’s lowest refinance rate. Homeowners who would rather have a lower monthly payment should instead consider 20-year terms, as 6.875% is the lowest rate between the two longer terms.
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 do I get a mortgage?
When you’re ready to buy a home, you should lock down your mortgage options before you begin house hunting. Having your financing lined up can make the process go smoother, and give you a leg up on other buyers who’ve not yet been prequalified or pre-approved for a mortgage.
Here are the general steps to getting a mortgage:
- Get a handle on your finances and credit. Add up your total monthly expenses and subtract them from your total monthly income to see how much you may be able to spend on a monthly mortgage payment. Check your credit score and report to correct any errors and take action if you need to improve your credit score.
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Although pre-approval doesn’t guarantee the lender will give you a mortgage, it’s a strong indication you’ll be able to qualify for one when the time comes. Having a pre-approval letter can make your offer more attractive to potential sellers.
- Comparison shop. Once you’ve had an offer accepted on the house of your dreams, it’s time to compare rates from multiple mortgage lenders. Be sure to compare all the costs of a mortgage, not just the interest rate.
- Complete the full application. You’ll need to provide detailed information about your income, savings, monthly expenses, and overall financial situation.
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.