Refinancing? Look to 15-, 10-year rates for savings | June 21, 2022
While 30- and 20-year rates settle at 6%, a cash-out refinance can still be a cheaper way to get cash compared to a credit card or personal loan
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Chris Jennings is an authority on mortgages and personal finance. His work has been featured by Fox Business, MSN, AOL, and Yahoo Finance.
Updated October 16, 2024, 2:55 AM EDT
- 30-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.000%, up from 5.990%, +0.010
- 20-year fixed-rate refinance: 6.000%, down from 6.125%, -0.125
- 15-year fixed-rate refinance: 5.250%, up from 5.000%, +0.250
- 10-year fixed-rate refinance: 5.250%, unchanged
Rates last updated on June 21, 2022. These rates are based on the assumptions shown here. Actual rates may vary.
What this means: With both 30- and 20-year mortgage refinance rates sitting at 6%, homeowners thinking of refinancing may want to consider shorter repayment terms. At 5.250%, both 15-year and 10-year rates will deliver lower interest costs over the life of a loan. But homeowners who want a longer repayment term still stand to save with 30- and 20-year rates, which are still lower than rates for other home improvement financing options like a credit card or personal loan.
WHAT IS CASH-OUT REFINANCING AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
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.
How to get your lowest mortgage refinance rate
If you’re interested in refinancing your mortgage, improving your credit score and paying down any other debt could secure you a lower rate. It’s also a good idea to compare rates from different lenders if you're hoping to refinance, so you can find the best rate for your situation.
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, according to research from Freddie Mac.
Be sure to shop around and compare current mortgage rates from multiple mortgage lenders if you decide to refinance your mortgage. You can do this easily with Credible’s free online tool and see your prequalified rates in only three minutes.
How does Credible calculate refinance rates?
The rates assume a borrower has a 740 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%.
Think it might be the right time to refinance? Be sure to shop around and compare rates with multiple mortgage lenders. You can do this easily with Credible and see your prequalified rates in only three minutes.
How to find the best refinance rate
Some factors that affect the refinance rate you’ll get are out of your control. But you can take several steps to ensure you secure the best refinance rate available to you. Here are some to consider.
Save for closing costs
In addition to saving for a down payment, it’s also a good idea to save up for closing costs, which — according to Freddie Mac — can average $5,000.
Polish your credit
Just as when you bought your home, your credit score and history affect your refinance rate, so it’s a good idea to make sure your credit is in the best possible shape.
Check your credit report for any errors, such as incorrect information or duplicated accounts. Pay off as much other debt as you can to improve your debt-to-income ratio. And pay down credit card balances to reduce your credit utilization.
Comparison shop
Just as you would compare quotes from multiple vendors for an expensive home repair, you should look at loans and mortgage interest rates from multiple lenders. In fact, getting five rate quotes could save you $3,000 over the life of your mortgage, according to a Freddie Mac survey.
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.
As a Credible authority on mortgages and personal finance, Chris Jennings has covered topics that include mortgage loans, mortgage refinancing, and more. He’s been an editor and editorial assistant in the online personal finance space for four years. His work has been featured by MSN, AOL, Yahoo Finance, and more.