30-Year Refinance Rates Reach 3-Week High at 6.99%

Refinance rates for 30-year loans have experienced an increase, rising by 4 basis points to an average of 6.99% on Wednesday. This marks the highest level since Thanksgiving, with the refi average now 20 basis points higher than it was just one week ago. In September, rates for 30-year refinance loans hit a 19-month low of 6.01%, but later surged more than a percentage point, reaching a peak of 7.13% in mid-November.


Rate movements for other refinance loan types were mixed on Wednesday. The 15-year refi average increased by 2 basis points, while the 20-year average added 6 points. Conversely, the jumbo 30-year refi average decreased by 16 basis points. Here are the National Averages of Lenders’ Best Rates for various Refinance Loan Types:


– 30-Year Fixed: 6.99% (+0.04)


– FHA 30-Year Fixed: 6.29% (No Change)


– VA 30-Year Fixed: 6.24% (+0.06)


– 20-Year Fixed: 6.86% (+0.06)


– 15-Year Fixed: 5.89% (+0.02)


– FHA 15-Year Fixed: 6.09% (No Change)


– 10-Year Fixed: 6.05% (+0.05)


– 7/6 ARM: 7.31% (-0.03)


– 7/6 ARM: 6.96% (-0.03)


– Jumbo 30-Year Fixed: 6.77% (-0.16)


– Jumbo 15-Year Fixed: 6.43% (-0.30)


– Jumbo 7/6 ARM: 7.11% (-0.31)


– Jumbo 5/6 ARM: 7.33% (-0.03)


Provided via the Zillow Mortgage API.


Occasionally, some rate averages may show larger than usual changes from one day to the next. This can occur when certain loan types are less popular among mortgage shoppers, which can result in the average being based on a small sample size of rate quotes.


It’s important to note that the rates we publish won’t directly compare with the teaser rates you might see advertised online. These rates are often cherry-picked as the most attractive and may involve paying points in advance or be based on a hypothetical borrower with an ultra-high credit score or a smaller-than-typical loan. Your final rate will depend on factors such as your credit score, income, and more, so it can vary from the averages presented here.


Since rates can vary significantly across lenders, it’s always advisable to shop around for the best mortgage refinance option and to compare rates regularly, regardless of the type of home loan you are seeking.


To calculate monthly payments for different loan scenarios, you can use our Mortgage Calculator. Your monthly mortgage payment will depend on your home price, down payment, loan term, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and the interest rate on the loan, which is highly dependent on your credit score.


Enter Home Price: $


Enter Down Payment: $


%


Select Loan Term:


– 30 years


– 20 years


– 15 years


– 10 years


Enter APR: A mortgage annual percentage rate (APR) includes the yearly cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage, and is based on the loan interest rate, mortgage points, and other homebuying costs.


Credit score rate estimates are national averages based on a 30-year fixed-rate loan of $300,000. A mortgage annual percentage rate (APR) includes the yearly cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage, and is based on the loan interest rate, mortgage points, and other homebuying costs.


Or Use Credit Score For Estimate%OrYour Credit Score760-850700-759680-699660-679640-659620-639


Property Taxes: Taxes vary by state and range from about 0.30%-2.20% of the assessed property value. Some municipalities also impose these taxes, so they might be higher in one area of a state than in another. Most states have property tax rates below 2%.


Homeowners Insurance: Homeowners insurance rates vary by location and insurer. Mortgage lenders require homebuyers to purchase a policy.


Homeowners Association (HOA) Fees: If the home you buy is in a homeowners or condo association, you will have to pay a monthly fee for things like maintenance and other community amenities. Fees can range between $100-$700 a month.


Monthly Payment: $1,949.63/month for 30 years. Mortgage Size $352,000.00. Mortgage Interest* $211,385.63. Total Mortgage Paid* $563,385.63. *Assuming a fixed interest rate. A variable rate could give you a lower upfront rate. To understand more click here.


What Causes Mortgage Rates to Rise or Fall? Mortgage rates are determined by a complex interaction of macroeconomic and industry factors, such as the level and direction of the bond market, especially 10-year Treasury yields; the Federal Reserve’s current monetary policy, especially as it relates to bond buying and funding government-backed mortgages; and competition between mortgage lenders and across loan types. Because any number of these can cause fluctuations at the same time, it’s generally difficult to attribute any single change to any one factor. Macroeconomic factors kept the mortgage market relatively low for much of 2021. In particular, the Federal Reserve had been buying billions of dollars of bonds in response to the pandemic’s economic pressures. This bond-buying policy is a major influencer of mortgage rates.
In November 2021, the Federal Reserve began tapering its bond purchases, reducing them each month until reaching net zero in March 2022.
Between March 2022 and July 2023, the Fed aggressively raised the federal funds rate to combat high inflation, which indirectly influenced mortgage rates. Despite the fed funds rate and mortgage rates sometimes moving in opposite directions, the rapid and significant rate increases of 2022 and 2023 led to a notable rise in mortgage rates over two years.
The Fed held the federal funds rate at its peak for nearly 14 months, starting in July 2023. However, on September 18, it announced the first rate cut, expected to be the first of many in 2024 and 2025, by 0.50 percentage points.
On November 7, the Fed announced an additional rate cut of 0.25 percentage points, setting the federal funds rate between 4.5% and 4.75%, its lowest since March 2023.
Yesterday, the Fed announced a further rate cut of 0.25 percentage points. However, the policy committee warned that due to persistent inflation, future rate cuts may be less frequent.
Our mortgage rate tracking is provided by the Zillow Mortgage API, assuming an 80% loan-to-value ratio and a credit score between 680–739. These rates reflect what borrowers can expect from lenders based on their qualifications, which may differ from advertised rates.
Zillow, Inc., 2024. Use is subject to the Zillow Terms of Use.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *