Today’s Average Mortgage Rates
Updated weekly from official Freddie Mac survey data. These are national averages — your actual rate depends on your credit score, down payment, loan type, and lender.
Average rates as of October 22, 2026 (Freddie Mac PMMS)
National averages. Your rate depends on credit score, down payment, and loan type. Updated weekly.
What Today’s Mortgage Rates Mean for You
Buying a home? At rates near 7%+, every eighth of a point matters. Compare at least three lenders, ask about discount points and temporary buydowns, and check what you can actually afford before falling in love with a listing — run your numbers in our free mortgage calculator.
Thinking about refinancing? Most homeowners holding sub-6% rates should sit tight. Refinancing can still make sense if your current rate is 8%+, your ARM is about to reset, or you’re removing PMI.
Already own? A low existing rate is one of your best financial assets — guard it. Price home-equity borrowing honestly before trading it away.
Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed?
Mortgage rates track the 10-year Treasury yield, which moves with inflation expectations, economic data, and government borrowing. Most forecasters expect rates to stay elevated relative to the ultra-low 2020–2021 era, drifting down only gradually. Plan around today’s rates rather than hoping for yesterday’s.
How We Track Rates
This page is updated every week from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) database, which republishes Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey — the industry-standard weekly survey of conventional conforming mortgage rates, released each Thursday.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this page updated?
Every week, after Freddie Mac releases its Thursday survey. The date shown above the rates box tells you exactly which survey you’re looking at.
Why is the rate I was quoted different?
National averages blend thousands of lenders. Your quote reflects your credit tier, down payment, loan program, and local market — shopping multiple lenders is the single best way to beat the average.
Is it a good time to buy?
That depends on your payment, not the headline rate. If the monthly payment fits your budget with room to spare, buying now and refinancing later if rates fall is a legitimate strategy. Verify with our mortgage calculator first.