Mortgages & Rates
Mortgage rate movements, refinancing, loan types, rate locks, lender comparisons, and how interest rates affect housing affordability.
Latest in Mortgages & Rates
Should you tap your home equity right now? Here’s how to decide without regret
A homeowner who bought a modest three-bedroom in 2019 might open a mortgage statement today and see something startling: six figures of equity that did...
30-year fixed mortgage drops to 6.30% — Fannie Mae revises year-end forecast upward to 6.1%
Spring homebuyers caught a small break this week: the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.30%, its second consecutive weekly decline and...
30-year mortgage drops to 6.30%, lowest in 4 weeks — Fannie Mae forecasts under 6% by year-end
Mortgage rates fell for the second straight week, with the average 30-year fixed rate dropping to 6.30% for the week ending April 16, 2026, according...
The states where property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees make ownership most expensive in 2026
A homeowner in suburban New Jersey can easily spend $9,500 a year in property taxes, $2,400 on insurance, and $4,200 in HOA dues before making...
Trump’s $200B Fannie/Freddie mortgage-bond order — did it actually lower rates?
On January 8, President Trump posted a blunt promise on social media: he was directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in...
30-year mortgage drops to 6.12% — lowest in 4 weeks on Iran-ceasefire bond rally
A homebuyer borrowing $400,000 this week will pay about $85 less per month than one who locked in just two weeks ago. The reason traces...
2.6M U.S. homeowners now pay $500+ per month in HOA fees; condos in major metros push $350–$700/month
A homeowner in a mid-rise condo outside Miami might pay $650 a month in association fees. A retiree in a Chicago high-rise could owe $475....
New Fannie/Freddie loan-level buydown disclosures take effect April 20
For the first time, investors buying mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac will be able to see exactly which loans in a pool...
30-year fixed mortgage averages 6.15%, down 7 bps week-over-week
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.15% this spring, dropping 7 basis points from the prior week and hitting its lowest...
30-year mortgage rate holds near 6.5% as buyers stay cautious
Spring is supposed to be when the housing market comes alive. This year, it has barely flinched. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has spent...
30-year mortgage rate slips to 6.37% as inflation jump risks reversal
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.37% this week, snapping a five-week streak of increases that had rattled the spring housing...
Key income and debt ratios to gauge the house price you can afford
A $90,000 salary sounds like solid footing for a home purchase, until you realize that the same income can qualify you for a $340,000 house...
How to buy a home with a credit score under 620: the minimum lenders actually accept
Imagine a borrower with a 570 credit score, steady income, and enough savings for a down payment. On paper, at least two federal mortgage programs...
30-year mortgage rates just dipped below 6% for the first time in 3 years: how to refinance
Mortgage borrowers finally received a piece of news they have been waiting years to hear. After staying stubbornly high throughout 2023 and much of 2024,...
Home equity lenders with the lowest rates and fees in 2026 ranked
Home equity lending remains a strategic financing tool for savvy homeowners looking to tap the value of their property without selling. With mortgage rates still...
Mistakes that get mortgage applications denied even with a good credit score
A high credit score is a great start, but it doesn’t guarantee mortgage approval. Lenders evaluate far more than a three-digit number when deciding whether...
Pay off your mortgage early or invest the extra payments: which builds more wealth?
Homeowners with extra cash often face an important fork in the road: should they pay off their mortgage early or invest the money instead? Both...
PMI costs homeowners $100 to $200 per month: 3 ways to eliminate it
Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, quietly adds $100 to $200 to the average homeowner’s monthly payment, according to data from Freddie Mac and the Consumer...