Average Mortgage Rates Still Historically Low

Average mortgage rates moved slightly higher, following U.S. Treasury Yields higher. Average 30 year mortgage rates today increased to 4.34 percent, up from last week's average 30 year rate of 4.29 percent. The six basis point increase continues the uptrend for mortgage rates this past month.

Although mortgage rates are moving higher, the increases in rates hasn't warranted all the hubbub about rates increasing. In fact, mortgage rates are not much higher than they were a year ago.

On March 6th, 2017, the average 30 year mortgage rate was 4.21 percent, only 13 basis points below the current level. Going back to August 2016, average 30 year rates were at 3.44 percent, only 90 basis points below the current level.

Loan Type

Purchase Refinance with Cash out Refinance

State

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

FICO Score

Superior (780-850) Exceptional (760-779) Excellent (740-759) Very Good (720-739) Good (700-719) Above Average (680-699) Average (660-679) Fair (640-659) Need Improvement (620-639) Poor (350-620)

Loan Amount

$

Points

Up to 0 points Up to 0.5 points Up to 1 points Up to 1.5 points Up to 2 points Up to 2.5 points Up to 3 points

LTV

%

Loan Term

 15-Year Fixed  20-Year Fixed  30-Year Fixed  5-Year ARM  7-Year ARM  10-Year ARM

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The lenders whose rates and other terms appear on this chart are ICB's advertising partners. They provide their rate information to our data partner RateUpdate.com. Unless adjusted by the consumer, advertisers are sorted by APR from lowest to highest. For any advertising partners that do not provide their rate they are listed in advertisement display units at the bottom of the chart. Advertising partners may not pay to improve the frequency priority or prominence of their display. The interest rates, annual percentage rates and other terms advertised here are estimates provided by those advertising partners based on the information you entered above and do not bind. Any lender Monthly payment amounts stated do not include amounts for taxes and insurance premiums. The actual payment obligation will be greater if taxes and insurance are included. Although our data partner RateUpdate.com collects the information from the financial institutions themselves, the accuracy of the data cannot be guaranteed. Rates may change without notice and can change intraday. Some of the information contained in the rate tables including but not limited to special marketing notes is provided directly by the lenders. Please verify the rates and offers before applying for a loan with the financial institution themselves. No rate is binding until locked by a lender.

Lender

APR / Rate

Fees / Points

Payment

NMLS #1835285

5.478%

15-Year Fixed

5.250%

$6,000

Includes 1.000 points for $4,000

Lender Fees: $2,000

$3,216 /mo

Next >

NMLS #401822

5.642%

15-Year Fixed

5.375%

$7,000

Includes 0.750 points for $3,000

Lender Fees: $4,000

$3,242 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1025894

5.667%

15-Year Fixed

5.490%

$4,612

Includes 0.978 points for $3,912

Lender Fees: $700

$3,267 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2059741

5.751%

15-Year Fixed

5.625%

$3,272

Includes 0.818 points for $3,272

Lender Fees: $0

$3,295 /mo

Next >

NMLS #6606

5.890%

15-Year Fixed

5.740%

$3,876

Includes 0.969 points for $3,876

Lender Fees: $0

$3,320 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1835285

6.368%

30-Year Fixed

6.250%

$5,000

Includes 0.750 points for $3,000

Lender Fees: $2,000

$2,463 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1835285

6.377%

5-Year ARM

6.250%

$5,368

Includes 0.842 points for $3,368

Lender Fees: $2,000

$2,463 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2059741

6.583%

30-Year Fixed

6.490%

$3,896

Includes 0.974 points for $3,896

Lender Fees: $0

$2,526 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1025894

6.713%

30-Year Fixed

6.625%

$3,656

Includes 0.739 points for $2,956

Lender Fees: $700

$2,562 /mo

Next >

NMLS #401822

6.770%

30-Year Fixed

6.625%

$5,995

Includes 1.000 points for $4,000

Lender Fees: $1,995

$2,562 /mo

Next >

NMLS #6606

6.834%

30-Year Fixed

6.740%

$3,888

Includes 0.972 points for $3,888

Lender Fees: $0

$2,592 /mo

Next >

NMLS #3030

6.909%

15-Year Fixed

6.750%

$4,000

Includes 1.000 points for $4,000

Lender Fees: $0

$3,540 /mo

Next >

NMLS #3030

7.602%

30-Year Fixed

7.500%

$4,000

Includes 1.000 points for $4,000

Lender Fees: $0

$2,797 /mo

Next >

Rate data provided by RateUpdate.com. Displayed by ICB, a division of Mortgage Research Center, NMLS #1907, Equal Housing Opportunity. Payments do not include taxes and insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Rate and product details.

The all-time low for 30 year average mortgage rates was at 3.35 percent in December 2012. Today's average mortgage rate is only 99 basis points above the all-time low set over five years ago.

For years now, we have heard mortgage rates are moving higher and will continue to move higher. While that is technically true, the increases have been a lot lower than even the experts anticipated.

Forecasts for Average Mortgage Rates Have Been Wrong

A year ago, The Mortgage Bankers Association forecast 30 year rates to be at 4.80 percent by the 1st quarter of 2018, 46 basis points higher than the current rate. In the same forecast, the MBA had 30 year rates to be at 5.20 percent by the end of 2018.

In the most recent MBA forecast released last month, the 1st quarter 2018 forecast for average 30 year rates is at 4.4 percent. By the 4th quarter, the MBA forecasts average 30 year rates to be at 4.90 percent. When you compare the reports you can see the MBA has been lowering their forecasts.

The MBA has been lowering their forecasts for several years now. Looking back at a report from March 2014, 30 year rates were forecast to hit 5.00 percent by the end of 2014. As you know, we still haven't seen 5.00 percent rates on 30 year loans. You can see a list of mortgage rate forecasts going back to 2014 on the MBA's website: Mortgage Finance Forecasts.

To be fair to the MBA, the Federal Reserve's own economic forecasts have been wrong. The Fed's own economic forecasts have been too high and have subsequently been lowered. You can see a list of the Fed's forecasts by looking back at the FOMC Meeting Calendar.