What Is America
Actually Paying?
These are national average mortgage rates from independent third-party sources. Not our rates. Not best-case scenarios. Not advertisements. Just the real numbers — so you can benchmark any quote you receive against what the rest of the country is paying.
This gauge shows whether national average rates are trending better or worse today compared to this morning's open. Green = rates improving nationally. Red = rates getting worse. Updates throughout the trading day (8 AM – 5 PM ET).
A widely trusted daily benchmark used by lenders and financial media to track national mortgage rate trends. Based on actual lender rate sheets — not advertisements.
| Product | Current | 1 Day | 1 Week | 1 Month | 52-Wk Range |
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30-Day Rate Lock History
Daily changes in national average rates over the past month.
| Date | 30 Yr Fixed | 15 Yr Fixed | 30 Yr FHA | 30 Yr Jumbo | ARM | 30 Yr VA |
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Calculated from actual rate locks — real borrowers locking real rates with real lenders. Covers roughly 35% of all U.S. mortgage transactions. The most accurate picture of what people are actually committing to.
Rate Trends — Where Are National Averages Heading?
The benchmark survey cited in nearly every news headline about mortgage rates. Published weekly — smooths out daily volatility to show the broader trend.
Weekly industry averages from the MBA's application survey. Smooths out daily volatility and shows broader rate trends across the entire lending industry.
IMPORTANT — Your Rate ≠ The Average Rate ≠ Advertised Rate
Asking "What's the rate?" is like asking "How much does a house cost?" Averages give us perspective, but just like home prices, your mortgage rate is always unique to you.
Did you know? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have over 250 risk-based pricing adjustments—making online quotes guessing tools at best. Always get an official Loan Estimate from the lender.
What Do These Numbers Mean?
These Are National Averages
Every rate on this page is a national average or index from a third-party source. They include borrowers who bought their rate down, borrowers with credit challenges, and everything in between. Your individual rate will be different.
"Advertised" ≠ "Actual"
Rates advertised by online lenders are often best-case scenarios — perfect credit, 25% down, buying points. The MND and OBMMI indices are closer to what real borrowers actually receive.
Trend Matters More Than Today
Don't fixate on one day's number. The 30-day trend tells you whether rates are improving or worsening. A rate that's been dropping for two weeks is a very different situation than one that's been climbing.
Use This as Your Benchmark
If a lender quotes you a rate, compare it to these national averages. If their quote is significantly above average, ask why. If it's below, make sure you understand the points and fees involved.
Your Rate Will Be
Different Than These
National averages are a benchmark — not a quote. Your rate depends on your credit, down payment, loan type, and property. The only way to know your actual rate is to have someone pull your specific scenario.
Understand What Drives Rates
Free resources from federal agencies and industry data providers.
Fed Policy Rate
The Federal Reserve's current target rate and what it means for borrowers.
federalreserve.gov →30-Year Rate History
50+ years of mortgage rate data. See where today fits in the big picture.
FRED / St. Louis Fed →OBMMI Rate Indices
Detailed daily rate indices by loan type, credit score, and LTV.
optimalblue.com →Conforming Rate Index
Daily 30-year conforming rate from actual locked loans.
FRED / Optimal Blue →VA Rate Index
Daily 30-year VA rate from real VA loan locks nationwide.
FRED / Optimal Blue →FHA Rate Index
Daily 30-year FHA rate from real FHA loan locks nationwide.
FRED / Optimal Blue →