Mortgage Interest Rates Today, September 21, 2024 | Why Did Rates Increase?

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• Mortgage rates for September 21, 2024, are around 5.70%, according to Zillow data.
• Rates have increased slightly in recent days, though they remain relatively low.
• Rates are expected to ease throughout the rest of 2024 as the Fed lowers its benchmark rate.

Mortgage rates have inched up, but they remain well below last month's levels. They're expected to trend down throughout the rest of 2024. 

Rates bottomed out earlier this week ahead of the Federal Reserve's announcement that it cut the federal funds rate. But they've increased almost 25 basis points over the last few days, according to Zillow data.

Positive economic data has helped push rates up. On Thursday, the Labor Department reported that jobless claims were lower than expected last week, easing fears that the labor market is heading toward a recession. This sent 10-year Treasury yields higher, with mortgage rates following suit.

The Fed is expected to continue lowering its benchmark rate this year and in 2025, which should help mortgage rates ease. But how much rates go down depends on the size and pace of the Fed's cuts and how the labor market holds up.

What Are Today's Mortgage Rates?

What Are Today's Mortgage Refinance Rates?

Mortgage Calculator

Use our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments.

By plugging in different term lengths and interest rates, you'll see how your monthly payment could change.

Current 30-Year Mortgage Rates

Average 30-year mortgage rates have increased slightly and are hovering around 5.70%, according to Zillow data. Rates have been trending down for several months now, and they averaged around 6.05% in August. 

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the most popular home loan. With this type of mortgage, you'll pay back what you borrowed over 30 years, and your interest rate won't change for the life of the loan.

The lengthy 30-year term allows you to spread out your payments over a long period of time, meaning you can keep your monthly payments lower and more manageable. The trade-off is that you'll have a higher rate than you would with shorter terms, like a 15-year mortgage. 

Current 15-Year Mortgage Rates

Average 15-year mortgage rates inched up toward the end of this week and are around 5%, according to Zillow data. In August, 15-year rates averaged 5.38%, but they've been trending lower so far this month.

If you want the predictability that comes with a fixed rate but are looking to spend less on interest over the life of your loan, a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage might be a good fit for you. Because these terms are shorter and have lower rates than 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, you could potentially save tens of thousands of dollars in interest. However, you'll have a higher monthly payment than you would with a longer term.

Current Mortgage Refinance Rates

Refinance rates have also been lower in September. Last month, 30-year refinance rates averaged 6.59%, while 15-year refinance rates were around 5.90%. But they're substantially lower today.

How Much Do Mortgage Rates Need to Drop to Refinance?

If you're wondering if you should refinance now that mortgage rates have dropped a bit, you'll need to crunch the numbers to see if it makes sense. Some experts advise only refinancing if you can reduce your rate by a percentage point or more, but it really comes down to whether it works for your individual circumstances.

If you can save enough each month by refinancing that you can recoup your costs in a reasonable amount of time, it might be worth it. You can calculate this by dividing your closing costs by the amount you're saving on your monthly mortgage payment. So, if you paid $3,000 to refinance and were able to lower your monthly payment by $200, it would take you 15 months to break even on your refinance. 

5-Year Mortgage Rate Trends

Here's how 30-year and 15-year mortgage rates have trended over the last five years, according to Freddie Mac data.

What Factors Influence Mortgage Rates?

Mortgage rates are determined by a variety of different factors, including larger economic trends, Federal Reserve policy, your state's current mortgage rates, the type of loan you're getting, and your personal financial profile.

While many of these factors are out of your control, you can work on improving your credit score, paying off debt, and saving for a larger down payment to ensure you get the best rate possible. 

How Does the Fed Rate Affect Mortgage Rates?

The Fed increased the federal funds rate dramatically in 2022 and 2023 to try to slow economic growth and get inflation under control. Inflation has since slowed significantly, but it's still a bit above the Fed's 2% target rate.

Mortgage rates aren't directly impacted by changes to the federal funds rate, but they often trend up or down ahead of Fed policy moves. This is because mortgage rates change based on investor demand for mortgage-backed securities, and this demand is often impacted by how investors expect Fed policy to affect the broader economy. 

Fed officials began lowering the federal funds rate at their meeting in September, and they're expected to lower it more at upcoming meetings. This should help mortgage rates trend down in the coming months.

When Will Mortgage Rates Go Down?

Mortgage rates are expected to go down throughout the rest of 2024, and they may continue dropping in 2025.

Mortgage rates started ticking up from historic lows in the second half of 2021 and increased dramatically in 2022 and throughout most of 2023. But now that inflation has decelerated and the Fed is expected to cut rates soon, mortgage rates have trended down. In the last 12 months, the consumer price index rose by 2.5%. This is a significant slowdown compared to when it peaked at 9.1% in 2022.

How much rates go down depends on how the economy evolves. If economic conditions remain stable, mortgage rates may not fall as much. But if the labor market weakens and the Fed has to cut rates more aggressively, we could see rates drop substantially.

Rates are unlikely to drop back down to the historic lows of 2020 and 2021, when 30-year fixed rates fell below 3%. But we could see them settle in close to 5% in the next few years.

Will Home Prices Drop in 2024?

We aren't likely to see home prices drop anytime soon thanks to extremely limited supply. In fact, they'll likely rise this year as mortgage rates drop.

Fannie Mae researchers expect prices to increase 6.1% in 2024, while the Mortgage Bankers Association expects a 4.1% increase in 2024.

Lower mortgage rates will bring more buyers onto the market, putting upward pressure on prices. But prices aren't expected to increase as much as they have in recent years. 

How to Choose a Mortgage

You have a lot of options when it comes to finding the right type of mortgage for you. First, you'll need to decide if you want a fixed-rate mortgage or an adjustable-rate mortgage.

Fixed-rate mortgages lock in your rate for the entire life of your loan. Adjustable-rate mortgages lock in your rate for the first few years, then your rate can go up or down periodically based on market conditions.

Fixed-Rate vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Pros and Cons

How do you choose between a fixed-rate vs. adjustable-rate mortgage?

ARMs often (but not always) start with lower rates than fixed-rate mortgages, but ARM rates change once your fixed-rate introductory period is over. If you plan on moving or refinancing before the rate adjusts, an ARM could be a good deal. But keep in mind that a change in circumstances could prevent you from doing these things, so it's a good idea to think about whether your budget could handle a higher monthly payment.

Fixed-rate mortgages are a good choice for borrowers who want stability, since your monthly principal and interest payments won't change throughout the life of the loan (though your mortgage payment could increase if your taxes or insurance go up).

But in exchange for this stability, you may get a higher rate. This might seem like a bad deal right now, but if rates increase further down the road, you might be glad to have a rate locked in. And if rates trend down, you may be able to refinance to snag a lower rate.

Conventional vs. Government-Backed Mortgages

Conventional mortgages are home loans that aren't backed by a government agency. They're often a good option for borrowers with strong credit scores. Conventional loans allow down payments as low as 3%, though putting at least 20% down will allow you to avoid paying for private mortgage insurance.

The main types of government-backed mortgages are:

• FHA loans: Allow credit scores down to 580 and 3.5% down payments
• VA loans: Require no down payment, but are only available to veterans and military members who meet minimum service requirements
• USDA loans: Also allow 0% down for low-to-middle income borrowers who live in an eligible rural or suburban area

Government-backed mortgages are often a good choice for borrowers with low credit scores, first-time homebuyers, or those who don't have a lot of money saved for a down payment. They also typically have lower mortgage rates compared to conventional loans.

Choosing a Term Length

You'll also need to decide what term length you want. Your mortgage term is how long you have to pay back the loan. Most borrowers get a 30-year term, since it's the longest term available and results in the lowest monthly payment.

Shorter terms, like a 15-year mortgage, can be a good option if you're looking to save money on interest. But because you're paying off the loan in half the amount of time you have with a 30-year mortgage, your monthly payments will be much higher.