Current Mortgage Rates 2026

Track live 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgage rates from the Federal Reserve (FRED). Updated weekly with historical trends and rate forecasts.

What Are Current Mortgage Rates?

Mortgage rates are the interest rates charged by lenders on home loans. They are influenced by the Federal Reserve's federal funds rate, inflation, bond market yields, and overall economic conditions. This tracker displays weekly average rates for 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages sourced directly from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) system, which aggregates data from Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

Understanding Mortgage Rate Types

  • 30-Year Fixed Rate: The most popular mortgage type. Lower monthly payments but more total interest paid over the life of the loan. Best for long-term homeowners and investment property buyers seeking maximum cash flow.
  • 15-Year Fixed Rate: Higher monthly payments but significantly less total interest paid (often 50%+ savings). Typically 0.5%-0.75% lower rate than 30-year. Best for buyers who can afford higher payments and want to build equity faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does this mortgage rate data come from?

All mortgage rate data is sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) system, which publishes Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey. This is the same data source used by major financial news outlets and the Federal Reserve itself.

How often are mortgage rates updated?

Mortgage rates are updated weekly, matching the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey release schedule (typically every Thursday).

What factors affect mortgage rates?

Key factors include the Federal Reserve's monetary policy (federal funds rate), inflation expectations, 10-year Treasury bond yields, housing market demand, and overall economic conditions. Your individual rate also depends on credit score, down payment, loan amount, and property type.