Mortgage rates improved today, depending on the lender and the time of day! Underlying bond markets were only modestly stronger in the morning. As such, the average lender only offered modest improvements over yesterday's rates at first. But as the day progressed, market volatility favored bonds. Once bonds improved enough, many lenders ended up offering positive reprices. Even then, most lenders don't tend to drop rates enough to fully reflect friendly market movements such as today's. That means tomorrow's rates could be even better if the underlying bond market can merely manage to hold steady by tomorrow morning.
Today's Most Prevalent Rates
- 30YR FIXED - 3.875%
- FHA/VA - 3.625%
- 15 YEAR FIXED - 3.5-3.625%
- 5 YEAR ARMS - 3.375-3.75% depending on the lender
Ongoing Lock/Float Considerations
- Early 2019 saw a rapid reevaluation of big-picture trends in rates and in markets in general
- The Federal Reserve has been a key player, and while they aren't the ones pulling the global economic strings, their response (and even their EXPECTED response) to the economy has helped rates fall more quickly than they otherwise might.
- Based on the Fed's laundry list of concerns, the bond market (which determines rates) will be watching economic data closely, both at home and abroad, as well as trade-related concerns. The stronger the data and trade relations, the more rates could rise, while weaker data and trade wars will lead to new long-term lows.
- Rates discussed refer to the most frequently-quoted, conforming, conventional 30yr fixed rate for top tier borrowers among average to well-priced lenders. The rates generally assume little-to-no origination or discount except as noted when applicable. Rates appearing on this page are "effective rates" that take day-to-day changes in upfront costs into consideration.