Mortgage rates slide: Ways to take advantage of the lowest rates so far this year
Mortgage rates are at their lowest levels of the year. These tips can help you maximize the drop.
4 min read
Aug 07, 2025
Jeff Ostrowski
Writer and Housing Market Analyst
EXPERTISE
- Mortgages
- Mortgage refinancing
- Mortgage rate trends
- Housing market
- Real estate
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Master of Arts, University of Illinois at Springfield
- Continuing coursework, including NMLS Mortgage Loan Originator education and MLO SAFE Test
About the author
Jeff Ostrowski has closely covered two nationwide housing booms and one devastating bust. Before joining Bankrate in 2020, he spent more than 20 years writing about real estate, business, the economy and politics. He previously worked as a reporter at the Palm Beach Post and the South Florida Business Journal.
Since 2019, Jeff has served on the board of the nonprofit National Association of Real Estate Editors. He twice has won gold awards in the group’s journalism contest. His Bankrate coverage of housing affordability was also honored with a Best in Business award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.
When he’s not working, Jeff enjoys surfing, biking and traveling, usually with a surfboard or bike.
Jeff is the author of How to Buy a Home in a Miserable Market, available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.
Jeff beyond Bankrate
Jeff wants you to know
When you’re applying for a mortgage, shop around and do your homework — informed borrowers can save thousands of dollars over the life of their loan. Don’t fixate on finding the absolute perfect option, though, or timing your loan to a low point for mortgage rates. If you’re borrowing now, mortgage rates could go down in the future. Avoid worrying about all those things that are both out of your control and impossible to predict.
Jeff's latest articles
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Common reasons why mortgage applications get denied
It might surprise you to know who decides your home loan, and how.
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What the Fed’s continued rate pause means for homebuyers and sellers
The Fed has again hit the pause button on rates. How will it affect the housing market?
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When are home prices going to fall — and how far?
U.S. home prices have been rising for 24 straight months — when will it end?
4 min read Jul 24, 2025 -
Is the housing market going to crash? Here’s what the experts say
The housing market keeps defying expectations. But experts agree that a crash is not imminent.
7 min read Jul 24, 2025 -
Survey: A growing number of Americans are reluctant to sell their homes — even if mortgage rates drop
More than half of U.S. homeowners say there’s no mortgage rate that would make them comfortable with selling their home this year.
5 min read Jul 14, 2025 -
A new type of credit score bursts onto the mortgage scene
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can now use a new credit-score metric, VantageScore 4.0.
2 min read Jul 11, 2025 -
‘Your phone is blowing up’: Congress moves to limit mortgage trigger leads
Submitting a mortgage application can lead some consumers to receive harassing phone calls from lenders — but new legislation may reign them in.
3 min read Jul 10, 2025
