Mortgage rates fell to a new record low this week. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 3 basis points to 3.30 percent, according to Bankrate’s weekly survey of large lenders. That’s the lowest rate ever in our survey, which has been conducted each week for more than 30 years.
A year ago, the 30-year was 3.97 percent. Four weeks ago, the rate was 3.35 percent. The 30-year fixed-rate average for this week is 0.67 percentage points below the 52-week high of 3.97 percent, and is the same as the 52-week low of 3.30 percent.
The 30-year fixed mortgages in this week’s survey had an average total of 0.33 discount and origination points.
Over the past 52 weeks, the 30-year fixed has averaged 3.71 percent. This week’s rate is 0.41 percentage points lower than the 52-week average.
- The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 2.72 percent from 2.67 percent.
- The 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 3.38 percent from 3.40 percent.
- The 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage fell to 3.74 percent from 3.77 percent.
At the current 30-year fixed rate, you’ll pay $437.96 each month for every $100,000 you borrow, down from $439.61 last week.
At the current 15-year fixed rate, you’ll pay $677.20 each month for every $100,000 you borrow, up from $674.82 last week.
At the current 5/1 ARM rate, you’ll pay $442.37 each month for every $100,000 you borrow, down from $443.48 last week.
Results of Bankrate.com’s weekly national survey of large lenders conducted July 29, 2020 and the effect on monthly payments for a $165,000 loan:
| Breakdown | 30-year fixed | 15-year fixed | 5-year ARM |
|---|---|---|---|
| This week’s rate: | 3.30% | 2.72% | 3.38% |
| Change from last week: | -0.03 | +0.05 | -0.02 |
| Monthly payment: | $722.63 | $1,117.37 | $729.92 |
| Change from last week: | -$2.72 | +$3.91 | -$1.82 |
Where mortgage rates are headed
In the week ahead (July 30-Aug. 5), 57 percent of the experts Bankrate polled predict rates will stay the same, while 43 percent of the experts foresee a decline in rates. None expects them to rise.
“The virus spread continues to threaten the pace of economic recovery, keeping a downward influence on rates,” says Greg McBride CFA, chief financial analyst, Bankrate.com.
“Another exciting Fed meeting — if you like watching paint dry. Nothing new to impact mortgage rates short term so we should likely stay in a narrow range of rates moving forward,” said Jeff Lazerson, president of MortgageGrader.
Homebuyers and refinancers welcome cheap rates
Rates are at a record low and are expected to stay this way for months and possibly years to come. You can see the forecast from various experts for the year ahead here.
That means more and more homeowners can refinance to cut their monthly mortgage payments. However, refinancing comes with costs that you must make up if you are to profit from a refi. Bankrate has a calculator to help you decide whether refinancing is a good idea.
Jumbo borrowers, meanwhile, will find they must cast a wide net to find a mortgage, and they will pay a higher interest rate. Some lenders, fearful of risk during the coronavirus recession, have left this market. Refinancing with cash out is shrinking too as lenders are worried people will lose their jobs and be unable to pay, while home values could possibly fall if the recession is prolonged.
Market watchers are waiting for the spread between Treasury yields and mortgage rates to narrow, a development that would create additional downward pressure on rates. But with the Federal Reserve’s commitment to nearly unlimited buying in the mortgage-backed securities market, anyone with good to excellent credit who wants a mortgage this spring should be able to snag a historically low rate, and even borrowers with poor to bad credit will benefit as well with a lower rate than before the Fed intervention.
The Bankrate.com national survey of large lenders is conducted weekly. To conduct the National Average survey, Bankrate obtains rate information from the 10 largest banks and thrifts in 10 large U.S. markets. In the Bankrate.com national survey, our Market Analysis team gathers rates and/or yields on banking deposits, loans and mortgages. We’ve conducted this survey in the same manner for more than 30 years, and because it’s consistently done the way it is, it gives an accurate national apples-to-apples comparison. Our rates may differ from other national surveys, in particular Freddie Mac’s weekly published rates. Each week Freddie Mac surveys lenders on the rates and points based on first-lien prime conventional conforming home purchase mortgages with a loan-to-value of 80 percent. “Lenders surveyed each week are a mix of lender types – thrifts, credit unions, commercial banks and mortgage lending companies – is roughly proportional to the level of mortgage business that each type commands nationwide,” according to Freddie Mac.
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