Current mortgage and refinance rates for March 16, 2023 | Rates down

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Mar 16, 2023 / 6 min read

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National mortgage rates sunk across all terms from a week ago, according to data compiled by Bankrate. Rates for 30-year fixed, 15-year fixed, 5/1 ARMs and jumbo loans all fell.

Mortgage rates have been on a wild ride of late, with the 30-year fixed now flirting with the once-unthinkable threshold of 7 percent as the Federal Reserve continues to crack down on inflation.

“The speed with which mortgage rates have increased in recent months has been whiplash-inducing and the cumulative effect — from near 3 percent at the beginning of 2021 to near 7 percent now — would’ve seemed laughably unlikely a year ago,” says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate chief financial analyst. “Inflation running at 40-year highs will do that.”

The central bank is expected to raise rates again at its March 22 meeting — but by how much is a toss-up. While Fed officials had been telegraphing an increase of 0.5 percentage point, or 50 basis points, that changed with a sudden banking crisis. Over the March 10 weekend, both Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failed in rapid succession, marking the second- and third-largest bank collapses in U.S. history. Now, it’s possible that the Fed could raise rates by a more modest 0.25 percentage point, or 25 basis points. Mortgage rates tumbled in the aftermath of the bank failures, and it’s possible that a new round of financial uncertainty will be favorable for borrowers.

Average mortgage rates for home purchase
Loan type	Interest rate	A week ago	Change
30-year fixed rate	6.97%	7.13%	-0.16
15-year fixed rate	6.21%	6.34%	-0.13
5/1 ARM rate	5.79%	5.88%	-0.09
30-year fixed jumbo rate	6.96%	7.19%	-0.23

Rates last updated on March 16, 2023.

The rates listed above are averages based on the assumptions indicated here. Actual rates available within the site may vary. This story has been reviewed by Suzanne De Vita. All rate data accurate as of Thursday, March 16th, 2023 at 7:30 a.m.

You can save thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage by getting multiple offers.

"All too often, some homeowners take the path of least resistance when seeking a mortgage, in part because the process of buying a home can be stressful, complicated and time-consuming," says Mark Hamrick, Bankrate senior economic analyst. "But when we’re talking about the potential of saving a lot of money, seeking the best deal on a mortgage has an excellent return on investment. Why leave that money on the table when all it takes is a bit more effort to shop around for the best rate, or lowest cost, on a mortgage?"

Mortgage rates for home purchase

30-year mortgage rate declines, -0.16%

The average rate for the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.97 percent, a decrease of 16 basis points over the last seven days. Last month on the 16th, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was lower, at 6.79 percent.

At the current average rate, you'll pay $663.29 per month in principal and interest for every $100k you borrow. That's a decline of $10.77 from last week.

Use Bankrate’s mortgage rate calculator to calculate your monthly payments and see how much you’ll save by adding extra payments. The tool will also help you calculate how much interest you’ll pay over the life of the loan.

15-year fixed mortgage moves lower,-0.13%

The average 15-year fixed-mortgage rate is 6.21 percent, down 13 basis points over the last seven days.

Monthly payments on a 15-year fixed mortgage at that rate will cost $855 per $100k borrowed. The bigger payment may be a little more difficult to find room for in your monthly budget than a 30-year mortgage payment would, but it comes with some big advantages: You'll save thousands of dollars over the life of the loan in total interest paid and build equity much faster.

5/1 adjustable rate mortgage moves down, -0.09%

The average rate on a 5/1 ARM is 5.79 percent, ticking down 9 basis points over the last week.

Adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs, are home loans that come with a floating interest rate. To put it another way, the interest rate can change periodically throughout the life of the loan, unlike fixed-rate mortgages. These loan types are best for people who expect to sell or refinance before the first or second adjustment. Rates could be considerably higher when the loan first adjusts, and thereafter.

While borrowers shunned ARMs during the pandemic days of super-low rates, this type of loan has made a comeback as mortgage rates have risen.

Monthly payments on a 5/1 ARM at 5.79 percent would cost about $586 for each $100,000 borrowed over the initial five years, but could increase by hundreds of dollars afterward, depending on the loan's terms.

Current jumbo mortgage rate moves down, -0.23%

The average rate for a jumbo mortgage is 6.96 percent, down 23 basis points over the last week. Last month on the 16th, the average rate on a jumbo mortgage was lower, at 6.80 percent.

At the average rate today for a jumbo loan, you'll pay $662.62 per month in principal and interest for every $100,000 you borrow. That's down $15.49 from what it would have been last week.

Rate review: How mortgage interest rates have moved over the past week

30-year fixed mortgage rate: 6.97%, down from 7.13% last week, -0.16
15-year fixed mortgage rate: 6.21%, down from 6.34% last week, -0.13
5/1 ARM mortgage rate: 5.79%, down from 5.88% last week, -0.09
Jumbo mortgage rate: 6.96%, down from 7.19% last week, -0.23

Interested in refinancing? See mortgage refinance rates

Current 30 year mortgage refinance rate dips, --0.19%

The average 30-year fixed-refinance rate is 6.93 percent, down 19 basis points compared with a week ago. A month ago, the average rate on a 30-year fixed refinance was lower, at 6.89 percent.

At the current average rate, you'll pay $660.61 per month in principal and interest for every $100,000 you borrow. That's lower by $12.77 than it would have been last week.

Mortgage rate trends: Where rates are headed

The days of sub-3 percent mortgage interest on the 30-year fixed are behind us, and rates have so far risen beyond 7 percent in 2022.

"Low interest rates were the medicine for economic recovery following the financial crisis, but it was a slow recovery so rates never went up very far," says McBride. "The rebound in the economy, and especially inflation, in the late pandemic stages has been very pronounced, and we now have a backdrop of mortgage rates rising at the fastest pace in decades."

Comparing mortgage terms

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the most popular loan for homeowners. This mortgage has a number of advantages. Among them:

Lower monthly payment: Compared to a shorter term, such as 15 years, the 30-year mortgage offers lower payments spread over time.
Stability: With a 30-year mortgage, you lock in a consistent principal and interest payment. Because of the predictability, you can plan your housing expenses for the long term. Remember: Your monthly housing payment can change if your homeowners insurance and property taxes go up or, less likely, down.
Buying power: With lower payments, you can qualify for a larger loan amount and a more expensive home.
Flexibility: Lower monthly payments can free up some of your monthly budget for other goals, like saving for emergencies, retirement, college tuition or home repairs and maintenance.
Strategic use of debt: Some argue that Americans focus too much on paying down their mortgages rather than adding to their retirement accounts. A 30-year fixed mortgage with a smaller monthly payment can allow you to save more for retirement.

That said, shorter-term loans have gained popularity as rates have been historically low. Although they have higher monthly payments compared to 30-year mortgages, there are some big benefits if you can afford the upfront costs. Shorter-term loans can help you achieve:

Greatly reduced interest costs: Because you pay off the loan faster, you’ll be able to pay less interest overall.
Lower interest rate: On top of less time for that interest to compound, most lenders price shorter-term mortgages with lower rates.
Build equity faster: The faster you pay off your mortgage, the faster you’ll own value in your home outright. That’s especially handy if you want to borrow against your property to fund other spending.
Debt-free sooner: A shorter-term mortgage means you’ll own your house free and clear sooner than you would with a longer-term loan.

Where to get the best rates

Mortgage rates can vary largely based on overarching market forces, the loan amount, your location, your financial situation and how eager mortgage lenders are to get your business. Keep in mind that the rates we quote are market averages -- some people will be quoted higher or lower or that exact rate, and the rate may change daily even at the same lender.

It’s valuable when you’re looking for a loan to shop around and compare all the terms of your offers, not just the interest rate you’re being quoted. Your best rate and terms may be from an online lender, the bank down the street or perhaps through a mortgage broker. You won’t know unless you shop multiple lenders through multiple channels.

Bankrate is a great place to start, because you can take advantage of our mortgage rate comparison tool and stay up to date on current rates. If you’re not happy with the results there, you should check with the institution where you do your banking, and other small lenders like credit unions or local banks.