Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Aug 15
30-Year Mortgage Rate Falls 11 Basis Points to 6.54% as 15-Year Drops to 5.86%
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Aug 15

30-Year Mortgage Rate Falls 11 Basis Points to 6.54% as 15-Year Drops to 5.86%

2 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance · Aug 15

Summary

  • Zillow’s national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell 11 basis points to 6.54% on Aug. 15, while the 15-year fixed dropped 21 basis points to 5.86%.
  • The decline extended across key products heading into the weekend, with the 5/1 ARM easing 1 basis point to 6.24%; 20-year fixed loans averaged 6.31%.
  • Refinance rates remained close to purchase loans, with the 30-year refinance average at 6.59% and the 15-year refinance rate at 5.88%.
  • Even after the recent uptick, rates are still below year-ago levels, and major forecasters see the 30-year mortgage rate staying near 6.4% to 6.5% through late 2026.

Insights

With mortgage rates hovering near 6.5% through 2026, is the popular "buy now, refinance later" strategy actually a dangerous financial trap?
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