There are several different types of mortgage loans available to homebuyers and homeowners who are refinancing their current mortgages. 30 year mortgages are the most popular. When figuring out which loan is best for your situation, the first thing you should decide on is whether or not you want a loan with a fixed mortgage rate or an adjustable mortgage rate.
After deciding on the type of rate, you then have to decide on the term of the mortgage loan. Terms vary from as short as 1 year mortgage for an adjustable rate loan and as long as 30 year for a fixed rate loan. Mortgage rates today on all types of loans are just above record lows, so right now is a very good time to buy or refinance your current mortgage.
There are some advantages to all types of loans and figuring out what is best for your situation will help you determine which loan fits your needs. The biggest factors to consider are how much the monthly mortgage payment will be and how long you plan to live in the house.
30 Year Mortgages Most Popular
By far, the most popular loan types are fixed rate mortgages because the mortgage interest rate on the loan never changes and as a result, the monthly mortgage payment of principal plus interest (P+I) never changes. The monthly payment can change if you have property taxes and homeowners insurance escrowed into the payment. 30 year mortgages are the most popular, the second most popular loans are 15 year mortgages.
In a recent refinance report released by Freddie Mac, 95 percent of those refinancing chose a fixed rate mortgage over an adjustable rate mortgage.
There are several different terms on fixed rate loans, the most popular terms are 30 years and 15 years. There are many lenders that also offer 20 year loans and 10 loans. During the housing boom when home prices were rising very quickly, some lenders also offered 40 year loans but those are almost non-existent these days.
Adjustable Mortgage Rates Better for Suited for Short Term
Adjustable mortgage rates loans are more inherently risky than fixed mortgage rate loans for the simple fact that the mortgage rate will eventually adjust. The most common type of adjustable rate loan is a 5/1 ARM, but there are also 1 year, 3 year, 7 year and 10 year ARMs.
With a 5/1 ARM, the mortgage rate stays the same for the first 5 years but can adjust after the initial period. There are usually annual caps and lifetime caps on how much the rate can adjust. A higher mortgage rate will increase your monthly mortgage payments. During the housing boom, many unsuspecting borrowers were steered into these types of loans and ended up losing their homes when the rate adjusted higher.
Adjustable rate mortgages are not all bad and they can be a useful tool for many homebuyers. Current short term adjustable mortgage rates are lower than long term rates. If you only plan to be in a home for a short period of time, you can have a lower monthly payment with a 5 year adjustable loan versus a 30 year loan.
Homeowners Take Advantage of Current Low Mortgage Rates
Historically, most people choose a 30 year term over a 15 year term but taking longer to payoff a mortgage loan will cost you a lot more in the long run, which we outline below. Mortgage rates today are just above record lows. Homeowners refinancing their mortgages are continuing to take advantage of this by lowering their payments and shortening their loan terms.
In the recent refinance report released by Freddie Mac, 37 percent of homeowners shorten their loan term when refinancing. 32 percent of homeowners who refinanced in the government’s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) took out a shorter-term loan. 40 percent of homeowners outside of HARP refinancing to a shorter term loan.
15 Year Loans Better Than 30 Year Loans
Considering how low mortgage rates are, the trend towards a shorter term loan isn’t a surprise but the biggest benefit to a 15 year loan over a 30 year loan is the amount of money you can save. Current 15 year rates are just about a full percentage point rate lower than 30 year rates.
A lower mortgage rate lowers the amount of mortgage interest you pay on the loan. Lowering the number of years to pay off the loan is the biggest savings. The one prohibitive factor for a 15 year loan versus a 30 year loan is that the monthly mortgage payments are higher for a 15 year loan. If you can afford the higher monthly payments, a 15 year term is the way to go. Unfortunately, many people simply assume they can’t afford a 15 year mortgage without looking into what their payments would actually be, much less weighing in the tremendous savings over the long term.
The following is an example of how much money can be saved in mortgage interest payments. Comparing a 15 year or a 10 year loan vs a 30 year loan. The longer the term, the lower the monthly payments are, so let’s first look at the monthly payments for a $500,000 mortgage.
Monthly Mortgage Payment Difference
A mortgage for $500,000 financed for 30 years at 3.75 percent equals a monthly payment of $2,315.58.
$500,000 financed for 15 years at 2.875 percent equals a monthly payment of $3,422.93.
A loan for $500,000 financed for 10 years at 2.39 percent equals a monthly payment of $4,688.63.
The payment amount is higher for shorter term loans but if you can manage the payments its worth it. Take a look at the amount of mortgage interest paid over the life of the loan terms in this example.
Difference in Total Mortgage Interest Paid
$500,000 financed for 30 years at 3.75 percent will cost a total of $333,607.53 just in mortgage interest payments. When you include the principal paid the grand total comes to $833,607.53.
$500,000 financed for 15 years at 2.875 percent will cost a total of $116,127.15 in mortgage interest payments. When you include the principal paid the grand total comes to $616,127.15.
$500,000 financed for 10 years at 2.39 percent will cost a total of $2,623.07 in mortgage interest payments. When you include the principal paid the grand total comes to $562,623.07. Let’s take a closer look at the total cost difference.
Shorter Term Mortgage Saves Hundreds of Thousands in Interest Payments
- 30 year total cost $833,607.53
- 15 year total cost $616,127.15
- 10 year total cost $562,623.07
Going with a 15 year loan over a 30 year loan saves $217,000. Comparing a 30 year loan vs a 10 year loan saves $271,000. In this example you save a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments. You would be foolish not to take out a shorter term loan. Again that is if you can afford the monthly payments.
You should think real hard about a shorter term loan. Especially if the house you plan to buy is the last house you plan on ever owning.
Mortgage rates continue to decline following 10 year U.S. Treasury yields lower. Average 30 year mortgage refinance rates are at 4.22 percent, down from the prior week’s average 30 year mortgage rate of 4.30 percent. So far in 2014 average 30 year mortgage rates have fallen more than 30 basis points and 10 year bond yields have fallen 40 basis points.
Lower interest rates wasn’t supposed to be the trend in 2014 as the Federal Reserve continues to taper their bond purchases and the unemployment rate ticks lower. Economic growth hasn’t been on fire which has kept a lid on inflation and interest rates. In fact this week’s decline in bond rates can be linked to investors fleeing to the safety of U.S. Treasuries as the trouble in Ukraine intensifies.
Low rates won’t last forever and rates will eventually move higher in 2014. The Fed’s purchases have dwindled to $45 billion a month, down from $85 billion a month in 2014. If the Fed continues to lower their purchases by $10 billion a month after each Fed meeting, by the October meeting they will have stopped buying these securities.
The Fed’s purchases does have some impact on interest rates but the bigger impact is economic growth. The first indication of better growth came this past week when the Labor Department reported 288,000 jobs created and the unemployment rate falling to 6.3 percent in the month of April. Forecasts were for 200,000 jobs being created and an unemployment rate of 6.6 percent.
If this trend continues bond rates will move higher and mortgage rates will also increase. The future direction of mortgage rates is higher for 2014 and beyond. By the end of this year, 30 year mortgage rates are forecasted to be around 5.00 percent. You should lock in a mortgage rate now if you’re planning on buying a home. If you’re thinking about refinancing your current mortgage, you should try to do so before rates move higher.
Mortgage rates today on 30 year loans are averaging 4.22 percent but there are many lenders quoting 30 year rates below the average. In our database of rates, we see many lenders quoting 30 year refinance rates around 4.00 percent. As you can see in most states listed below, there is at least one lender quoting 30 year rates below 4.00 percent.
Lowest 30 Year Rates Across the United States
- California – 3.875% with 0.10 mortgage point
- Nevada – 4.125% with 1 mortgage point
- Texas – 3.875% with 0.10 mortgage point
- Colorado – 3.875% with 0.10 mortgage point
- Illinois – 3.875% with 0.10 mortgage point
- Georgia – 3.875% with 0.10 mortgage point
- Florida – 3.875% with 0.10 mortgage point
- Maryland – 3.875% with 0.10 mortgage point
- Connecticut – 3.875% with 0.10 mortgage point
Author: Brian McKay
May 7th, 2014
Just as everyone was predicting that mortgage rates would rise, so far the opposite has happened in 2014. Average mortgage rates are down for the third consecutive week because of lower long term bond yields. 10 year bond yields are down to 2.73 percent, a decline from 2.86 percent last Wednesday.
Mortgage rates today on 30 year conforming loans are averaging 4.33 percent, down from the previous week’s average 30 year mortgage rate of 4.39 percent. The decline in average rates is remarkable considering that the Federal Reserve started winding down their purchases of mortgage-backed securities and long term bonds.
30 Year Mortgage Rates Will Decline This Week
At the end of December, average 30 year mortgage rates were above 4.50 percent and look to move to 4.75 percent. Now we will probably see average 30 year rates decline further this week if equity markets continue to fall. Investors have withdrawn money from emerging markets, sending equities tanking both abroad and in the United States.
Currently, equity indices are mixed. The Dow is up 26 points and the NASDAQ is down 33 points. 10 year bond yields are lower by 1 basis point to 2.73 percent. If the down trend continues this week, bond yields and mortgage rates will continue to decline. The move out of riskier assets into the safe haven of U.S. Treasuries is the classic flight to quality we see whenever there is any fear in the markets. As bond prices rise, bond yields move lower. Lenders quote mortgage rates based on bond yields, so when yields fall mortgage rates follow lower.
The lowest quoted 30 year conforming refinance rates on our rate table for the state of California are currently at 3.875 percent with 2 mortgage points. The lowest quoted rates for 30 year loans without points is currently at 4.115 percent. We have lenders quoting rates in all other states in the same range as the rates listed for California.
Current 15 Year Mortgage Rates
Average 15 year mortgage rates today are currently at 3.40 percent, down from the prior week’s average 15 year mortgage rate of 3.45 percent. Late in 2013, average 15 year rates moved above 3.60 percent and looked to be headed as high as 3.75 percent. This coming week we will probably see average 15 year rates fall even lower, possibly as low as 3.25 percent.
If you’re searching for 15 year refinance rates, we have lenders quoting rates well below the average rate of 3.40 percent. In the state of Georgia we have 4 lenders quoting 15 year refi rates on conforming loans at 2.875 percent with various points. The best rates without points in the state of GA are currently at 3.125 percent.
Today’s 30 Year Jumbo Mortgage Rates
30 year jumbo mortgage rates are averaging 4.53 percent, a decline from last week’s average 30 year jumbo mortgage rate of 4.57 percent. Late last year, average 30 year jumbo rates were heading towards 5.00 percent but now they will move back below 4.50 percent. This week average 30 year jumbo rates will fall to around 4.40 percent to 4.45 percent.
The best 30 year jumbo refinance rates right now in our database for the state of Florida are well below the average and below 4.00 percent. The lowest rate on 30 year jumbo loans is currently at 3.85 percent with 2 mortgage points. The lowest 30 year jumbo rates without points in the state of Florida is still below the average at 4.34 percent.
15 Year Jumbo Mortgage Rates Today
Average 15 year jumbo mortgage interest rates are currently at 3.97 percent, a decline from the prior week’s average 15 year jumbo rate of 4.04 percent. This is the first time in a month that average 15 year jumbo rates are below 4.00 percent. This week the average rate could fall below 3.90 percent.
The lowest 15 year jumbo rates on our rate table are 60 basis points below the average rate. The best rate in the state of Texas is currently at 3.375 percent with 1 mortgage point. The lowest 15 year jumbo refi rate without points is at 3.50 percent, still below the average rate.
5/1 Adjustable Mortgage Rates
Average 5/1 conforming adjustable mortgage rates are at 3.52 percent, down from last week’s average 5 year adjustable mortgage rate of 3.55 percent. The best 5 year adjustable rates in our database are more than 1.00 percent below the average at 2.375 percent with just under 2 points. The lowest 5 year rate without points is also way below the average at 2.625 percent.
Jumbo 5 year adjustable rates are currently averaging 3.09 percent, no change from last week’s average 5 year jumbo rate. The best jumbo adjustable rate in our database are at 2.50 percent with 2 points and at 2.875 percent with no points.
Author: Brian McKay
January 28th, 2014
Today’s mortgage rates moved lower as 10 year bond yields fell from recent highs set earlier this week. 10 year bond rates peaked this week at 2.88 percent and are currently at 2.83 percent, as a result mortgage rates are lower and will decline more this week.
Ten year bond rates hit a recent high of 2.88 percent and looked to break through 2.90 percent have fallen the past couple of days down to 2.81 percent. This decline will send mortgage rates lower over the rest of this week. As for the rest of 2013, average mortgage rates will remain near current levels. There will be no big moves in rates unless the budget deal reached in Washington is voted down.
Mortgage rates today on 15 year conforming loans are averaging 3.44 percent, a decline from last week’s average 15 year mortgage rate of 3.46 percent. The outlook for average 15 year conventional mortgage rates this month is within current ranges. Average rates could drop as low as 3.25 percent and on the upside, rates could increase to around 3.65 percent.
The best 15 year mortgage rates in our database for the state of New Jersey are still under 3.00 percent at 2.875 percent with points. The lowest 15 year rate without points is at 3.125 percent, still below the average rate. Lenders in our databases are quoting the same 15 year mortgage refinance rates in most states right now.
30 Year Conforming Mortgage Rates
30 year conforming mortgage rates are currently averaging 4.42 percent, a slight decline from last week’s average 30 year mortgage rate of 4.43 percent. Average 30 year rates will also remain near current levels for the rest of 2013. On the low side, rates could drop as low as 4.25 percent or move as high as 4.65 percent.
Today’s 30 year mortgage rates in our database are quoted below the average of 4.42 percent and below 4.00 percent if you’re willing to pay points. The lowest 30 year refinance rate right now in our database for California is 3.875 percent with points and the lowest rate without points is quoted at 4.125 percent. The same lenders are also quoting 30 year refinance rates in most other states in our databases.
30 Year Jumbo Mortgage Rates Today
Average 30 year jumbo mortgage rates today are at 4.52 percent, an increase from last week’s average 30 year jumbo mortgage rate of 4.46 percent. The increase in average jumbo rates this week will be temporary and rates will decrease this week. For the remainder of 2013, average 30 year jumbo rates will be in a range of 4.35 percent to 4.70 percent.
The lowest jumbo mortgage rates in our database for the state of Colorado are currently at 4.125 percent with 1.33 mortgage points. The lowest 30 year jumbo refi rates without points are still below the average at 4.375 percent.
Today’s 15 Year Jumbo Rates
Today’s mortgage rates on 15 year jumbo loans are averaging 3.82 percent, down from last week’s average 15 year jumbo rates of 3.85 percent. For the rest of 2013, average 15 year jumbo rates will probably be in a range of 3.65 percent to 4.00 percent. Right now the lowest 15 year jumbo rates in our databases are lower than the average.
The lowest 15 year jumbo refi rate in our database for the state of Florida is currently at 3.50 percent with points. The lowest 15 year jumbo refi rate without points in FL is at 3.875 percent, just above the national average rate.
Current 5 Year Adjustable Mortgage Rates
Conventional 5 year adjustable refinance mortgage rates are averaging 3.49 percent, a large decline from last week’s average 5 year adjustable rate of 3.61 percent. For the rest of 2013, average 5 year adjustable rates will probably remain between 3.35 percent and 3.70 percent.
Currently, the lowest 5 year adjustable refinance rates in our database are much lower than the average rate. The lowest 5 year refi rate with points in our database for Texas is at an incredibly low rate of 2.125 percent. The lowest 5 year TX refi rate without point is also way below the average at 2.625 percent.
Jumbo 5 Year Adjustable Mortgage Rates Today
Jumbo adjustable mortgage rates today on 5 year jumbo loans are averaging 2.89 percent, an increase from the previous week’s average 5 year jumbo rate of 2.83 percent. 5 year jumbo rates will remain in a range of 2.60 percent to 3.10 percent for the rest of this year.
Right now the lowest 5 year jumbo refinance rates in our database are also more than 1.00 percent below the average. The best 5 year jumbo rate in our database for the state of Pennsylvania is currently at 2.25 percent with points. The lowest 5 year jumbo refi rate without points in PA is currently at 2.75 percent, also more than 1.00 percent below the average rate.
Author: Brian McKay
December 11th, 2013
30 Year Mortgage Rates Will Decline This Week