Today’s Mortgage Rates Move Higher, 30 Year Refinance Rates at 4.38 Percent

Mortgage rates moved slightly higher today on higher 10 year bond yields. Today's mortgage rates on 30 year conventional home loans are averaging 4.38 percent, an increase from an average 30 year rate of 4.35 percent. Average rates are higher because 10 year bond yields moved higher the past week.

Today's Mortgage Rates on 30 Year Loans Still Low

Although rates have moved higher since the beginning of the year, rates are not much higher from all-time record lows and are still low, historically speaking. The low point for average 30 year mortgage rates was 3.27 percent back in January 2013. During the housing boom, average 30 year rates were above 6.00 percent. Back in the early 1980's 30 year rates hit a high of over 17 percent!

The future direction of rates will be higher in 2014 because the Federal Reserve will start scaling back and ending the purchases of securities designed to keep mortgage rates low. If you have been thinking about buying a home or refinancing your current loan, now is a good a time to start the process.

15 Year Conforming Mortgage Rates Today

Average mortgage rates today on 5 year conforming loans are at 3.42 percent, up from an average 15 year mortgage rate of 3.37 percent. The low point for average 15 year mortgage rates in 2013 was just above 2.50 percent. I don't expect 15 year rates to move back down to those levels in our lifetime but rates are still historically low.

Back during the housing boom, average 15 year mortgage rates were also above 6.00 percent. Back in the early 1980's 15 year mortgage rates were also in the double digits so current rates which are below 3.50 percent are a really good deal. If you're thinking about refinancing your mortgage, you should seriously consider a shorter term loan like a 15 year loan. You will save tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. You can use a mortgage calculator with an amortization schedule to see the cost difference.

Current Mortgage Rates on 30 Year Jumbo Mortgages

While fixed conforming mortgage rates moved higher this week, average 30 year jumbo mortgage rates are lower. Current 30 year jumbo rates are averaging 4.44 percent, down from an average 30 year jumbo rate of 4.46 percent. Earlier in 2013, average 30 year jumbo rates were under 4.00 percent, the low point was at 3.91 percent back in January.

The rate spread between 30 year conforming loans and 30 year jumbo loans has been in a vary narrow range for months. Just last month for the first time ever, average 30 year jumbo rates were actually lower than 30 year conforming rates. Right now, average conforming rates are only 7 basis points lower than average jumbo rates.

Jumbo 15 Year Mortgage Rates

The current average on 15 year jumbo mortgages is at 3.72 percent, a small increase from last week's average 15 year jumbo mortgage rate of 3.69 percent. The low point for average 15 year jumbo rates this year was at 3.14 percent, so current rates are still very low. Right now on our rate table for the state of California, the best 15 year jumbo refinance rates are at 3.25 percent with points.

Current Adjustable Mortgage Rates

5 year conforming adjustable mortgage rates are currently averaging 3.58 percent, up from an average 5 year adjustable mortgage rate of 3.53 percent. If you're searching for adjustable refinance rates we have lenders quoting 5 year refi rates as low 2.125 percent with points.

Jumbo adjustable mortgage rates on 5 year mortgages are averaging 2.82 percent, up from an average 5 year jumbo rate of 2.79 percent. Average 5 year jumbo rates have been lower than average 5 year conforming rates for many months now. The lowest 5 year jumbo refinancing rates offering by lenders on our rate tables are much lower at 2.25 percent with points.