Mortgage rates chart: Historical and current rate trends

A look at mortgage rates over time

Mortgage rates rose sharply in 2022, surpassing 7% on Oct. 27 for the first time since 2002. Despite recent increases, 30-year mortgage rates are still below their historical average of nearly 8 percent.

Keep in mind that average mortgage rates are just a benchmark. Borrowers with good credit and strong finances often get mortgage rates well below the industry norm. So rather than looking only at average rates, it’s worth taking the time to get a personalized estimate and see what you qualify for.

Mortgage rates chart for 2022

Mortgage interest rates fell to record lows in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid pandemic. Emergency actions by the Federal Reserve helped to push mortgage rates below 3% and keep them there.

But with inflation surging to four-decade highs, mortgage interest rates rose quickly in 2022. And policy tightening by the Fed could push them higher still. Those who are in a position to lock an interest rate sooner rather than later may be wise to do so.

Current mortgage interest rates chart

Historical mortgage rates chart

Following substantial hikes to the funds rate in order to curb inflation, mortgage rates have risen to their highest levels since 2002. At just over 7%, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is nearing its historical average.

Freddie Mac — the main industry source for mortgage rates — has been keeping records since 1971. Between Apr. 1971 and Oct. 2022, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 7.76 percent. To understand today’s mortgage rates in context, take a look at where they’ve been throughout recent history.

Historical 30-year mortgage rates chart

Will mortgage rates go back down?

Mortgage rates can rise and fall from week to week. But recent spikes have been far larger than any subsequent drops. For example, the 30-year fixed rate dropped from 6.70% to 6.66% on Oct. 6. But just three weeks later, rates had moved above 7 percent.

Extremely high prices and an overall strong economy have led the Federal Reserve to take aggressive measures against inflation this year, including three historic rate hikes of 75 basis points (0.75%) each in June, July, and September. Although fixed mortgage rates are not controlled by the Fed, they’ve been spurred significantly higher by its actions.

The Fed is likely to keep hiking interest rates, which could lead to further mortgage rate increases. On the other hand, if the Fed’s actions lead to a recession, that could actually tug mortgage interest rates down. So it’s nearly impossible to predict what will happen to mortgage rates in late 2022 and 2023.

As a borrower, it doesn’t make much sense to try to time your rate in this market. Our best advice is to buy when you’re financially ready and can afford the home you want — regardless of current interest rates.

Remember that you’re not stuck with your mortgage rate forever. If rates drop significantly, homeowners can always refinance later on to cut costs.

Historic mortgage rates: Important years for rates

The long-term average for mortgage rates is just under 8 percent. That’s according to Freddie Mac records going back to 1971. But mortgage rates can move a lot from year to year. And some years have seen much bigger moves than others.

Let’s look at a few examples to show how rates often buck conventional wisdom and move in unexpected ways.

1981: The all-time high for mortgage rates

1981 was the worst year for mortgage interest rates on record.

How bad is bad? The average mortgage rate in 1981 was 16.63 percent.

  • At 16.63% a $200,000 mortgage has a monthly cost for principal and interest of $2,800
  • Compared with the long-time average that’s an extra monthly cost of $1,300 or $15,900 per year


And that’s just the average — some people paid more. For the week of Oct. 9, 1981, mortgage rates averaged 18.63%, the highest weekly rate on record, and almost five times the 2019 annual rate.

2008: The mortgage slump

2008 was the final gasp of the mortgage meltdown. Real estate financing was available in 2008 for 6.03% according to Freddie Mac.

  • The monthly cost for a $200,000 mortgage was about $1,200 per month, not including taxes and insurance

Post 2008, rates declined steadily.

2016: An all-time low for rates

Until recently, 2016 held the lowest annual mortgage rate on record going back to 1971. Freddie Mac says the typical 2016 mortgage was priced at just 3.65 percent.

  • A $200,000 mortgage at 3.65% has a monthly cost for principal and interest of $915
  • That’s $553 a month less than the long-term average

Mortgage rates had dropped lower in 2012, when one week in November averaged 3.31 percent. But some of 2012 was higher, and the entire year averaged out at 3.65% for a 30-year mortgage.

2019: The surprise mortgage rate drop-off

In 2018, many economists predicted that 2019 mortgage rates would top 5.5 percent. That turned out to be wrong. In fact, rates dropped in 2019. The average mortgage rate went from 4.54% in 2018 to 3.94% in 2019.

  • At 3.94% the monthly cost for a $200,000 home loan was $948
  • That’s a savings of $520 a month — or $6,240 a year — when compared with the 8% long–term average

In 2019, it was thought mortgage rates couldn’t go much lower. But 2020 and 2021 proved that thinking wrong again.

2021: The lowest 30-year mortgage rates ever

Rates plummeted in 2020 and 2021 in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. By July 2020, the 30-year fixed rate fell below 3% for the first time. And it kept falling to a new record low of just 2.65% in January 2021.

  • At 2.65% the monthly cost for a $200,000 home loan is $806 a month not counting taxes and insurance
  • You’d save $662 a month, or $7,900 a year, compared to the 8% long-term average

However, record-low rates were largely dependent on accommodating, Covid-era policies from the Federal Reserve. Those measures were never meant to last. And the more U.S. and world economies recover from their Covid slump, the higher interest rates are likely to go.

2022: Mortgage rates spike

Thanks to sharp inflation growth, higher benchmark rates, and a drawback on mortgage stimulus by the Fed, mortgage rates spiked in 2022.

According to Freddie Mac’s records, the average 30-year rate jumped from 3.22% in January to a high of 7.08% at the end of October. That’s an increase of nearly 400 basis points (4%) in ten months.

Rates could continue to increase throughout the year. Although, if the Fed gets inflation in check or the U.S. enters a meaningful recession, mortgage rates could come back down somewhat.

Factors that affect your mortgage interest rate

For the average homebuyer, tracking mortgage rates helps reveal trends. But not every borrower will benefit equally from today’s low mortgage rates.

Home loans are personalized to the borrower. Your credit score, down payment, loan type, loan term, and loan amount will affect your mortgage or refinance rate.

It’s also possible to negotiate mortgage rates. Discount points can provide a lower interest rate in exchange for paying cash upfront.

Let’s look at some of these factors individually:

Credit score

A credit score above 720 will open more doors for low-interest-rate loans, though some loan programs such as USDA, FHA, and VA loans can be available to sub-600 borrowers.

If possible, give yourself a few months or even a year to improve your credit score before borrowing. You could save thousands of dollars through the life of the loan.

Down payment

Higher down payments can shave your borrowing rate.

Most mortgages, including FHA loans, require at least 3 or 3.5% down. And VA loans and USDA loans are available with zero down payment. But if you can put 10, 15, or even 20% down, you might qualify for a conventional loan with low or no private mortgage insurance and seriously reduce your housing costs.

Loan type

The type of mortgage loan you use will affect your interest rate. However, your loan type hinges on your credit score. So these two factors are very intertwined.

For example, with a credit score of 580 you may qualify only for a government-backed loan such as an FHA mortgage. FHA loans have low interest rates, but come with mortgage insurance no matter how much money you put down.

A credit score of 620 or higher might qualify you for a conventional loan, and — depending on your down payment and other factors — potentially a lower rate.

Adjustable-rate mortgages traditionally offer lower introductory interest rates compared to a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. However, those rates are subject to change after the initial fixed-rate period. An initially low ARM rate could rise substantially after 5, 7, or 10 years.

Loan term

In this post we’ve tracked rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. But 15-year fixed-rate mortgages tend to have even lower borrowing rates.

With a 15-year mortgage, you’d have a higher monthly payment because of the shorter loan term. But throughout the life of the loan you’d save a lot in interest charges.

If you took out a $300,000 home loan with a 30-year fixed rate of 5.5%, you’d pay around $313,000 in total interest over the life of the loan. The same loan size with a 15-year fixed rate of just 5.0% would cost only $127,000 in interest — saving you around $186,000 in total.

Loan amount

Rates on unusually small mortgages — a $50,000 home loan, for example — tend to be higher than average rates because these loans are less profitable to the lender.

Rates on a jumbo mortgage are normally higher, too, because lenders have a higher risk of loss. But jumbo loan rates have reversed course and stayed below conforming rates in 2022, creating great deals for jumbo loan borrowers. Currently, a jumbo mortgage is any loan amount over $647,200 in most parts of the U.S.

Discount points

A discount point can lower interest rates by about 0.25% in exchange for upfront cash. A discount point costs 1% of the home loan amount.

For a $200,000 loan, a discount point would cost $2,000 upfront. However, the borrower would recoup the upfront cost over time thanks to the savings earned by a lower interest rate.

Since interest payments play out over time, a buyer who plans to sell the home or refinance within a couple of years should probably skip the discount points and pay a higher interest rate for a while.

Some rate quotes assume the home buyer will buy discount points, so be sure to check before closing on the loan.

Other mortgage costs to keep in mind

Remember that your mortgage rate is not the only number that affects your mortgage payment.

When you’re estimating your home buying budget, you also need to account for:

  • Down payment
  • Closing costs
  • Discount points (optional)
  • Private mortgage insurance (PMI) or FHA mortgage insurance premiums
  • Homeowners insurance
  • Property taxes
  • HOA dues (if buying in a homeowners association)

When you get pre-approved, you’ll receive a document called a Loan Estimate that lists all these numbers clearly for comparison. You can use your Loan Estimates to find the best overall deal on your mortgage — not just the best interest rate.

You can also use a mortgage calculator with taxes, insurance, and HOA dues included to estimate your total mortgage payment and home buying budget.

When to lock your mortgage rate

Keep an eye on daily rate changes. But if you get a good mortgage rate quote today, don’t hesitate to lock it in.

Remember that average mortgage rates are only a general benchmark. If you have good credit and strong personal finances, there’s a good chance you’ll get a lower rate than what you see in the news. So check with a lender to see what you qualify for.

Peter Miller

Mortgage rates chart: Historical and current rate trends 

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