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The rate on a 30-year fixed refinance dropped to 6.81% today, according to the Mortgage Research Center. The average rate on a 15-year mortgage refinance is 5.78%. On a 20-year mortgage refinance, the average rate is 6.57%.
Related: Compare Current Refinance Rates
30-Year Fixed Refinance Interest Rates
Currently, the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage refinance is 6.81%, up 0.05 point from this time last week. Borrowers with a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage of $100,000 will pay $653 per month for principal and interest at the current interest rate, according to the Forbes Advisor mortgage calculator, not including taxes and fees. Over the life of the loan, the borrower will pay total interest costs of about $134,981.
Another way of looking at loan costs is the annual percentage rate, or APR. For a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, the APR is 6.84%, higher than last week’s 6.79%. The APR is essentially the all-in cost of the home loan.
20-Year Refi Rates
The average interest rate on the 20-year fixed refinance mortgage is 6.57%. Last week, the 20-year fixed-rate mortgage was at 6.54%.
The APR on a 20-year fixed is 6.61%, compared to 6.58% last week.
A 20-year fixed-rate mortgage refinance of $100,000 with today’s interest rate would cost $750 per month in principal and interest. Taxes and fees are not included. Over the life of the loan, you would pay around $79,928 in total interest.
15-Year Fixed Refinance Rates
The average interest rate on the 15-year fixed refinance mortgage is 5.78%. The same time last week, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was at 5.69%.
The annual percentage rate on a 15-year fixed is 5.83%. Last week, it was 5.74%.
A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage refinance of $100,000 at today’s interest rate would cost $832 per month in principal and interest. Over the life of the loan, you would pay $49,734 in total interest.
30-Year Jumbo Refinance Interest Rates
The average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance (a loan above the federal conforming loan limit of $806,500 in most places) rose week-over-week to 7.19%, versus 7.11% last week.
At today’s interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance, a borrower would pay $678 per month in principal and interest on a $100,000 loan.
15-Year Jumbo Refinance Rates
A 15-year, fixed-rate jumbo mortgage refinance has an average interest rate of 6.22%, up 0.02 point from last week.
At today’s rate, a borrower would pay $856 per month in principal and interest per $100,000 borrowed for a 15-year, fixed-rate jumbo refi. Over the life of the loan, that borrower would pay around $54,062 in total interest.
Are Refinance Rates and Mortgage Rates the Same?
No, mortgage refinance rates are typically higher than purchase loan rates due to additional risk for the lender. Cash-out refinance rates are also higher than a standard rate-and-term refinance as you are increasing your loan balance by tapping your equity.
The application process for refinancing a mortgage is similar to getting a home purchase loan regarding the required paperwork and home appraisal. Additionally, similar closing costs from 2% to 6% of the loan amount apply, which is an extra expense.
When you refinance, your new rate is based on current refinance rates and your loan term. This rate replaces your existing mortgage repayment terms.
Know When To Refinance Your Home
There are lots of good reasons to refinance your mortgage, but for most homeowners, it comes down to lowering the interest rate, reducing monthly payments or paying off the loan more quickly. Refinancing can also allow you to tap some of your home’s equity or eliminate private mortgage insurance (PMI).
It’s important to keep in mind that refinancing carries costs, and for that reason makes more sense if you plan to stay in your home for some time. It can be helpful to calculate the “break-even point” for a potential refinance – to see how long it will take for savings from the new mortgage to outweigh closing costs. Try to find out what those fees will be and divide them by the monthly savings from the new mortgage.
Check out our mortgage refinance calculator to help you decide if this is a good time to refinance.
Is Now a Good Time To Refinance?
Consider refinancing your mortgage when you need a more affordable monthly payment, want to stop paying annual FHA or USDA loan fees or would prefer a fixed interest rate. You may also consider a cash-out refinance to borrow from your home equity.
However, as refinance rates have increased by several percentage points from near-term lows in late 2021, it can be harder to replace your existing interest rate with a lower one, unless you refinance to a 15-year mortgage. As a result, extending your loan term is the one way to reduce your payment, but you can end up paying more total interest.
The application process is similar to buying a home. Plus, home appraisal fees and closing costs from 2% to 6% of the loan amount apply and add to your lifetime borrowing costs.
How To Qualify for Today’s Best Refinance Rates
Just like when you took out your original mortgage, it pays to have a strategy for finding the lowest rate when you want to refinance. Here’s what you should be doing get a good mortgage rate:
- Improve your credit
- Consider a shorter loan term
- Lower your debt-to-income ratio
- Watch mortgage rates
There are no guarantees when it comes to borrowing, but a strong credit score is one of the best things you can do to present yourself to lenders. Banks and other financial institutions are more likely to approve you if you don’t have too much debt relative to your income. You should check in on mortgage rates, which fluctuate frequently, on a regular basis. And use calculators like ours to see if you can swing a home loan that’s shorter in duration than the popular 30-year mortgage. These loans usually have lower interest rates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does it cost to refinance a mortgage?
It can cost as much as 2% to 6% of the full cost of the loan to refinance a mortgage. Make sure to find out the exact closing costs from your lender.
How soon can you refinance a mortgage?
Most lenders allow you to refinance a mortgage six months after you start paying it off, although some require that you wait 12 months. Contact your lender to be sure.
How do you find the best refinancing lender?
You should always shop around when you’re trying to get a new mortgage or refinance an existing one. Take a look at the best mortgage refinance lenders as a starting point and try applying online. Always find out the closing costs each lender will charge, and make sure you’re able to communicate well with the lender you want to choose. In a bumpy housing market, you’ll probably be in touch with the lender more often than you realize.
