Today's Mortgage Rates - 08/22/2025

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Published: Aug 21, 2025

Mortgage Rates Mostly Steady

Fixed mortgage rates held at about ten-month lows this week.

As reported by Freddie Mac. the average offered interest rate for a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) was unchanged at 6.58%, as low as this average has been since the week of October 24, 2024.

Average offered rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages managed a slight decline, posting a drop of two basis points (0.02%), leaving the average rate for the most common shorter-term mortgage at 5.69%. The current average matches the same 10-month low level as its longer-term counterpart.

An alternative to the 30-year fixed rate mortgage, the average offered rate for a 5-year hybrid ARMs moved rebounded after an appreciable dip last week. The Mortgage Bankers Association said that the initial fixed interest rate on a hybrid 5-year ARM increased by twenty-one basis points (0.21%) to 6.01%,

Currently, a 5/1 ARM might offer a homebuyer a lower-cost alternative to a long-term fixed-rate mortgage, although the difference in rate between 30-year FRMs and 5-year hybrid ARMs contracted a fair bit this week. With the change in rates, the gap in rate compared to a 30-year FRM is now 57 basis points (0.57%). Comparing this average rate against that one for a 30-year FRM, a homebuyer with a $300,000 loan amount who selects the 5-year ARM would be able to save $8,578 in interest cost over the first five years of the loan while also reducing the loan's outstanding balance by $1,892 compared to the 30-year FRM.

ARMs aren't for everybody, though. To help decide whether one might work for you, read HSH's Comprehensive Guide to Adjustable Rate Mortgages.

This may change on Friday, August 22, when Fed Chair Powell gives a speech at an annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, WY. At this same meeting last year, Mr. Powell clearly signaled a change in monetary policy was coming, and after a summer of concerning labor-market data, the Fed surprised the markets with a half-point rate cut at the September meeting.

Such clarity may not be coming this year, what with inflation running above the Fed's target and concerns that tariff-fueled price increases may not have really started to show yet. Still, a cut in rates next month remains likely; two Fed members would have preferred to cut rates at the July meeting. Had labor-market revisions that came after the meeting come before it, the Fed very likely would have trimmed rates at that time.

Investor eyes and ears are fully tuned to the August 22 speech, and while rates are still pretty flat now, some movement (up or down) can be expected in the coming days. Which direction they go depends on the message, but down does seem the most likely course at present.

Each week in HSH's MarketTrends newsletter, we track and discuss economic conditions that affect mortgage rates and their impact on housing markets and consumers. Read the most recent edition of MarketTrends or subscribe for email delivery.

Current mortgage rates

Source: Freddie Mac

Updated on 08/21/2025

Week	30-year-Fixed	15-year-Fixed
08/21	6.580%	5.690%
08/14	6.580%	5.710%
08/07	6.630%	5.750%
07/31	6.720%	5.850%
07/24	6.740%	5.870%
07/17	6.750%	5.920%
07/10	6.720%	5.860%
07/03	6.670%	5.800%
06/26	6.770%	5.890%
06/18	6.810%	5.960%
06/12	6.840%	5.970%
06/05	6.850%	5.990%

Source: Freddie Mac

Updated on 08/21/2025

Mortgage Choices at a Glance

Loan type/terms	Fixed 30 years	Fixed 15 years/ 20 Years	Hybrid ARM	Traditional ARM	Balloon Mortgage

Rate changes	Never; Fully fixed for entire term	Never; Fully fixed for entire term	Usually after fixed period of 3, 5, 7 or 10 years After that, annual change typical	Fully variable Typically changing at one-year intervals Some have shorter change intervals	Never; Fully fixed for entire term
Benefits	Low, stable payment Usually easiest qualification	Stable payments Builds equity faster Lower total interest costs than 30-year term	Lower rates than fully fixed-rate mortgage Can sometimes borrow larger loan amount for same income	Can have lowest interest rates Qualification may not depend upon today's interest rate	Often has lower interest rate/monthly payment over balloon period than fixed rate Similar to hybrid ARM
Drawbacks/Risks	Can have highest total interest cost over time User may "buy" more rate stability than actually needed, increasing cost	Requires higher income to qualify Less affordable monthly payment Funds commited to payment cannot be used elsewhere	Stable payment for a number of years, then unpredictable Rates can jump by as much as 6 percentage points at first adjustment	Payments fluctuate at each rate change Unpredictable, rates can change as much as 2 percentage points at each adjustment	Loan fully due and payable when balloon period ends Must be paid off or refinanced in unknown market conditions
Alternative strategy	Consider Hybrid ARM with appropriate fixed period	Consider 30-year term and prepaying loan to preserve cash-flow flexibility	Consider Fixed rate mortgage or longest possible fixed period, if loan hold period not known	Consider Hybrid ARM to ameliorate rate and payment risks for a given period	Consider Hybrid ARM to ensure continued loan availability
These may be useful for...	Purchasing a home First-time homebuyers Refinancing to improve cash flow/lower payment	Refinancing to lower total interest cost Retiring mortgage more quickly Building or rebuilding equity more quickly	Purchasing or refinancing when time horizon is seven years or shorter, and where borrower can handle increase in monthly payments	Purchasing or refinancing when interest rates are near top of cycle, and are likely to fall, or sale or refinance is anticipated within three years	Purchasing or refinancing when time horizon is three years or longer and home will be sold prior to end of balloon period
Consider if	Buying or refinancing a home and planning on owning for longer than 10 years	Buying second home Refinancing to build equity Paying off mortgage before life event (retirement, etc)	Buying a home and expect to move before fixed period ends, or know income will rise to offset payment risk, even in worst-case scenario	Buying or refinancing when income can handle frequent payment changes and worst-case scenario for rates over a four-year period	Buying a home and expect to move before balloon period ends, or have resources to pay off mortgage if refinance not available
When shopping, ask about	"Full cost" vs. "No cost" refinances, prepaying loan to shorten term if desired	If 20-year term makes payment too high, whether 25-year term is available	Interest rate caps, for first and subsequent adjustments, worst-case scenario	A history of the Index the loan is keyed off, margin and caps	Whether or not there is any built-in refinancing option when the balloon period ends
Useful tools & resources	Mortgage Amortization Calculator	Refinance Calculator	Historical Mortgage Interest Rates	ARM Index Rates	FHA Calculator

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