Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate stepped slightly higher, while both the 15-year and 5/1 ARM rates eased lower today, according to the Zillow lender marketplace.
Rates have been surprisingly calm so far this week, considering recent bond market volatility. The average 30-year fixed rate is 6.55% today, Wednesday, August 19, 2026, up two basis points since yesterday. The 15-year fixed loan is currently at 5.87%, seven basis points lower than yesterday.
The 5/1 ARM is 6.31%, eight basis points lower than on Tuesday. Read more: Weekly survey of mortgage lenders with the lowest rates: Small moves in rates and fees Here are the current mortgage rates, according to our latest Zillow data, for Wednesday, August 19, 2026: Remember that these are the national averages and are rounded to the nearest hundredth. These are the current mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data for Wednesday, August 19, 2026: Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Mortgage refinance rates are often higher than rates when you buy a house, although that's not always the case. Use the mortgage calculator below to see how various interest rates and loan amounts will affect your monthly payments. It also shows how the term length plays into things.
This embedded content is not available in your region. You can bookmark the Yahoo Finance mortgage payment calculator and keep it handy for future use, as you shop for homes and the best lenders. You even have the option to enter costs for private mortgage insurance (PMI) and homeowners' association dues if those apply to you.
These details result in a more accurate monthly payment estimate than if you simply calculated your mortgage principal and interest. There are two main advantages to a 30-year fixed mortgage: Your payments are lower, and your monthly payments are predictable. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has relatively low monthly payments because you're spreading your repayment out over a longer period of time than with, say, a 15-year mortgage.
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