Today’s Mortgage Rates (2026): Daily Update + How to Lock the Lowest

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Mortgage rates in 2026 are noticeably calmer than the rollercoaster years that preceded them, but they still move every business day — sometimes by an eighth of a point in a single afternoon. A buyer who locks on a Tuesday morning and a buyer who waits until Thursday afternoon can walk into closing with payments that differ by $40 to $80 a month on the same loan amount. Multiplied over 30 years, that gap is almost always larger than the closing costs themselves.
We track daily rate sheets from 25+ national lenders and average them against the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, MBA weekly application data, and 10-year Treasury movement. Below is today’s snapshot, the lender-by-lender comparison we update every weekday, and the exact playbook our editors use when timing a rate lock.
How This Daily Update Works
Each morning we pull conforming, jumbo, FHA, VA, and ARM rate sheets from the lenders on our review list, weight them by recent funded-loan volume, and publish the median APR for a borrower with a 740 FICO, 20% down (or 3.5% for FHA), and a $400K loan on a single-family primary residence. APRs include estimated discount points and origination — not just the headline note rate. We refresh this page by 9:30 a.m. ET on every business day the bond market is open.
Today’s National Average Mortgage Rates
| Loan Type | Average APR | 1-Week Change | 1-Month Change | Typical Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-Year Fixed Conforming | 6.84% | -0.05% | -0.12% | 0.6 |
| 15-Year Fixed Conforming | 6.05% | -0.04% | -0.10% | 0.5 |
| 20-Year Fixed | 6.59% | -0.05% | -0.11% | 0.6 |
| 30-Year Fixed FHA | 6.49% | -0.06% | -0.14% | 0.7 |
| 30-Year Fixed VA | 6.39% | -0.05% | -0.13% | 0.5 |
| 30-Year Fixed Jumbo | 7.05% | -0.03% | -0.08% | 0.4 |
| 5/6 ARM | 6.15% | -0.02% | -0.07% | 0.3 |
| 7/6 ARM | 6.35% | -0.02% | -0.06% | 0.3 |
Affiliate disclosure: Mortgage24U may earn a commission when you apply through links in this article. This never affects our rankings — every lender is reviewed on the same scoring rubric.
Top 10 Lenders by Today’s Posted Rate
Below is what we’re seeing on rate sheets right now, ranked by the 30-year fixed APR available to a 740-FICO borrower with 20% down on a $400K loan. Numbers move daily — always pull a personalized quote before deciding.
1. Better.com — Lowest Posted 30-Year Fixed
Better’s online-only model continues to undercut traditional banks by 10–20 basis points on a typical conforming loan, and it does so without lender fees. Pre-approval letters are issued in under three minutes, which matters in fast-moving markets.
Pros: No origination or application fees, fast online underwriting, transparent rate quotes. Cons: No physical branches, limited jumbo product line.
➡️ Check rates at Better.com — soft credit pull, 3-minute pre-approval.
2. Rocket Mortgage — Best Digital Experience
Rocket’s posted rates aren’t always the absolute lowest, but the platform’s underwriting consistency and document upload tools shave days off the average closing timeline. Borrowers report fewer “stipulation surprises” at the closing table.
Pros: Best-in-class app, large lender, frequent rate-match offers. Cons: Origination fees push APR above note rate; expect 0.5–0.7 points.
➡️ Check rates at Rocket Mortgage
3. AmeriSave — Aggressive on Discount Points
AmeriSave consistently shows up in our daily scrape with the lowest paid-point rates — meaning if you’re willing to pay 1–2 points up front, AmeriSave’s note rate often beats everyone else’s.
Pros: Strong on point-buy scenarios, broad product menu, 24-hour rate lock. Cons: Customer-service ratings lag the leaders.
4. Chase — Best Relationship Discount
Chase Premier and Sapphire customers can knock 0.125–0.50% off the posted rate, depending on deposit and investment balances. For high-net-worth borrowers, that’s the single biggest “free” discount available today.
Pros: Relationship pricing, strong jumbo desk, branch access nationwide. Cons: Slower online experience than fintech lenders.
5. Wells Fargo — Strong on Government Loans
Wells Fargo’s FHA and VA pricing is regularly inside the top three on our scrape. Conforming rates are average, but if you’re using a government program, it belongs on your shortlist.
Pros: Competitive FHA/VA, large branch network, builder programs. Cons: Regulatory history; documentation can be heavy.
6. Bank of America — Preferred Rewards Discount
Eligible Preferred Rewards clients receive up to $600 off origination plus rate reductions of 0.125–0.375%. The bigger your deposit relationship, the more meaningful this becomes.
Pros: Closing-cost grants for first-time buyers, relationship pricing. Cons: Posted rates without the discount are mid-pack.
➡️ Check rates at Bank of America
7. Guaranteed Rate — Strong Local Loan Officers
Guaranteed Rate’s strength is human: experienced loan officers who price aggressively to win purchase business in competitive metros. Posted rates online are average; quoted rates after a conversation often land 10–15 bps lower.
Pros: Skilled LOs, strong purchase desk, FlashClose tech. Cons: Pricing varies by branch.
➡️ Check rates at Guaranteed Rate
8. New American Funding — Flexible Underwriting
New American Funding accepts non-traditional income documentation (1099, asset depletion, bank statement) at conforming-adjacent rates. For self-employed buyers, that’s worth searching out.
Pros: Self-employed friendly, manual underwriting available. Cons: Headline rates run a touch higher than fintech leaders.
➡️ Check rates at New American Funding
9. PennyMac — Top Wholesale-to-Retail Pricing
PennyMac is one of the largest correspondents in the country and passes wholesale-style pricing through to retail borrowers, especially on refinance and FHA products.
Pros: Strong refinance pricing, FHA expertise, frequent rate promos. Cons: Less polished digital onboarding.
10. SoFi — Best for High-Earning W-2 Buyers
SoFi rewards high-FICO, high-income W-2 borrowers with rate discounts and no lender fees, plus member benefits across its ecosystem. Pricing on jumbos has gotten very competitive in 2026.
Pros: No lender fees, member rate discount, jumbo expansion. Cons: Tougher overlays for self-employed and lower-FICO borrowers.
Today’s Rate by Loan Size and Term
| Loan Amount | 15-Year Fixed APR | 20-Year Fixed APR | 30-Year Fixed APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | 6.05% | 6.59% | 6.84% |
| $300,000 | 6.05% | 6.59% | 6.84% |
| $400,000 | 6.00% | 6.55% | 6.79% |
| $500,000 | 5.95% | 6.50% | 6.74% |
| $766,550 (conforming cap) | 5.90% | 6.45% | 6.69% |
| $1,000,000 (jumbo) | 6.40% | 6.85% | 7.05% |
How to Lock the Lowest Rate Today
- Pre-approve with three lenders within 14 days. Credit bureaus treat mortgage inquiries inside a 14- to 45-day window as a single pull, so there’s no incremental score damage.
- Compare APR, not note rate. A 6.625% rate with 1.5 points can be more expensive than a 6.875% rate with zero points if you sell within seven years.
- Lock when the 10-year Treasury drops below its 30-day average. Mortgage rates follow the 10-year with a one- to three-day lag.
- Ask for a float-down. Most lenders offer a one-time float-down inside a 30- or 45-day lock for a fee or for free on jumbos.
- Lock for 45 days, not 30. A 5–10 bps premium is much cheaper than blowing a lock and paying 25–50 bps to extend.
Recommended Offers
💡 Editor’s pick — lowest posted 30-year: Better.com — no lender fees, 3-minute pre-approval, transparent quotes.
💡 Editor’s pick — relationship discount: Chase — up to 0.50% off for Premier and Sapphire clients.
💡 Editor’s pick — paid-point shoppers: AmeriSave — aggressive note-rate pricing when buying down points.
FAQ — Today’s Mortgage Rates
Q: How often do mortgage rates change? A: Rate sheets are repriced one to three times per business day, driven mostly by the 10-year Treasury. Lenders rarely change after 4 p.m. ET.
Q: What’s a good mortgage rate in 2026? A: Anything at or below the daily national average for your credit tier and loan type. As of today, that’s roughly 6.84% APR for a 30-year conforming loan with strong credit.
Q: Should I pay points to lower my rate? A: Only if you’ll keep the loan past the breakeven point — usually 5–7 years. Use the lender’s amortization schedule to confirm.
Q: When are mortgage rates lowest during the week? A: Historically, Monday and Wednesday mornings show the most aggressive pricing because lenders set weekly volume targets. The variance is small — 1 to 3 bps.
Q: Are jumbo rates higher than conforming rates in 2026? A: Often yes, by 10–25 bps, but well-qualified jumbo borrowers can find pricing inside conforming at relationship banks like Chase and BofA.
Q: Can I negotiate my mortgage rate? A: Yes. Bring a competing Loan Estimate and most retail lenders will match or come within 1/8 of a point. Fintech lenders are less flexible but may waive lender fees.
Related Reading on Mortgage24U
- 30-Year vs 15-Year Mortgage Rates: Which Saves More in 2026?
- Mortgage Rate Lock 2026: When, How, and How Long to Lock
- How Mortgage Rates Are Determined in 2026
- How to Get the Lowest Mortgage Rate in 2026
- Best Home Loan Lenders 2026
Final Verdict
If you’re shopping today, pull live quotes from Better.com, AmeriSave, and either Chase or Bank of America (whichever holds your deposit relationship). That trio reliably produces the lowest blended APR for the average borrower in 2026. Lock the same morning you receive matching Loan Estimates — chasing another 5 bps usually costs more in delay risk than it saves in interest.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Rates and lender terms are accurate as of publication and subject to change. Mortgage24U may receive compensation for some placements; rankings are independent.
By Mortgage24U Editorial · Updated May 9, 2026
- mortgage rates
- daily rates
- 2026
- mortgage