Today’s mortgage and refinance rates: May 22, 2022 | Rates are cooling slightly

After months of steady increases, mortgage rates are finally cooling off. On Thursday, Freddie Mac announced that the average weekly 30-year fixed rate dropped from 5.3% to 5.25%. Even though rates have paused their climb, they still remain at the highest level they’ve been since 2009. As this year’s buying season hits its peak, home shoppers may find that they can’t afford as much as they could when rates were at historic lows. “More than ever, buyers should be laser-focused on planning for all the expenses that go into owning a home right now — think insurance, taxes, maintenance — and not just a mortgage,” says Robert Heck, vice president of mortgage at Morty . “If rising rates have cut into your affordability, take a look at what you can afford now.” Today’s mortgage rates Mortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on Zillow Today’s refinance rates Mortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Real Estate on Zillow Mortgage calculator Use our free mortgage calculator to see how today’s mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. Mortgage Calculator Home Price Down payment % Length of loan (years) Interest rate % $ 1,161 Your estimated monthly payment More details Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Total paid $ 418,177 Principal paid $ 275,520 Interest paid $ 42,657 Ways you can save: Paying a 25% higher down payment would save you $8,916.08 on interest charges Lowering the interest rate by 1% would save you $51,562.03 Paying an additional $500 each month would reduce the loan length by 146 months By plugging in different term lengths and interest rates, you’ll see how your monthly payment could change. Are mortgage rates going up? Mortgage rates started ticking up from historic lows in the second half of 2021, and may continue to increase throughout 2022. In the last 12 months, the Consumer Price Index rose by 8.3% . The Federal Reserve has been working to get inflation under control, and plans to increase the federal funds target rate five more times this year, following increases in March and May. Though not directly tied to the federal funds rate, mortgage rates are often pushed up as a result of Fed rate hikes. As the central bank continues to tighten monetary policy to lower inflation, it’s likely that mortgage rates will remain elevated. What do high rates mean for the housing market? When mortgage rates go up, home shoppers’ buying power decreases, as more of their anticipated housing budget has to go toward paying interest. If rates get high enough, buyers can get priced out of the market completely, which cools demand and puts downward pressure on home price growth. However, that doesn’t mean home prices will fall — in fact, they’re expected to rise even more this year, just at a slower pace than what we’ve seen in the past couple of years. What is a good mortgage rate? It can be hard to know if a lender is offering you a good rate, which is why it’s so important to get preapproved with multiple mortgage lenders and compare each offer. Apply for preapproval with at least two or three lenders. Your rate isn’t the only thing that matters. Be sure to compare both what your monthly costs would be as well as your upfront costs, including any lender fees. Even though mortgage rates are heavily influenced by economic factors that are out of your control, there are some things you can do to help ensure you get a good rate: Consider fixed vs. adjustable rates. You may be able to get a lower introductory rate with an adjustable-rate mortgage, which can be good if you plan to move before the intro period ends. But a fixed rate could be better if you’re buying a forever home because you won’t risk your rate going up later. Look at the rates your lender offers and weigh your options. Look at your finances. The stronger your financial situation, the lower your mortgage rate should be. Look for ways to boost your credit score or lower your debt-to-income ratio , if necessary. Saving for a higher down payment also helps. Choose the right lender. Each lender charges different mortgage rates. Picking the right one for your financial situation will help you land a good rate. Molly Grace Mortgage Reporter Molly Grace is a reporter at Insider. She covers mortgage rates, refinance rates, lender reviews, and homebuying articles for Personal Finance Insider. Before joining the Insider team, Molly was a blog writer for Rocket Companies, where she wrote educational articles about mortgages, homebuying, and homeownership. You can reach Molly at mgrace@insider.com, or on Twitter @mollythegrace. Read more Read less Laura Grace Tarpley, CEPF Personal Finance Reviews Editor Laura Grace Tarpley is a personal finance reviews editor at Insider. She edits articles about mortgage rates, refinance rates, lenders, bank accounts, and borrowing and savings tips for Personal Finance Insider. She is also a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF). She has written about personal finance for six years. Before joining the Insider team, she was a freelance finance writer for companies like SoFi and The Penny Hoarder, as well as an editor at FluentU. You can reach Laura Grace at ltarpley@insider.com. See below for some of her work. Today’s 30-year mortgage rates Here are the best mortgage lenders right now The pros and cons of paying off your mortgage early The best online high-yield savings accounts Chase checking accounts: Compare all 5 options Learn more about how Personal Finance Insider chooses, rates, and covers financial products and services » Read more Read less