{"id":24487,"date":"2026-01-07T16:05:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T16:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=24487"},"modified":"2026-01-07T16:05:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T16:05:43","slug":"mortgage-rates-are-now-being-advertised-well-below-the-national-average","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=24487","title":{"rendered":"Mortgage Rates Are Now Being Advertised Well Below the National Average"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It\u2019s no secret that mortgage rates are complicated.\u00a0There is no one-size-fits-all price.<\/p>\n

The rate you\u2019re quoted will depend on both your risk profile and the property, along with the lender you speak with.<\/p>\n

As such, rates can vary tremendously based on the loan scenario and how competitive the lender in question is.<\/p>\n

This makes it difficult to provide a national average for mortgage rates because it\u2019s essentially a single snapshot of the market.<\/p>\n

Rates can be higher or lower than what you see reported, but lately I\u2019m seeing a ton of advertised rates in the 5% range.<\/p>\n

Mortgage Rates Are Already in the 5s!<\/h2>\n

\"5<\/p>\n

In my 2026 mortgage rate predictions post, I called for a 30-year fixed in the 5s at some point in the first quarter of this year.<\/p>\n

We aren\u2019t there yet based on the national averages, but we sure are close. And when you actually go out and get real quotes, we\u2019ve already arrived (and then some).<\/p>\n

Take for example this screenshot from a major bank. All of their mortgage rates start with a \u20185\u2019 today. Not a \u20186\u2019 in sight.<\/p>\n

And their 15-year fixed mortgage offering is literally 5.00%, ever so close to dipping into the 4s. Seems hard to believe.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve said for a while that rates in the high-4s would pretty much put an end to the mortgage rate lock-in effect.<\/p>\n

We aren\u2019t there yet as the 30-year fixed is still being offered in higher-5% range, but it\u2019s well below the national average you see.<\/p>\n

At last glance, Freddie Mac said the 30-year fixed averaged 6.15%, while Mortgage News Daily is at a similar 6.19%.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That means these advertised rates are roughly a half-point below those national averages you see reported.<\/p>\n

This is great news if you\u2019re in the market to buy a home or in need of a rate and term refinance.<\/p>\n

Yes, this particular rate quote requires one discount point to be paid at closing, but that\u2019s fairly reasonable.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t want to pay anything at closing, perhaps opting for a no cost refinance, expect a higher rate.<\/p>\n

However, even then it could still be priced below the national averages.<\/p>\n

Take the Time to Shop Your Mortgage Rate<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve said this a million times but it bears repeating. Shop your mortgage rate!<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t, and simply look up those national averages, then get quoted something fairly similar, you might be duly satisfied.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, you could miss out on rates like these. Heck, there could easily be something much better than what I found above.<\/p>\n

This was simply one bank I came across that caught my eye given all their rates are now being offered below 6%.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s literally just one example and there are countless banks, lenders, credit unions, and independent mortgage brokers out there to choose from.<\/p>\n

If you take a moment to speak to a few (you don\u2019t need to run your credit to get a quote), you can get a better idea of what\u2019s out there for your particular loan scenario.<\/p>\n

Once you gather a few quotes from different companies, you\u2019ll be able to determine if the company you spoke to is high-priced, low-priced, or bang average.<\/p>\n

And chances are you can find a lower mortgage rate than what\u2019s being reported in the news every week.<\/p>\n

Simply put, your goal should be to find a mortgage rate that is below the national average.<\/p>\n

Read on:<\/span> 10 Mortgage Rate Shopping Tips to Save on Your Next Home Loan<\/p>\n

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\"Colin<\/div>\n
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Before creating this site, I worked as an account executive for a wholesale mortgage lender in Los Angeles. My hands-on experience in the early 2000s inspired me to begin writing about mortgages 19 years ago to help prospective (and existing) home buyers better navigate the home loan process. Follow me on X for hot takes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\"Colin<\/div>\n
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