Mortgage rates today: compare the offer, not just the headline
Freddie Mac’s 30-year fixed average was 7.03% on Sept. 24. That U.S. benchmark is not a rate promised for your application.
The weekly average rose from 6.95% the week before. A rate in a headline or ad still may not match your own offer. Compare the written Loan Estimates side by side; the latest average is only context.
Compare the five-year borrowing cost
On page 3, find “In 5 years.” Enter the first amount (total paid) and the second amount (principal repaid) for each Loan Estimate.
Use the same loan amount, term and type. ARM figures assume the rate stays the same. Your figures stay in this browser; they are not saved or sent.
Make sure the two estimates match
Compare the same loan amount, term and type, and note when each estimate was issued. Rates can change daily. Check whether the rate is fixed or adjustable, and whether it is locked. A lock generally applies for a stated period and can depend on your application staying the same.
What the five-year figure means
The first “In 5 years” amount includes everything paid, including principal. The second shows how much principal you will have paid off. Subtract the second from the first to estimate five years of interest and fees. The tool above does that subtraction for both offers.
Do not let one number decide for you
The interest rate does not include all loan charges. APR is broader: it reflects the rate, points, mortgage broker fees and other charges to get the loan. Discount points cost money upfront to lower a rate; lender credits can lower upfront costs while pairing with a higher rate. Check those costs alongside the APR, your cash to close and the total monthly payment.
If the loan is adjustable-rate, the five-year estimate assumes the rate does not change; actual borrowing costs could be higher. And if the loan amount, term or type differs, the two five-year costs are not a like-for-like comparison.
U.S. mortgage information. Freddie Mac’s average is dated Sept. 24, 2026; it is a weekly benchmark, not a live quote or personal offer.
Sources: CFPB · Compare loan offers · CFPB · Rate and APR · CFPB · Points and credits · CFPB · Rate lock · Freddie Mac · Weekly average.