Weekly Mortgage Rates Rise, But Long Term Expectations Are Lower

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Published · 2 min read
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Written by Kate Wood
Lead Writer/Spokesperson
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Edited by Jeanette Margle
Lead Assigning Editor

Though mortgage interest rates rose this past week, the relatively small increase may be a sign things are settling down. After a surprisingly strong Oct. 4 jobs report drove rates rapidly upward, interest rates are beginning to normalize. In the week ending Oct. 17, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate rose six basis points, averaging 6.46%. A basis point is one one-hundredth of a percentage point.

Mortgage interest rates in the mid-sixes don't feel great. The current average is about half a percentage point higher than it was a month ago. But remember also that today's interest rates are more than three-quarters of a percentage point lower than the highs we saw back in spring.

So here's the $415,000 question — since that's roughly the median sales price for an existing home, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. Where are mortgage interest rates headed?

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GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
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GO Mortgage

4.0

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Mortgage loans from our partners

NBKC - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on NBKC

NBKC

4.5

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NBKC - PURCHASE logo

4.5

NerdWallet rating 
Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

Check Rate

on NBKC

New American Funding - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on New American Funding

New American Funding

4.5

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New American Funding - PURCHASE logo

4.5

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Min. credit score 
500

Min. down payment 
3.5%

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on New American Funding

GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
Check Rate

on GO Mortgage

GO Mortgage

4.0

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GO Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.0

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Min. credit score 
620

Min. down payment 
3%

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on GO Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo
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on Rocket Mortgage

Rocket Mortgage

4.5

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Rocket Mortgage - PURCHASE logo

4.5

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580

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