Compare 30-year fixed mortgage rates

How do you find current 30-year mortgage rates?

NerdWallet's mortgage rate tool can help you find competitive, customized 30-year mortgage rates. In the "Refine results" section, enter a few details about the loan you want. In moments, you'll get a rate quote tailored to meet your needs. From there, you can start the process of getting approved for your 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the most common term of mortgage. It provides the security of a fixed principal and interest payment, and the flexibility to afford a larger mortgage loan because the payments are more affordable — they're spread out over three decades.

How do I compare current 30-year fixed mortgage rates?

The more lenders you check out when shopping for mortgage rates, the more likely you are to get a lower interest rate. Getting a lower interest rate could save you hundreds of dollars over a year of mortgage payments — and thousands of dollars over the life of the mortgage.

With NerdWallet's easy-to-use mortgage rate tool, you can compare current 30-year home loan interest rates — whether you're a first-time home buyer looking at 30-year fixed mortgage rates or a longtime homeowner comparing refinance mortgage rates.

How do I find personalized 30-year mortgage rates?

NerdWallet's mortgage rate tool can help you find competitive 30-year mortgage rates. Specify the property's ZIP code and indicate whether you're buying or refinancing. After clicking "Get Started", you'll be asked the home's price or value, the size of the down payment or current loan balance, and the range of your credit score. You'll be on your way to getting a personalized rate quote, without providing personal information. From there, you can start the process to get preapproved for your home loan. It's that easy.

What is a good 30-year fixed mortgage rate?

A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a home loan that maintains the same interest rate and monthly principal-and-interest payment over the 30-year loan period. With a rate that lasts the length of the loan, you'll want the best rate you can get. Since your rate is most directly impacted by your credit score and down payment, you'll want to make sure your credit file is accurate — and make a down payment that's as much as you can easily afford.

Getting a good deal on a mortgage is like getting a good deal on a car. You do online research, you talk with friends and family, and then you comparison-shop. That last step, which involves applying with multiple lenders, is the most important step.

When you compare loan offers using the Loan Estimates, you'll feel confident when you identify the offer that has the best combination of rate and fees.

A Freddie Mac report concluded that a typical borrower can expect to save $400 in interest in just the first year by comparison-shopping five lenders instead of applying with just one lender. Over several years, comparison-shopping for a mortgage can save thousands of dollars. That'll give you something you can brag about.

The 30-year fixed isn't your only option. The 15-year fixed loan is common among refinancers. Adjustable-rate mortgages have low monthly payments during the first few years of the loan, making them popular for high-dollar loans.

Do 30-year fixed loans have better mortgage rates?

Longer-term mortgages typically have higher interest rates than shorter-term loans. So a 30-year loan will have a higher rate than a 15-year loan, for example. However, your monthly payments will be lower because you're paying your loan back over a much longer period of time.

Of course, that also means you're also paying much more in interest.

» MORE: Compare a 30-year mortgage to a 15-year loan

Pros and cons of a 30-year fixed mortgage

While the 30-year fixed mortgage is the most popular type of home loan, it isn't for everyone. Here are some benefits and drawbacks to the 30-year fixed:

Pros

Lower payments. Because they're spread out over 30 years, the monthly payments on a 30-year fixed mortgage are lower than for loans with shorter terms.

Flexibility. You're welcome to make the minimum monthly payment. But if you want to shrink your debt faster, you can make larger extra payments or extra ones. When you don't have spare money hanging around, you can go back to making the minimum monthly payments.

Predictability. Because it's a fixed rate, the monthly principal and interest payments are the same over the life of the loan. Keep in mind that the payments include taxes and insurance, which can go up and even sometimes go down.

Bigger loan. Because the monthly payments on a 30-year loan are smaller than on a shorter loan (such as 20 or 15 years), you can borrow more.

Cons

Higher interest rate. Because the lender is tying up its money longer, the interest rate on 30-year fixed mortgage is higher than on, say, a 15-year loan.

More interest overall: You pay more interest over the life of a 30-year mortgage because you make more payments.

You risk borrowing too much. A 30-year loan lets you borrow more, which could tempt you into taking out a loan that's too big. You might afford the monthly payments, but lack money for vacations, dining out, new cars and other discretionary spending.

How are mortgage rates set?

At a high level, mortgage rates are determined by economic forces that influence the bond market. You can't do anything about that, but it's worth knowing: Bad economic or global political worries can move mortgage rates lower. Good news can push rates higher.

What you can control are the amount of your down payment and your credit score. Lenders fine-tune their base interest rate on the risk they perceive to be taking with an individual loan.

So their base mortgage rate, computed with a profit margin aligned with the bond market, is adjusted higher or lower for each loan they offer. Higher mortgage rates for higher risk; lower rates for less perceived risk.

So the bigger your down payment and the higher your credit score, generally the lower your mortgage rate.

» MORE: Get your credit score for free

What's the difference between interest rate and APR?

The interest rate is the percentage that the lender charges for borrowing the money. The APR, or annual percentage rate, is supposed to reflect a more accurate cost of borrowing. The APR calculation includes fees and discount points, along with the interest rate.

APR is a tool used to compare loan offers, even if they have different interest rates, fees and discount points.

A major component of APR is mortgage insurance — a policy that protects the lender from losing money if you default on the mortgage. You, the borrower, pay for it.

Lenders usually require mortgage insurance on loans with less than 20% down payment (in a home purchase) or less than 20% equity (in a refinance).

» MORE: What is APR and how does it affect your mortgage?

Learn more about fixed-rate loans:

• Best 30-year fixed rate mortgage lenders
• Compare adjustable-rate and fixed-rate mortgages
• How to choose the best mortgage