Mortgage Rates Dip Amid Falling Treasury Yields | Today, April 19, 2026

Today’s mortgage rates

Mortgage and refinance rates are moving lower today as the 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.248% from 4.335%, and consumer-facing rate coverage pointed the same way, with one headline citing another weekend of lower rates at 6.02%, another reporting a 25-basis-point drop in the 30-year refinance rate, and another saying mortgage rates hit a five-week low. Freddie Mac’s latest 30-year average came in at 6.3%. Taken together, borrowers are starting the day with a friendlier rate backdrop than they had earlier this month.

The clearest market support came from Treasurys, with the 10-year yield down 8.7 basis points, or 0.087 percentage point. WTI crude also plunged to $85.57 a barrel from $112.61, while gold climbed to $4,849.4 an ounce from $4,676.1. That mix suggests bond markets got some inflation relief from energy even as demand for safety stayed alive.

Risk appetite also turned sharply higher, with the Dow up 1.79%, the S&P 500 up 1.20%, the Nasdaq up 1.52%, and CNN’s Fear & Greed Index jumping to 68.1 from 22.6. Even so, borrowers should keep an eye on upcoming inflation data, especially PPI, and on Fed-related headlines such as Anna Paulson’s 3.1% long-run fed funds view and fresh policy-watch chatter around Kevin Warsh, because those could shape where mortgage rates go next.

Although rates have elevated from recent lows, see if refinancing makes sense or tapping home equity is prudent. For home buyers, explore expert advice for 2026 and check if you qualify for financial assistance programs or more flexible loan options.

Current mortgage and refinance rates

>Related: 7 Tips to get the best refinance rate

30-year fixed rate mortgage

At the time this was published, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 6.325%.

The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) hit a record weekly low of 2.65% on Jan. 7, 2021, and a record weekly high of 8.89% on Dec. 16, 1994, according to Freddie Mac.

A 30-year FRM gives borrowers an affordable option but you pay more interest over the life of the loan compared to shorter mortgages.

15-year fixed rate mortgage

Today, the average 15-year fixed mortgage rate went to 5.729%.

The average 15-year FRM hit a record weekly low of 2.1% on July 29, 2021, and a record weekly high of 18.63% on Sep. 10, 1981, according to Freddie Mac.

The 15-year FRM offers borrowers a briefer term with less accrued interest, but the monthly payments will be much higher.

5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage

This morning’s 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage averaged 5.626%.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) typically have lower initial interest rates compared to fixed loans. Once that initial period ends, the interest rate adjusts to the current market conditions. In this case, the initial period is five years and the adjustments are up to once every year. Homeowners with shorter term lending plans tend to see these as advantageous.

What experts are expecting

Ralph DiBugnara, president at Home Qualified

“I expect rates to stay in a relatively similar range as where they ended in March, likely hovering in the low-to-mid 6% range. Current global uncertainty and inflation data will keep volatility in play. Also any rate cuts at all by the Fed may be in jeopardy now so that will keep markets frozen some. Unless we get a clear cooling signal from the Fed, don’t expect a drop. The 30-year fixed should average around 6.25% with the 15 year fixed at 5.875%“

Market data affecting today’s mortgage rates

Here’s a snapshot of the state of play as this article was published. The data mostly compares to roughly the same time the business day before, so much of the movement will often have happened in the previous session.

• The yield on 10-year Treasury notes decreased to 4.248% from 4.335% (Good for mortgage rates). Mortgage rates often follow these Treasury bond yields.
• Major stock indexes rose this morning. (Bad for mortgage rates.) When investors sell shares and move into bonds, bond purchases can push prices up and yields down, potentially easing mortgage rates.
• Oil prices decreased to $85.57 from $112.61 a barrel. (Good for mortgage rates.*)
• Gold prices increased to $4,849.4 from $4,676.10 an ounce. (Good for mortgage rates.*)
• CNN Business Fear & Greed Index increased to 68.1 from 22.6 out of 100. (Bad for mortgage rates.) “Greed” suggests investors are seeking safety, supporting bond prices.

*A movement of less than $20 on gold prices or 40 cents on oil prices is a change of 1% or less. So we only count meaningful differences as good or bad for mortgage rates.

Caveats about markets and rates

Before the pandemic, post-pandemic upheavals, and war in Ukraine, you could look at the above figures and make a pretty good guess about what would happen to mortgage rates that day. But that’s no longer the case. We still make daily calls. And are usually right. But our record for accuracy won’t achieve its former high levels until things settle down.

So, use markets only as a rough guide. Because they have to be exceptionally strong or weak for us to rely on them. But, with that caveat, mortgage rates today might nudge upward or barely budge. However, be aware that “intraday swings” (when rates change speed or direction during the day) are a common feature right now.

What’s driving mortgage rates today?

This week

This week starts with a better setup for mortgage shoppers. The 10-year Treasury yield, a key benchmark for mortgage pricing, fell to 4.248% from 4.335%, an 8.7-basis-point drop, according to yfinance. Oil also broke hard lower, with WTI crude at $85.57 per barrel, down $27.04 from $112.61. That kind of move can cool inflation worries if it sticks. Rate coverage is already reflecting the shift: Google News headlines on Sunday pointed to “another weekend with lower rates,” including one report showing a 6.02% average and another saying the 30-year refinance rate fell by 25 basis points. Freddie Mac’s 30-year survey rate was 6.3%, per FRED.

Sunday’s calendar is light but not empty. Existing Home Sales is due at 10:00 a.m. ET and is listed as a high-impact release by Econoday. It matters less for inflation than the week’s producer-price data, but it gives the market a live read on housing demand and how buyers are handling financing costs. Later Sunday, Stephen Miran speaks at 6:20 p.m. ET. Fed-adjacent policy commentary can move Treasurys if it changes expectations for where rates are headed.

Monday brings the week’s main scheduled inflation test. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index is out at 6:00 a.m. ET, followed by PPI-Final Demand at 8:30 a.m. ET, both from Econoday’s calendar. PPI matters directly to rates because a cooler reading would support the bond rally that already pushed the 10-year lower, while a hot number could reverse it fast. Two Fed speakers follow: Austan Goolsbee at 12:15 p.m. ET and Michael Barr at 12:45 p.m. ET. Markets will be listening for any signal on inflation progress, labor-market resilience and how restrictive policy still needs to be.

Outside the calendar, the tone has turned more risk-friendly. The Dow gained 1.79%, the S&P 500 rose 1.20% and the Nasdaq added 1.52%, according to yfinance. CNN’s Fear & Greed Index jumped to 68.1 from 22.6, a 45.5-point swing into greed territory. Gold climbed to $4849.4 an ounce from $4676.1, up $173.3, showing some investors still want protection even as stocks rally. Markets are also tracking policy and Fed succession chatter, including a headline on Kevin Warsh being tipped for a major global finance role and another on Philadelphia Fed’s Anna Paulson seeing the long-run federal funds rate at about 3.1%. For borrowers, the simple takeaway is that bonds improved, mortgage-rate headlines followed, and this week’s inflation data will decide whether the relief sticks.

Recent trends

Freddie Mac’s April 19 report put the weekly 30-year fixed mortgage rate average at 6.3%. Freddie’s data serves as a market barometer and trend tracker, but individual rates vary by lender and depend on personal financial profiles.

Expert forecasts for mortgage rates

Looking further ahead, Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) each has a team of economists dedicated to monitoring and forecasting what will happen to the economy, the housing sector and mortgage rates.

Here are their quarterly rate forecasts for the next year.

The numbers in the table below are for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages. Fannie updated its forecast on March 10 and the MBA updated theirs on March 23.

Of course, given so many unknowables, these forecasts might be even more speculative than usual. And their past record for accuracy — due to the volatile nature of interest rates — hasn’t been wildly impressive.

Mortgage rate methodology

The Mortgage Reports receives rates based on selected criteria from multiple lending partners each day. We arrive at an average rate and APR for each loan type to display in our chart. Because we average an array of rates, it gives you a better idea of what you might find in the marketplace. Furthermore, we average rates for the same loan types. For example, FHA fixed with FHA fixed. The end result is a good snapshot of daily rates and how they change over time.

Current mortgage rates methodology

We receive current mortgage rates each day from a network of mortgage lenders that offer home purchase and refinance loans. Those mortgage rates shown here are based on sample borrower profiles that vary by loan type. See our full loan assumptions here.