Mortgage Rates Hold Steady Amid Jackson Hole Focus | Today, August 27, 2026

Today’s mortgage rates

Mortgage rates looked broadly steady Thursday even as outside coverage split between small increases, little change and a third straight dip, with the bigger story shifting to Jackson Hole and Fed Chair Warsh’s rate-path signal. Freddie Mac’s 30-year average most recently came in at 6.65%, and with inflation and Fed guidance in focus at Jackson Hole, borrowers may get their next real rate move from policy messaging more than from this morning’s noise.

Markets only moved modestly early Thursday. The 10-year Treasury yield came in at 4.664%, up 1 basis point from 4.654%, while the Dow fell 0.21%, the S&P 500 fell 0.02%, the Nasdaq fell 0.08%, and CNN’s Fear & Greed Index slipped to 55.1 from 55.8. That points to limited immediate pressure on mortgage rates.

After this quiet open, borrowers should keep watching Jackson Hole, plus recent high-impact data such as durable goods, consumer confidence and new home sales, for clues on where 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 6.704%.

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 6.069%.

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 5.855%.

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%“

Any specific rate figures above reflect this expert’s personal opinion and forecast. They are illustrative only, are not an offer or commitment to lend, and are not an advertised rate. Your actual rate and APR depend on your credit, loan amount, down payment, property and other factors, and will vary by lender.

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 increased to 4.664% from 4.654% (Bad for mortgage rates). Mortgage rates often follow these Treasury bond yields.
• Major stock indexes dropped this morning. (Good 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 increased to $82.23 from $82.12 a barrel. (Bad for mortgage rates.*)
• Gold prices increased to $4,652.2 from $4,646.90 an ounce. (Good for mortgage rates.*)
• CNN Business Fear & Greed Index decreased to 55.1 from 55.8 out of 100. (Good 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’s rate story still looks bigger than Thursday’s small market moves. The 10-year Treasury yield was up to 4.664% from 4.654%, while stocks were mixed to lower, with the Dow down 0.21%, the S&P 500 off 0.02% and the Nasdaq down 0.08%. Oil edged up to $82.23 a barrel from $82.12, gold rose to $4,652.2 an ounce from $4,646.9, and CNN’s Fear & Greed Index slipped to 55.1 from 55.8, still in greed territory. Those are modest shifts. For mortgage borrowers, the bigger question is whether Jackson Hole changes the market’s view of where the Fed goes next.

Tuesday’s calendar brought two high-impact reports at 10:00 a.m. ET: Consumer Confidence and New Home Sales. Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin was also scheduled to speak at 8:00 a.m. ET and again at 4:00 p.m. ET. Confidence data can move bond yields if it changes the read on household spending, while new-home sales matter more directly for housing demand and builder activity. Fed remarks matter when investors are trying to pin down the next rate-path signal, and this week that matters more than usual with Jackson Hole in focus.

Wednesday started with MBA Mortgage Applications at 7:00 a.m. ET, followed by Durable Goods Orders at 8:30 a.m. ET. MBA data gives a fresh read on borrower demand for purchases and refis, but Durable Goods is the bigger market mover because it can shift expectations for business spending and broader economic momentum. If the data comes in hot, Treasury yields can climb and mortgage rates can follow. If it cools, rates can get some relief.

By Thursday, the market backdrop still pointed to a waiting game. Freddie Mac’s weekly 30-year fixed-rate average was 6.65%, and mortgage-rate coverage elsewhere was mixed, with headlines describing fixed rates as higher, rates as mostly stuck, and some daily measures as falling for a third straight day. That split is normal when intraday bond moves are small and lender pricing is uneven. The real week-defining event is Jackson Hole, where Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is under the spotlight with inflation and the rate path in focus. If borrowers are looking for what could move mortgage rates next, that conference matters more than today’s tick higher in the 10-year yield.

Recent trends

Freddie Mac’s August 27 report put the weekly 30-year fixed mortgage rate average at 6.65%. 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.

🏠 Equal Housing Lender. The Mortgage Reports, NMLS #1019791. Verify our licensing at NMLS Consumer Access. We do business in accordance with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and federal Fair Housing laws. This article is for editorial and informational purposes only and is not an offer or commitment to lend; rates and terms are illustrative and subject to change without notice.