Mortgage Rates Rise Amid Treasury Yield Increase | Today, May 13, 2026

Today’s mortgage rates

Mortgage borrowers should brace for slightly higher rates today: the 10-year Treasury yield came in at 4.483%, up 4.4 basis points from 4.439%, and rate coverage said conventional mortgage rates were up across the board while one report showed the 30-year refinance rate rising 16 basis points. Freddie Mac’s 30-year benchmark last stood at 6.37%, and the morning signal points to upward pressure on purchase and refi pricing.

Oil also moved higher, with WTI crude up to $102.04 a barrel, while gold slipped to $4,699.7 an ounce. Stocks were little changed, and CNN’s Fear & Greed Index still came in at 65.5, in greed territory, a mix that helps explain the firmer rate tone without signaling a broad market break.

The next scheduled read for mortgage watchers is the MBA Mortgage Applications report at 7:00 a.m. ET, after Tuesday’s CPI release set the broader inflation backdrop. Fed politics are also in the news, with fresh headlines about Kevin Warsh and White House pressure on the central bank, but for borrowers the practical takeaway is simple: rate quotes may be a bit less friendly today.

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 6.462%.

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 5.838%.

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 5.709%.

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 increased to 4.483% from 4.439% (Bad for mortgage rates). Mortgage rates often follow these Treasury bond yields.
• Major stock indexes were mixed this morning. (Mixed 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 $102.04 from $101.55 a barrel. (Bad for mortgage rates.*)
• Gold prices decreased to $4,699.7 from $4,715.60 an ounce. (Bad for mortgage rates.*)
• CNN Business Fear & Greed Index decreased to 65.5 from 65.9 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 calendar is front-loaded, and the early market signal points to slightly higher mortgage rates today. The 10-year Treasury yield, a key benchmark for mortgage pricing, rose to 4.483% from 4.439%, a gain of 4.4 basis points, according to yfinance. Oil also moved higher, with WTI crude up to $102.04 per barrel from $101.55, while gold fell to $4699.7 an ounce from $4715.6. Stock indexes were flat in the latest read, and CNN’s Fear & Greed Index slipped to 65.5 from 65.9, still in greed territory. News coverage is leaning the same way: Google News results Wednesday included “Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, May 13, 2026: Conventional rates up across the board” and “Mortgage Rates Today, May 13, 2026: 30-Year Refinance Rate Rises by 16 Basis Points.”

Sunday’s big housing report was Existing Home Sales, released May 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET. That’s a high-impact report because it gives bond traders a read on housing demand and the broader economy. Stronger-than-expected sales can push yields higher if investors see firmer growth and less pressure on the Fed to cut rates. We’re now past that release, but it set the tone for a week where housing and inflation data both matter.

Monday was the busiest day. Fed President John Williams was scheduled to speak at 3:15 a.m. ET, followed by the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index at 6:00 a.m. ET and the Consumer Price Index at 8:30 a.m. ET. CPI is the week’s main event for mortgage shoppers because inflation data can move Treasury yields fast. If price growth runs hot, mortgage rates tend to follow yields higher. Later in the day, Fed President Austan Goolsbee was set to speak at 1:00 p.m. ET. Fed commentary may get extra attention this week after Google News surfaced “Warsh has big plans for the Fed, but results may take time” and “Inside the Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Pressure Campaign on the Fed,” two stories that keep the central bank in focus even when the scheduled data are done.

Today’s scheduled release is the MBA Mortgage Applications survey at 7:00 a.m. ET. It’s a medium-impact report, but it’s one of the few fresh reads on borrower demand, purchase activity and refinance interest. It usually does not move markets like CPI does, though it can add context if rate volatility is already building. Freddie Mac’s latest 30-year Primary Mortgage Market Survey rate stands at 6.37%, according to FRED, and the direction of travel this morning suggests lenders may be less generous than they were a day ago.

For borrowers, the takeaway is simple: this week started with

Recent trends

Freddie Mac’s May 13 report put the weekly 30-year fixed mortgage rate average at 6.37%. 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.