Mortgage Rates Face Upward Pressure Despite Softer Headlines | Today, September 23, 2026

Today’s mortgage rates

The 10-year Treasury yield came in at 4.984%, up 5.3 basis points, or 0.053 percentage points, from 4.931%. That rise signals upward pressure on mortgage pricing, but does not establish that lenders have raised rates.

On the inflation-policy front, the Fed’s Thomas Barkin reportedly said the economy may be firming and inflation is not limited to energy and tariff shocks. Today’s mortgage-rate headlines, meanwhile, describe fixed rates falling, mostly tiny fluctuations, or mixed moves—not a clear increase. For borrowers, those reports do not establish a uniform move in mortgage rates despite the higher Treasury yield.

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 7.112%.

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 6.506%.

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 6.126%.

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 are now, 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 4.984% from 4.931% (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 decreased to $90.66 from $93.5 a barrel. (Good for mortgage rates.*)
• Gold prices decreased to $4,350.4 from $4,363.20 an ounce. (Bad for mortgage rates.*)
• CNN Business Fear & Greed Index increased to 35.1 from 33.7 out of 100. (Bad for mortgage rates.) “Fear” 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

Treasury yields are sending a less favorable signal for mortgage shoppers than today’s rate headlines. The 10-year yield rose 5.3 basis points to 4.984% from 4.931%, according to Yahoo Finance. That’s a meaningful move that puts upward pressure on mortgage pricing, though it doesn’t mean lenders have raised rates across the board. Wednesday’s headlines describe falling fixed rates, tiny fluctuations or mixed moves.

Monday, Sept. 21, opened the supplied economic calendar with Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee’s speech at 6:30 a.m. Eastern. Fed remarks were the week’s early focus, giving bond investors opportunities to reassess the outlook for monetary policy — and the yields that help shape mortgage rates.

Tuesday, Sept. 22, brought remarks from New York Fed President John Williams at 10:05 a.m., Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson at 10:20 a.m. and Richmond Fed President Thomas Barkin at 1 p.m. Eastern. Barkin’s reported comments that the economy may be firming and inflation extends beyond energy and tariff shocks point to risks that could keep borrowing costs elevated. WTI crude fell $2.84 to $90.66 a barrel, but cheaper oil alone wouldn’t resolve the broader inflation concerns he described.

Wednesday, Sept. 23, puts housing demand in focus with the MBA Mortgage Applications report scheduled for 7 a.m. Eastern, followed by Fed Governor Michael Barr’s remarks at 10:05 a.m., according to Econoday. Applications offer a check on how borrowers are responding to financing costs; Barr’s comments could provide further policy signals. The packet contains no application results, so the clearest fresh pressure on mortgage pricing remains the rise in Treasury yields, not evidence of an across-the-board increase in quoted mortgage rates.

Recent trends

Freddie Mac’s September 23 report put the weekly 30-year fixed mortgage rate average at 6.95%. 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.