Mortgage Rates Ease Amid Falling Treasury Yields | Today, April 17, 2026

Today’s mortgage rates

The 10-year Treasury yield came in at 4.288% Friday, down 4.7 basis points from 4.335%, giving borrowers the clearest same-day sign that mortgage-rate pressure may be easing. That lines up with broader rate coverage showing 30-year mortgage rates declining, while Freddie Mac’s weekly 30-year survey last stood at 6.3%.

WTI crude came in at $90.65 a barrel, down $21.96 from $112.61, a sharp drop that can help cool inflation pressure. Gold, by contrast, rose $151.4 to $4,827.5, the Fear & Greed Index jumped to 63.3 from 22.6, and major stock indexes were flat, a mixed market picture that still leaves the Treasury move and oil slide as the bigger borrower signals.

Next up, borrowers should watch PPI-Final Demand, Existing Home Sales, and remarks from Austan Goolsbee and Michael Barr, since fresh inflation and housing data — plus Fed commentary — could steer the next move in mortgage rates.

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 6.379%.

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 5.768%.

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 5.539%.

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 4.288% from 4.335% (Good 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 $90.65 from $112.61 a barrel. (Good for mortgage rates.*)
• Gold prices increased to $4,827.5 from $4,676.10 an ounce. (Good for mortgage rates.*)
• CNN Business Fear & Greed Index increased to 63.3 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’s rate story starts with the bond market. The 10-year Treasury yield fell to 4.288% Friday from 4.335%, a 4.7-basis-point drop that gives mortgage shoppers a clearer sign that borrowing pressure may be easing. Oil reinforced that move. WTI crude dropped to $90.65 per barrel from $112.61, a $21.96 slide and one of the bigger cross-market signals this week that inflation pressure could be cooling. Gold moved the other way, up $151.40 to $4,827.50 an ounce, while stocks were flat on the day, with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all unchanged.

Sunday’s calendar started with Existing Home Sales at 10:00 a.m. ET, a high-impact housing report that matters because it gives lenders and investors a read on buyer demand at current rate levels. Later Sunday, Stephen Miran was scheduled to speak at 6:20 p.m. ET. That appearance carried less weight than hard data, but markets have been sensitive to any policy commentary tied to growth, tariffs and inflation.

Monday brings the week’s first inflation test. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index is due at 6:00 a.m. ET, followed by PPI-Final Demand at 8:30 a.m. ET. PPI matters directly to rates because it tracks pipeline inflation before it reaches consumers. If producer prices run hot, Treasury yields can jump quickly and mortgage pricing can follow. Fed commentary is also packed into the afternoon, with Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee speaking at 12:15 p.m. ET and Fed Governor Michael Barr at 12:45 p.m. ET. With recent coverage focused on the Fed keeping pressure on and political attacks on the central bank, traders will be listening for any hint on how long officials think policy needs to stay restrictive.

The broader backdrop is a little friendlier for borrowers than it was earlier in the year. Freddie Mac’s latest 30-year PMMS stood at 6.3%, and Friday’s drop in the 10-year yield gives that trend some support. CNN’s Fear & Greed Index jumped to 63.3 from 22.6, showing a sharp turn toward risk appetite, but for mortgage rates the cleaner signal is still bonds and commodities. If Treasury yields keep drifting lower and oil stays off its highs, rate sheets could keep improving.

Recent trends

Freddie Mac’s April 17 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.