Rates as of July 8, 2026
| Program | Mortgage Rate | APR* | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional 30-year fixed | |||
| Conventional 30-year fixed | 6.668% | 6.77% | -0.01 |
| Conventional 15-year fixed | |||
| Conventional 15-year fixed | 5.812% | 6.002% | -0.07 |
| 30-year fixed FHA† | |||
| 30-year fixed FHA† | 6.606% | 6.67% | +0.33 |
| 30-year fixed VA† | |||
| 30-year fixed VA† | 6.65% | 6.706% | +0.34 |
| 5/1 ARM Conventional | |||
| 5/1 ARM Conventional | 6.25% | 6.66% | -0.01 |
| Conventional 20-year fixed | |||
| Conventional 20-year fixed | 6.562% | 6.729% | +0.14 |
| Conventional 10-year fixed | |||
| Conventional 10-year fixed | 6.125% | 6.368% | Unchanged |
| † National average shown — statewide North Carolina data for this loan type isn't available yet. | |||
| Rates are provided by our partner network, and may not reflect the market. Your rate might be different. Click here for a personalized rate quote. See our rate assumptions See our rate assumptions here. | |||
Buying a Home in North Carolina
Buying or selling a home in North Carolina can be very different than other states, thanks to local real estate laws.
First off, buyers shouldn’t share their personal information with a real estate agent until they’ve been hired. This is because any information the buyer chooses to share with the agent will not be confidential until a formal buyer-agency relationship has been established.
Also, North Carolina is technically a “buyer beware” state. That’s not as ominous as it sounds; “buyer beware” simply means there isn’t a standard disclosure document the seller must give you outlining any issues. But it does mean you should be sure to order a home inspection and verify the house is in sound condition.
Also, there’s a “due diligence fee” required in North Carolina. This non-refundable fee is paid directly from buyer to seller after both parties have signed an offer letter. The amount of the fee is optional, and should be negotiated during the offer process. You won’t get that money back, even if one of your contingencies kicks in. So keep the amount as small as you can without offending the seller
Finally, while it can vary from area to area, North Carolina buyers will commonly put down around 1% of the purchase price as their “good faith” or “earnest” money at the time the purchase agreement is signed. This is in addition to the due diligence fee. But the difference is, the earnest money will be put toward your closing costs when the sale is finalized.
Refinancing in North Carolina
North Carolina has quite a few protections for borrowers when they buy a house or refinance. However, it’s still a good idea to remain wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
In North Carolina — like in other states — homeowners generally refinance with one of two goals in mind: a rate-and-term refinance or cash-out refinance.
A rate-and-term refinance gives you the opportunity to achieve all or any of the following:
- Get a lower mortgage rate
- Reduce your monthly payment
- Switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate one — or the other way around
- Get a longer or shorter loan term
However, you can’t take any cash out with one of these.
With a cash-out refinance, you may still benefit from some of those bullet points. But the main goal is to take out some of the equity you’ve built up in your home as a cash lump sum. “Equity” is simply the amount by which the current market value of your home exceeds your mortgage balance.
Both forms of refinance are common in North Carolina, and there aren’t any specific rules homeowners need to be aware of when they go either route.
Mortgage calculator: North Carolina
Calculate your mortgage payment for a home in North Carolina. Start by finding your current mortgage rate using the filters above. Then enter your rate, home price, down payment, and loan term into the mortgage calculator below to estimate your monthly payment.
North Carolina mortgage lenders
North Carolina home buyers seem to favor regional lenders. You can browse the highest-rated mortgage lenders in North Carolina according to customer rankings on Zillow.
If these companies aren’t available to you — or if you want more variety to shop around — check out our reviews of the best nationwide mortgage lenders:
- The Best Mortgage Companies for 2026
- The Best Refinance Companies for 2026
- Individual Mortgage Lender Reviews
In addition, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA) offers affordable homeownership programs and down payment assistance through select lenders.
To find an NCHFA-approved mortgage lender, use this lookup tool. >>