Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, December 13, 2025: Refusing to react to the Fed's latest rate cut

Core Insights - Mortgage rates are not responding to the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.13% and the 15-year fixed rate at 5.53% [1] Current Mortgage Rates - The current national average mortgage rates are as follows: - 30-year fixed: 6.13% - 20-year fixed: 6.08% - 15-year fixed: 5.53% - 5/1 ARM: 6.24% - 7/1 ARM: 6.31% - 30-year VA: 5.60% - 15-year VA: 5.14% - 5/1 VA: 5.36% [5] Refinance Rates - Today's mortgage refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, with the following averages: - 30-year fixed: 6.19% - 20-year fixed: 5.96% - 15-year fixed: 5.60% - 5/1 ARM: 6.40% - 7/1 ARM: 6.46% - 30-year VA: 5.67% - 15-year VA: 5.35% - 5/1 VA: 5.44% [6] Market Conditions - Current housing market conditions are relatively favorable for buyers compared to previous years, as home prices are not experiencing the rapid increases seen during the COVID-19 pandemic [16] - Economists do not anticipate significant drops in mortgage interest rates before the end of the year, although minor fluctuations may occur [19] Mortgage Types and Their Characteristics - A 30-year fixed mortgage offers lower and predictable monthly payments but comes with higher interest costs over the loan's life [8][10] - A 15-year fixed mortgage has higher monthly payments but lower interest rates, allowing borrowers to save significantly on interest over time [11][12] - Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) provide lower initial rates but carry the risk of rate increases after the introductory period [13][14]