Mortgage and refinance interest rates today, December 16, 2025: Little movement since mid-October

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have stabilized since mid-October, with the average 30-year rate at 6.08% and the 15-year rate at 5.58% [1][15] - The current mortgage refinance rates are generally higher than purchase rates, with the 30-year refinance rate at 6.12% [6][15] Mortgage Rates Overview - Current national average mortgage rates include: - 30-year fixed: 6.08% - 20-year fixed: 5.98% - 15-year fixed: 5.58% - 5/1 ARM: 6.28% - 7/1 ARM: 6.22% - 30-year VA: 5.63% - 15-year VA: 5.16% - 5/1 VA: 5.45% [5] Refinance Rates - Current national average refinance rates include: - 30-year fixed: 6.12% - 20-year fixed: 6.05% - 15-year fixed: 5.57% - 5/1 ARM: 6.26% - 7/1 ARM: 6.41% - 30-year VA: 5.74% - 15-year VA: 5.39% - 5/1 VA: 5.44% [6] Long-term Rate Predictions - Economists do not expect significant drops in mortgage rates before the end of 2026, with the MBA forecasting a 30-year mortgage rate near 6.4% through 2026 [14][16] - Fannie Mae predicts a slight decrease to 5.9% in Q4 2026, while the MBA expects rates to average 6.3% in 2027 [16][18] Comparison of Mortgage Types - A 30-year mortgage at 6.08% results in a monthly payment of approximately $2,419, leading to $470,773 in interest over the term [9] - A 15-year mortgage at 5.58% has a higher monthly payment of about $3,285 but results in significantly lower total interest of $191,361 [9] Fixed vs. Adjustable Rates - Fixed-rate mortgages lock in the interest rate from the start, while adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have a fixed rate for an initial period before adjusting based on market conditions [11][12] - ARMs may start with lower rates but carry the risk of increases after the initial period [13]