Jan 17, 2026 2 min read 0 views

Mortgage Rates Drop Significantly Compared to Last Year

Current mortgage rates are notably lower than last January, with the average 30-year fixed rate down 98 basis points to 6.06%, according to Freddie Mac. Zillow data lists various current rates, including 30-year fixed at 5.86% and 15-year fixed at 5.33%. Refinance rates are also provided, with 30-year fixed at 6.05%. Economists expect rates to remain relatively stable through 2026.

Mortgage Rates Drop Significantly Compared to Last Year

Mortgage rates are now significantly lower than they were in January of last year. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has dropped 98 basis points year-over-year to 6.06%. This time last year, that rate was over 7%.

Current mortgage rates, based on the latest Zillow data, show a 30-year fixed rate at 5.86%. A 20-year fixed is at 5.82%, and a 15-year fixed is at 5.33%. Adjustable-rate mortgages include a 5/1 ARM at 6.11% and a 7/1 ARM at 6.14%. For VA loans, the 30-year rate is 5.46%, the 15-year is 5.09%, and the 5/1 ARM is 5.16%. These figures are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth.

Today's mortgage refinance rates, also from Zillow, list a 30-year fixed at 6.05%. A 20-year fixed is at 5.92%, and a 15-year fixed is at 5.47%. Adjustable options include a 5/1 ARM at 6.39% and a 7/1 ARM at 6.29. VA refinance rates are 5.41% for 30-year, 5.08% for 15-year, and 5.12% for 5/1 ARM. A 30-year FHA refinance rate is 5.83%. These numbers are also national averages and are often higher than purchase rates.

Mortgage rates have generally fallen since the end of May and remain lower than a year ago. For the week, Freddie Mac reported the national average 30-year mortgage decreased by 10 basis points to 6.06%, while the 15-year rate fell eight basis points to 5.38%.

Looking ahead, economists do not anticipate drastic declines through the end of 2026. The Mortgage Bankers Association expects the 30-year rate to be near 6.4% through 2026. Fannie Mae predicts a rate above 6% for next year, dipping to 5.9% in the fourth quarter of 2026. For 2027, the MBA forecasts 30-year fixed rates around 6.3% for most of the year, averaging 6.4% in the final quarter. Fannie Mae predicts average rates near 5.9% for the full year of 2027.

Rates have continued to hover within a range with little movement since mid-October, even after the federal funds rate cut in December.

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