011–3 weeks
Pre-Approval
Know your budget before you fall in love with a house.
- Pull your credit report & score
- Gather tax returns & pay stubs
- Get pre-approved by 2–3 lenders
- Receive your pre-approval letter
Rates · Goals · Calculators · GuidesYour complete
Your complete
mortgage hub.
Compare weekly rates, run the numbers, and read plain-language guides — everything you need to make a confident mortgage decision.
✓ Mortgage rates🎯 Tools for every mortgage goal📖 Free learning content
Your goal1 of 5
Buy a Home
From how much house you can afford to your first monthly payment — all the tools for the purchase journey.
Tools in this path
✓Home Affordability
✓Mortgage Calculator
✓Down Payment
✓Closing Costs Estimator
Freddie Mac PMMS
Today's Mortgage Rates
30-yr & 15-yr fixed: Freddie Mac PMMS. 5/1 ARM & HELOC: Bankrate Monitor. Published weekly. National averages — your actual rate will vary based on credit score, down payment, and lender.
52-Week History
Rate Trends
Five paths
Where are you in your journey?
Pick a goal — we'll surface exactly the right calculators and reading for your situation.
Your path
Buy a Home
From how much house you can afford to your first monthly payment — all the tools for the purchase journey.
Start with buy a home →Calculators
Step by step
The Home Buying Process
Scroll or swipe through each stage — from pre-approval to keys in hand.
024–12 weeks
House Hunting
Find a home that fits your budget and must-haves.
- Hire a buyer's agent
- Define must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
- Attend showings & open houses
- Understand the local market
031–5 days
Make an Offer
Negotiate the best deal with your agent's guidance.
- Decide offer price & earnest money
- Set contingencies (inspection, financing)
- Submit the offer
- Negotiate any counteroffers
042–4 weeks
Inspection & Appraisal
Verify the home's condition and confirm its market value.
- Schedule a home inspection
- Review the inspection report
- Negotiate repairs or credits
- Lender orders an appraisal
052–4 weeks
Final Approval
Your lender verifies everything before the closing table.
- Respond quickly to underwriter requests
- Avoid new credit or large purchases
- Lock in your interest rate
- Receive your "clear to close"
061 day
Closing Day
Sign the papers, pay the costs, and get your keys.
- Wire closing funds to title company
- Complete the final walk-through
- Review & sign all documents
- Receive your keys!
Mortgage types
All loan types, compared.
TypeRateDown paymentBest for
Conventional6.49%3–20%Strong credit, stable incomeNo PMI with 20% down · widely availableFHAVaries3.5% minLower credit scores, first-time buyersMIP required · flexible underwritingVAVaries0%Veterans, active military, spousesNo PMI · funding fee may apply15-Year Fixed5.84%Same as 30-yearFaster payoff, far less interestHigher monthly payment · big lifetime savings5/1 ARM6.15%5–10%Plan to move within 5–7 yearsFixed 5 yrs · then adjusts annuallyJumboVaries10–20%Loans above the conforming limit (~$806k)Stricter underwriting · larger loan sizesRun the numbers
What would your payment look like?
Adjust the sliders — full calculator opens in one click.
Open full calculator →Monthly payment$2,245
Rate6.37% · 30 yr fixed
From the Blog
Mortgage Articles
Real Estate
Sellers Are Cutting Prices on 1 in 3 Listings — How to Turn 2026's Buyer's Market Into Real Money Off the Sticker
The leverage just flipped. Roughly 36% of U.S. listings have taken a price cut, list prices are down 2.4% year over year — a seventh straight decline — and there are now 1.55 million homes for sale, a 4.5-month supply that quietly redefines who has the upper hand. Affordability is the best in three years and first-time buyers just hit 35% of the market, the highest share since 2020. Here's a step-by-step playbook for using that leverage at the negotiating table, with the real June 2026 numbers behind it.
Mortgage
Rates Just Hit a One-Month Low and Refis Jumped 15% — But the Only Number That Decides It Is Your Break-Even
The 30-year fixed slipped to 6.47% the week of June 18, its lowest in a month, and homeowners noticed: the Mortgage Bankers Association's Refinance Index jumped 15% in a single week and refis now make up 40.2% of all applications. Before you join the rush, here's the one calculation that separates a smart refinance from an expensive mistake — worked out in real dollars.
Real Estate
Your Mortgage Rate Never Moved — So Why Did Your Payment Jump $200? Inside the 2026 Escrow Squeeze
Foreclosures just hit a six-year high — nearly 119,000 filings in Q1 2026, up 26% from a year ago — and the trigger isn't interest rates. It's the two line items hiding in your escrow account. Homeowners insurance climbed to roughly $2,950 a year and property taxes now average $4,427, together eating about 21% of the typical mortgage payment. Here's why a fixed-rate loan no longer means a fixed bill, and how to get ahead of your next escrow analysis.
Mortgage
You're Sitting on Record Home Equity — Here's How to Tap It Without Torching Your 3% Mortgage
American homeowners now hold a record $11.5 trillion in tappable equity, yet 76% are locked into a sub-6% mortgage they refuse to give up. That's why the cash-out refinance is dead and the HELOC is back: borrowers pulled $47 billion from their homes in Q1 2026 without touching their first lien. Here's the math on doing it right.
Real Estate
It's a Renter's Market Again: How to Turn 2026's Apartment Glut Into Months of Free Rent
National median rent slipped to $1,379 and is down 1.5% from a year ago, while vacancy sits at a record 7.2% and nearly 40% of listings are dangling concessions. After the biggest apartment-building boom since 1986, the leverage has flipped to tenants. Here's exactly how to use it before you sign.
Mortgage
Fed Holds for the Third Time — What June's Mortgage Market Means for You
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate at 3.5%–3.75% for a third straight meeting amid surging energy prices and stubborn inflation. Here's what that means if you're buying or refinancing a home right now.