In the United States, interest rates for all mortgage types started to increase in 2021. This was due to the Federal Reserve introducing a series of hikes in the federal funds rate to contain the rising inflation. In the first quarter of 2024, the 30-year fixed rate declined slightly, to 6.75 percent. Despite the cut, this was about 3.9 percentage points higher than the same quarter in 2021. Why have U.S. home sales decreased? Cheaper mortgages normally encourage consumers to buy homes, while higher borrowing costs have the opposite effect. As interest rates increased in 2022, the number of existing homes sold plummeted. Soaring house prices over the past 10 years have further affected housing affordability. Between 2013 and 2023, the median price of an existing single-family home risen by about 88 percent. On the other hand, the median weekly earnings have risen much slower. Comparing mortgage terms and rates Between 2008 and 2023, the average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage in the United States stood between 2.28 and 6.11 percent. Over the same period, a 30-year mortgage term averaged a fixed-rate of between 3.08 and 6.81 percent. Rates on 15-year loan terms are lower to encourage a quicker repayment, which helps to improve a homeowner’s equity.

Fixed 30-year mortgage rates in the United States averaged 6.71 percent in the week ending March 21 of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States MBA 30-Yr Mortgage Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (MORTGAGE15US) from 1991-08-30 to 2025-03-20 about 15-year, fixed, mortgage, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Mortgage rates increased at a record pace in 2022, with the 10-year fixed mortgage rate doubling between March 2022 and December 2022. With inflation increasing, the Bank of England introduced several bank rate hikes, resulting in higher mortgage rates. In September 2023, the average 10-year fixed rate interest rate reached 5.1 percent. As borrowing costs get higher, demand for housing is expected to decrease, leading to declining market sentiment and slower house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold declined in 2022, reaching close to 1.3 million. Despite the number of transactions falling, this figure was higher than the period before the COVID-10 pandemic. The falling transaction volume also impacted mortgage borrowing. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans fell year-on-year for fourth straight quarters in a row. How are higher mortgages affecting homebuyers? Homeowners with a mortgage loan usually lock in a fixed rate deal for two to ten years, meaning that after this period runs out, they need to renegotiate the terms of the loan. Many of the mortgages outstanding were taken out during the period of record-low mortgage rates and have since faced notable increases in their monthly repayment. About five million homeowners are projected to see their deal expire by the end of 2026. About two million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to 199 British pounds by 2026.

Long term dataset showing the 30 year fixed rate mortgage average in the United States since 1971.

Mortgage interest rates in Europe soared in 2022 and remained elevated in 2023. In many countries, this resulted in interest rates more than doubling. In Denmark, the average mortgage interest rate rose from 0.67 percent in 2021 to 4.98 percent in 2023. Why did mortgage interest rates increase? Mortgage rates have risen as a result of the European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate increase. The ECB increased its interest rates to tackle inflation. As inflation calms, the ECB is expected to cut rates, which will allow mortgage lenders to reduce mortgage interest rates. What is the impact of interest rates on homebuying? Lower interest rates make taking out a housing loan more affordable, and thus, encourage homebuying. That can be seen in many countries across Europe: In France, the number of residential properties sold rose in the years leading up to 2021, and fell as interest rates increased. The number of houses sold in the UK followed a similar trend.

Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: above LPR: Beijing data was reported at -0.450 % Point in 25 Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of -0.450 % Point for 24 Mar 2025. Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: above LPR: Beijing data is updated daily, averaging 0.550 % Point from Oct 2019 (Median) to 25 Mar 2025, with 1996 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.550 % Point in 25 Jun 2024 and a record low of -0.450 % Point in 25 Mar 2025. Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: above LPR: Beijing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The People's Bank of China. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Money Market, Interest Rate, Yield and Exchange Rate – Table CN.MA: Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: Prefecture Level City. After adjustment on December 15, 2023: the lower limits of the first and second sets of interest rate policies in the six districts of the city are respectively no less than the market quoted interest rate for loans of the corresponding period plus 10 basis points, and no less than the market quoted interest rate for loans of the corresponding period plus 60 basis points; The lower limits of the first and second sets of interest rate policies in the six non-urban districts are not lower than the market quoted interest rate for loans of the corresponding period, and not lower than the market quoted interest rate for loans of the corresponding period plus 55 basis points.

Mortgage interest rates worldwide varied greatly in 2024, from less than four percent in many European countries, to as high as 44 percent in Turkey. The average mortgage rate in a country depends on the central bank's base lending rate and macroeconomic indicators such as inflation and forecast economic growth. Since 2022, inflationary pressures have led to rapid increase in mortgage interest rates. Which are the leading mortgage markets? An easy way to estimate the importance of the mortgage sector in each country is by comparing household debt depth, or the ratio of the debt held by households compared to the county's GDP. In 2023, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada had some of the highest household debt to GDP ratios worldwide. While this indicator shows the size of the sector relative to the country’s economy, the value of mortgages outstanding allows to compare the market size in different countries. In Europe, for instance, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France were the largest mortgage markets by outstanding mortgage lending. Mortgage lending trends in the U.S. In the United States, new mortgage lending soared in 2021. This was largely due to the growth of new refinance loans that allow homeowners to renegotiate their mortgage terms and replace their existing loan with a more favorable one. Following the rise in interest rates, the mortgage market cooled, and refinance loans declined.

United States Mortgage Fixed Rate: Mth Avg: 15 Year data was reported at 4.250 % pa in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.080 % pa for Sep 2018. United States Mortgage Fixed Rate: Mth Avg: 15 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 5.680 % pa from Sep 1991 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 326 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.800 % pa in Jan 1995 and a record low of 2.660 % pa in Apr 2013. United States Mortgage Fixed Rate: Mth Avg: 15 Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Freddie Mac. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.M012: Mortgage Interest Rate.

After a period of record-low mortgage interest rates, the cost of mortgage borrowing in Germany surged in 2022. In 2019, mortgage rates declined notably, falling as low as 1.16 percent in December 2020. This downward trend reversed in 2021, as mortgage rates started to gradually pick up. Five-to-ten-year mortgage loans had the lowest rates in October 2023 at 3.85 percent, while floating rate mortgages up to one year were the most expensive at 5.53 percent. Mortgages with over 10-year fixed period – the most popular loan type among homebuyers - had an interest rate of 3.9 percent.

Why did mortgage rates in Germany increase?

In 2022, the yearly inflation rate in Germany experienced a swift rise, prompting the central bank to raise interest rates to counter this surge. The European Central Bank (ECB) is responsible for determining Germany's central bank interest rate. In July 2022, following a prolonged period of stability, the average interest rates in Germany began a steady rise, which persisted consistently thereafter.  This increase is intended to stabilize prices, but it also means higher borrowing costs for those seeking mortgages.

Downturn in Germany's home loan borrowing

From 2022 onward, the gross residential mortgage lending in Germany fell dramatically. Besides the higher interest rates, the downturn can be explained by the slowed pace of economic growth, which makes individuals and businesses more cautious about big investments such as buying a home. Additionally, the German housing market suffers a chronic undersupply, meaning that homebuyers often struggle to find an affordable home to purchase.

Exploiting variation in the timing of resets of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), we find that a sizable decline in mortgage payments (up to 50 percent) induces a significant increase in car purchases (up to 35 percent). This effect is attenuated by voluntary deleveraging. Borrowers with lower incomes and housing wealth have significantly higher marginal propensity to consume. Areas with a larger share of ARMs were more responsive to lower interest rates and saw a relative decline in defaults and an increase in house prices, car purchases, and employment. Household balance sheets and mortgage contract rigidity are important for monetary policy pass-through.

15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States was 5.83% in March of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States reached a record high of 8.89 in December of 1994 and a record low of 2.10 in July of 2021. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: above LPR: Gansu: Pingliang data was reported at -0.300 % Point in 30 Sep 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of -0.300 % Point for 29 Sep 2023. Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: above LPR: Gansu: Pingliang data is updated daily, averaging 0.000 % Point from Oct 2019 (Median) to 30 Sep 2023, with 1454 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.000 % Point in 18 May 2022 and a record low of -0.300 % Point in 30 Sep 2023. Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: above LPR: Gansu: Pingliang data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The People's Bank of China. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Money Market, Interest Rate, Yield and Exchange Rate – Table CN.MA: Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: Prefecture Level City.

Graph and download economic data for Weighted-Average Effective Loan Rate for All Commercial and Industry Loans, Low Risk, Domestic Banks (DISCONTINUED) (EEALXDBNQ) from Q2 1997 to Q2 2017 about low risk, weighted-average, average, commercial, domestic, loans, banks, depository institutions, industry, rate, and USA.

Mortgage Application in the United States decreased by 2 percent in the week ending March 21 of 2025 over the previous week. This dataset provides - United States MBA Mortgage Applications - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for 5/1-Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (DISCONTINUED) (MORTGAGE5US) from 2005-01-06 to 2022-11-10 about adjusted, mortgage, interest rate, interest, 5-year, rate, and USA.

This dataset provides values for MORTGAGE RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The 10-year treasury constant maturity rate in the U.S. is forecast to decline by 0.8 percent by 2026, while the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is expected to fall by 1.6 percent. From seven percent in the third quarter of 2023, the average 30-year mortgage rate is projected to reach 5.4 percent in 2026.

Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: Base Rate Discount: Hubei: Xiaogan data was reported at 70.000 % in 07 Oct 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 70.000 % for 06 Oct 2019. Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: Base Rate Discount: Hubei: Xiaogan data is updated daily, averaging 70.000 % from Jan 2019 (Median) to 07 Oct 2019, with 280 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.000 % in 07 Oct 2019 and a record low of 70.000 % in 07 Oct 2019. Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: Base Rate Discount: Hubei: Xiaogan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by The People's Bank of China. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Money Market, Interest Rate, Yield and Exchange Rate – Table CN.MA: Lower Limit of First Home Mortgage Rate: Prefecture Level City.

Mortgage originations in the United States plummeted in 2021 and 2022, after soaring to an all-time high in the previous two years. By the third quarter of 2023, the value of new mortgage originations amounted to 444 billion U.S. dollars, about a third of the value recorded during the market peak in the fourth quarter of 2020. These fluctuations were mostly because of the development of mortgage interest rates and mortgage lending for home refinance: While interest rates were at a record low in 2020, many homebuyers used the opportunity to refinance their loan. After rates increased, refinancing declined dramatically. How have home sales developed? Over the past decade, the annual number of homes sold in the U.S. ranged between 4.7 million and 6.9 million, with the number of sales of existing homes far outweighing that of newly built homes sold. Housing transactions have generally declined since 2021 because of the less favorable credit conditions and worsening housing affordability. Cash purchases on the rise Although buying in cash is largely uncommon in the U.S., the number of houses bought with cash has increased since 2009. For those who can afford it, a cash purchase provides a number of benefits. Most importantly, cash buyers save from mortgage payments. Additionally, the closing time on these transactions time faster, which gives a competitive advantage in markets with a lot of competition.