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.

30 Year Mortgage Rate in the United States increased to 6.67 percent in March 20 from 6.65 percent in the previous week. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States 30 Year Mortgage Rate.

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.

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

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.

Mortgage rates in the Netherlands increased sharply in 2022 and 2023, after declining gradually between 2008 and 2021. In December 2022, the average interest rate for new mortgage loans stood at 1.65 percent, and by the end of 2023, it had risen to 4.13 percent. The 10-year interest rate was the lowest, at 2.96 percent; the floating and less than one-year interest rates amounted to 5.13 and 4.62 percent, respectively. In early 2024, mortgage rates decreased notably. Are mortgage rates in the Netherlands different from those in other European countries? When comparing this ranking to data that covers multiple European countries, the Netherlands’ mortgage rate was similar to the rates found in Spain, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. It was, however, a lot lower than the rates in Eastern Europe. Hungary and Romania, for example, had some of the highest mortgage rates. For more information on the European mortgage market and how much the countries differ from each other, please visit this dedicated research page. How big is the mortgage market in the Netherlands? The Netherlands has overall seen an increase in the number of mortgage loans sold and is regarded as one of the countries with the highest mortgage debt in Europe. The reason behind this is that Dutch homeowners were able to for many years to deduct interest paid from pre-tax income (a system known in the Netherlands as hypotheekrenteaftrek). Total mortgage debt of Dutch households has been increasing year-on-year since 2013.

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.

The mortgage interest rate in Germany decreased notably between 2013 and 2022, falling below 1.5 percent. This was part of an overall trend of falling mortgage interest rates in Europe. The mortgage interest rate in Germany has since increased to 3.9 percent in the second quarter of 2024. The German mortgage market In Europe, Germany is the second-largest mortgage market, with a total value of mortgages outstanding amounting to over 1.8 trillion euros. Mortgage loans are one of the oldest bank products. Among the factors that influence mortgage interest rates are inflation, economic growth, monetary policies, the bond market, the stability of lenders, and the overall conditions of the housing market. Mortgage loans The higher cost of borrowing has a significant effect on the market: While the interest rates were at their lowest, mortgage lending was on the rise. In 2023, when the rates reached a 10-year-high, the quarterly gross mortgage lending fell to the lowest value since 2014. Meanwhile, house prices have also increased substantially in recent years. According to the House Price Index in Germany, between 2015 and 2022, house prices increased by over 60 percent.

Germany Interest Rates: Mortgage & Public Bond: Residual Mat: 10 Years data was reported at 2.960 % pa in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.070 % pa for Jan 2025. Germany Interest Rates: Mortgage & Public Bond: Residual Mat: 10 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 3.260 % pa from Jan 2000 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 302 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.100 % pa in Jan 2000 and a record low of -0.170 % pa in Aug 2019. Germany Interest Rates: Mortgage & Public Bond: Residual Mat: 10 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Deutsche Bundesbank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Germany – Table DE.M016: Mortgage & Public Bonds: Rate.

Graph and download economic data for 30-Year Fixed Rate FHA Mortgage Index (OBMMIFHA30YF) from 2017-01-03 to 2025-03-24 about FHA, 30-year, fixed, mortgage, rate, indexes, and USA.

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

15 Year Mortgage Rate in the United States decreased to 5.79 percent in March 6 from 5.94 percent in the previous week. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States 15 Year Mortgage Rate.

Graph and download economic data for Contract Rate on 30-Year, Fixed-Rate Conventional Home Mortgage Commitments (DISCONTINUED) (WRMORTG) from 1971-04-01 to 2016-10-06 about conventional, 30-year, mortgage, interest rate, interest, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for 30-Year Fixed Rate Veterans Affairs Mortgage Index (OBMMIVA30YF) from 2017-01-03 to 2025-03-25 about veterans, 30-year, fixed, mortgage, rate, indexes, and USA.

Mortgage Rate in Sweden decreased to 3.23 percent in January from 3.31 percent in December of 2024. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Sweden Average Interest Rate on New Agreements for Mortgages to Households.

The Brazil Home Loan Market is segmented By Source (Bank and Housing Finance Companies), By Interest Rate (Fixed Rate and Floating Rate), and By Tenure (Up to 5 Years, 6 - 10 Years, 11 - 24 Years, and 25 - 30 Years). The report offers market size and forecasts in value (USD) for all the above segments.

The benchmark interest rate in Norway was last recorded at 4.50 percent. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Norway Interest Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Argentina Lending Rate: Foreign Currency: Fixed & Renegotiable: Mortgage Loans: 5 to 10 Years data was reported at 0.000 % pa in Feb 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % pa for Jan 2025. Argentina Lending Rate: Foreign Currency: Fixed & Renegotiable: Mortgage Loans: 5 to 10 Years data is updated monthly, averaging 4.000 % pa from Jun 1993 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 381 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 18.250 % pa in Sep 2004 and a record low of 0.000 % pa in Feb 2025. Argentina Lending Rate: Foreign Currency: Fixed & Renegotiable: Mortgage Loans: 5 to 10 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Argentina. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Argentina – Table AR.M006: Lending Rate: Non Financial Private Sector.

Graph and download economic data for 30-Year Fixed Rate Jumbo Mortgage Index (OBMMIJUMBO30YF) from 2017-01-03 to 2025-03-25 about jumbo, 30-year, fixed, mortgage, rate, indexes, and USA.

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.