Mortgage Rates, Fri, Mar 8 | Lower - NerdWallet (2024)

FAQs

Are interest rates expected to go down in 2024? ›

Still, rates might not fall as far as some homeowners hope, as forecasters previously baked in a September rate cut. In fourth quarter 2024 outlooks, Fannie Mae analysts anticipate 30-year rates at 6.7 percent, while the Mortgage Bankers Association predicts 6.6 percent.

Predictions and future outlook for mortgage rates

The MBA forecast suggests that 30-year mortgage rates will fall to the 6.6% by the end of 2024, while Fannie Mae and NAR predict rates will end the year around 6.7%.

Will mortgage rates ever be 3% again? A few years ago, homebuyers could take out home loans with rates between 2% and 3%. Mortgage rates will fall over the next year, but they won't reach those levels. Housing market experts say it would take a significant economic crisis for mortgage rates to drop below 3%.

Is 4.75% a good interest rate for a mortgage? Currently, yes—4.75% is a good interest rate for a mortgage. While mortgage rates fluctuate so often—which can affect the definition of a good interest rate for a mortgage—4.75% is lower than the current average for both a 15-year fixed loan and a 30-year mortgage.

The experts in our Mortgage Rate Trends poll in mid-June held similar views. When asked for rate predictions, 63 percent projected lower average 30-year rates in 2025 than in 2024. The forecasts averaged 6.76 percent in 2024 and 6.38 percent in 2025.

Projected Interest Rates In The Next Five Years

ING's interest rate predictions indicate 2024 rates starting at 4%, with subsequent cuts to 3.75% in the second quarter. Then, 3.5% in the third, and 3.25% in the final quarter of 2024. In 2025, ING predicts a further decline to 3%.

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is expected to fall to the mid-6% range through the end of 2024, potentially dipping into high-5% territory by the end of 2025. Here's where mortgage interest rates are headed for the rest of 2024 and how that will impact the housing market as a whole.

Once you find a rate that is an ideal fit for your budget, lock in the rate as soon as possible. There is no way to predict with certainty whether a rate will go up or down in the weeks or even months it sometimes takes to close your loan.

If there is a downturn in the economy, mortgage interest rates will very certainly fall to about 4 percent or even lower. If it does, it could be a good time to hold off and save some money, especially for first-time homeowners.

“All FOMC members believe that rates will be stable or higher through 2023 before slowly coming down in 2024–2025 to settle at a comfortable 2.5% for the longer-term,” she says. Elliot Eisenberg, the Chief Economist at Graphs and Laughs agrees.

How to get a 3 percent mortgage rate? ›

The lowest interest rate for a mortgage in history came in 2020 and 2021. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, the 30-year fixed rate dropped under 3% for the first time since 1971, when Freddie Mac first began surveying mortgage lenders.

To afford a $400,000 house, you typically need an annual income between $100,000 to $125,000, which translates to a gross monthly income of approximately $8,333 to $10,417. However, this is a general range, and your specific circ*mstances will determine the exact income required.

Top-tier borrowers could see mortgage rates in the high-6% range, while lower-credit and non-QM borrowers could expect rates well above 7%. Of course, mortgage rates are famously volatile and it's possible a good mortgage rate next year might be substantially higher than what it is today.

Auto loan rates for new and used vehicle purchases fell in the first quarter of 2024 to 6.73% and 11.91%, respectively, down slightly from the 15-year highs we saw at the end of 2023, according to Experian.

"By the end of 2026, borrowing rates are expected to have declined substantially as inflation returns close to target," the global financial institution said in a report. High interest rates in the U.S. have tightened financial conditions in the world's largest economy.

CD rate forecast: 2024

The Fed kept its rate the same after its fifth meeting of 2024 on July 30-31. Projections suggest that we'll see no rate increases in 2024, and that the Fed will likely drop its rate for the first time this year in September, according to the CME FedWatch Tool on July 31.