The average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgage loan in the U.S. is 7.449%, up from the day before, according to data from Mortgage Research Center.
Meanwhile, the average rate for a 15-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgage loan is 6.607%, up in the same time period.
Compare mortgage rates for Oct. 15, 2026
Here’s a quick look at week-over-week rate changes.
Fortune reviewed the latest Mortgage Research Center data available on Oct. 14.
What you’d pay in interest with where rates are at today
We ran the numbers through the mortgage calculator provided by the federal government’s Office of Financial Readiness. At the current rate of 7.449%, on a 30-year mortgage where you borrow $300,000, you’d pay roughly $451,380.79 in interest over the life of the loan.
On a 15-year mortgage with the same loan amount used for the estimate, you’d pay roughly $173,580.21 in interest over the life of the loan at the current rate of 6.607%.
What the Fortune/MRC partnership means for you
Fortune partners with Mortgage Research Center, a company with deep expertise in the mortgage data space, to keep you informed throughout your homebuying journey. We review average rates provided by MRC each workday they’re available, keeping you up to date on a variety of loan types.
Read on to see how mortgage rates have changed from one day to the next.
30-year conventional mortgage rates
This may be the most popular mortgage type in the United States.
The current average 30-year mortgage rate is 7.449%. That’s up from 7.388% on the last day’s report.
15-year conventional mortgage rates
This type of mortgage is popular with homeowners seeking to minimize interest payments over the life of their loan.
The current average 15-year mortgage rate is 6.607%. That’s up from 6.576% on the last day’s report.
30-year jumbo mortgage rates
A jumbo mortgage is one that exceeds the conforming loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. While the limit can vary in certain high-cost-of-living-areas, in most of the U.S., it’s $832,750 for 2026.
The current average rate on a 30-year jumbo loan is 7.589%. That’s slightly down from 7.591% on the last day’s report.
30-year FHA mortgage rates
This type of mortgage is oftentimes more accessible to borrowers with slightly lower credit scores than conventional mortgages. Lenders are protected because these loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
The current average rate on a 30-year FHA home loan is 6.911%. That’s up from 6.866% on the last day’s report.
30-year VA mortgage rates
These loans are, in general, available to U.S. military members and veterans and surviving spouses. One attractive feature is that they have no minimum down payment requirement, unlike most other mortgage types.
The current average rate on a 30-year VA home loan is 6.969%. That’s slightly up from 6.951% on the last day’s report.
30-year USDA mortgage rates
A USDA loan is meant to help low- to moderate-income borrowers purchase a home in an eligible rural area. Like VA loans, USDA loans have no minimum down payment requirement.
The current average rate on a 30-year USDA home loan is 7.161%. That’s up from 7.036% on the last day’s report.
What the Federal Reserve is doing in 2026
The Fed does not set mortgage rates, but does indirectly influence them by what it does with the federal funds rate. That benchmark rate is what banks charge each other to borrow money overnight.
When the Fed increases the federal funds rate, mortgage rates often rise, and conversely, mortgage rates often decrease when the Fed cuts the federal funds rate. At its most recent meeting Sept. 15-16, the Federal Open Market Committee raised the federal funds rate to 3.75% – 4.00%.
The FOMC has another meeting coming up on Oct. 27-28.
Some would-be homebuyers probably remember when the average mortgage rate dropped to a startling low of 2.65% in January 2021. That came as the Fed had cut the federal funds rate to effectively zero, trying to stave off a pandemic-induced recession.
However, barring a disaster of that level, experts do not expect mortgage rates to drop that low again in the foreseeable future.
Trends with mortgage applications
Mortgage applications are down 2.7% for the week ending Oct. 9 compared to a week earlier, according to data from a recurring survey conducted by the Mortgage Bankers Association.
As rates have skyrocketed over recent weeks, more borrowers have shifted from fixed-rate home loans to adjustable-rate mortgages in an attempt to save where they can, as evidenced by ARMs increasing as a share of total mortgage applications.
Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, observed in a news release that the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage had hit the highest point since November 2023.
“As a result, borrowers continue to rely more on ARM loans to help lower their monthly payments,” Kan said. “The ARM share at 10.5% was at its highest level since October 2025.”
Recent reporting on the housing market from Fortune
If you want to stay in the loop and understand what’s happening with the economy, Fortune has your back. See what the newsroom has been reporting on recently:
- Jeff Bezos says he gets why socialism is surging—but politicians blaming ‘greedy landlords’ have housing all wrong
- Gen Z is defying trends and betting on California—even as older Americans flee to the Sun Belt
- The ultrawealthy are buying nearby homes to keep staff close—and Larry Ellison and Mark Zuckerberg are two examples
- ‘This is not sustainable’: Families with young kids are fleeing NYC’s high cost of living, and the schools are emptying out
- Baby boomers are skipping Florida for the Carolinas in retirement—and cheaper homes are only part of the reason
- Gen Z’s new American Dream: Skip the mortgage, book the flight
- Redfin signals a shift in power to buyers as a record share of sellers cut prices for this time of year—but 7% mortgage rates are a problem
Why you should comparison shop
Bear in mind that you can comparison shop from a couple different angles. On one hand, it’s worth considering different mortgage types to understand what the best type of loan is for your needs.
If you have exceptional credit, you might get the best deal for your situation from a conventional loan. But, if you have a credit score below 600, you’d likely get denied for a conventional mortgage while still having a chance at approval for an FHA home loan.
There’s also comparison shopping by applying with different lenders. Freddie Mac notes that in markets with high interest rates, homebuyers who shop around with multiple lenders might save from $600 to $1,200 per year compared to those who don’t.
Frequently asked questions
Are a mortgage’s interest rate and APR the same?
They’re not quite the same. Your APR will include interest plus any applicable fees, meaning it will generally be a slightly higher number than interest rate alone.
What’s a good mortgage rate in October 2026?
With the average for a 30-year conventional mortgage hovering well above 7.00% these days, if you snag a rate between 6.50% and 7.00%, that probably means you’re doing very well.
Will mortgage rates go down?
Perhaps. If the Fed decreases the federal funds rate in 2026, there’s a chance mortgage rates might dip accordingly. But other factors are at play too, with inflation, the national debt, and the demand for home loans all impacting mortgage rates. But considering that the Fed hiked its benchmark rate in September 2026, it seems more likely another rate increase could be in store rather than a cut anytime soon.