United States Mortgage Rates Fall for Second Week
Current U.S. Mortgage Rates This Week Against a backdrop of stubborn borrowing costs, U.S. mortgage rates edged lower for a second straight week. Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed rate at 6.65% on August 20, down from 6.67% a week earlier. The 15-year fixed averaged 5.95%, down from 5.96%. That extends a mild easing trend from early August, when those averages were 6.69% and 6.01%. Even small moves in mortgage rates can meaningfully influence borrower refinancing decisions. However, Freddie Mac’s weekly benchmark showed that as of 05/21/2026, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.51% and the 15-year fixed averaged 5.85%. Market Snapshots Show Uneven Pressure Other trackers showed similar but not identical conditions. Bankrate placed the 30-year fixed at 6.68%, while Mortgage News Daily listed 6.77%. NerdWallet’s daily reading was lower at 6.56%. FHA and VA loans remained below standard 30-year fixed quotes in several snapshots, while jumbo rates stayed higher. These levels ...