Mortgage rates continue to decline

The average mortgage interest rate for a standard 30-year fixed mortgage was 7.76% this past week, a decrease of 0.07 percentage points from the previous week’s 7.83%.

Thirty-year fixed mortgages are the most commonly sought out loan term. A 30-year fixed rate mortgage has a lower monthly payment than a 15-year one, but usually has a higher interest rate.

The average mortgage interest rate for a standard 15-year fixed mortgage this past week was 7.03%, a decrease of 0.13 percentage points from the previous week’s 7.16%.

Fifteen-year fixed rate mortgages come with a higher monthly payment compared to its 30-year counterpart. However, usually interest rates are lower and you will pay less total interest because you are paying off your loan at a faster rate.

The average rate on a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) was 6.99%, an increase of 0.01 percentage points from the previous week’s 6.98%.

With an ARM, homeowners will most often get a lower interest rates than through fixed mortgages for the first five years.

But they could end up paying more or less after that time depending on your loan terms and how that rate follows the market.

When picking a mortgage, it is important for homeowners to pick out a loan term or payment schedule.

Usually they will be offered a 15- or 30-year loan term, but it is not uncommon to see 10, 20, or 40-year mortgages, according to CNET.

Mortgages can be fixed-rate or adjustable-rate. Interest rates in fixed-rate mortgages are set in stone for the duration of the loan.

Adjustable-rate mortgages only have interest rates set for a certain period of time before the rate adjusts annually based on the market.