Mortgage rates eased downward this week. It's a minor movement for a surprisingly busy news week — there's a lot going on at the moment that has implications for potential home buyers and refinancers.
The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell four basis points to 6.55% APR in the week ending Aug. 20, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. (A basis point is one one-hundredth of a percentage point.) We calculate our weekly average using daily APRs recorded over the past five business days.
kAmx7 J@FVC6 @? E96 76?46 23@FE DE2CE:?8 2 9@>6 D62C49[ J@FC C625:?6DD >2EE6CD H2J >@C6 E92? H92E E96 >2C<6EVD =:<6] p?5 :7 J@F 2C6 C625J[ E96 :?7@ 23@FE A6?5:?8 9@>6 D2=6D 36=@H >:89E >2<6 J@F 766= >@C6 4@?7:56?E 23@FE 5:G:?8 :?]k^Am
kAmx7 J@FVC6 2 4FCC6?E 9@>6@H?6C H2:E:?8 7@C E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ C67:?2?46[ :E >2<6D D6?D6 E92E J@FVC6 H2E49:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^>@CE8286D^?6HD^>@CE8286\C2E6D\E@52J\E9FCD52J\2F8FDE\a_\a_aenFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_eg__hU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm>@CE8286 C2E6Dk^2m =:<6 2 92H<] $@ =6EVD E2=< 23@FE H96E96C E9:D H66<VD 3:886DE C2E6\C6=2E65 ?6HD >62?D >@CE8286 C2E6D 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 5C@A]k^Am
k9amp DFCAC:D6 >@G6 7C@> E96 %C62DFCJk^9am
kAm~? (65?6D52J[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 E96 %C62DFCJ 2??@F?465 E92E :E H@F=5 5@F3=6 E96 D42=6 @7 :ED H66<=J 3@?5 3FJ:?8 7C@> Sa 3:==:@? E@ 2E =62DE Sc 3:==:@?] W%96 %C62DFCJ :DDF6D E96D6 3@?5D[ D@ J6D[ :EVD 3FJ:?8 324< :ED @H? 563E]X %96 AFC492D6D H:== 7@4FD @? =@?86C\E6C> 3@?5D[ H9:49 92G6 366? ?@E49:?8 6G6C\9:896C J:6=5D =2E6=J] q@@DE:?8 56>2?5 H:== 9@A67F==J 3C:?8 J:6=5D 5@H?]k^Am
kAm(92E 5:5 2?J @7 E92E ;FDE >62?n {6EVD 3C62< :E 5@H?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?G6DE:?8^=62C?^H92E\:D\2\3@?5nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_eg__hU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmq@?5Dk^2m 2C6 :?G6DE>6?ED E92E 2C6 32D:42==J =@2?Di %96 :?G6DE@C 3FJ:?8 E96 3@?5 :D =@2?:?8 E96:C 42D9 E@ E96 3@?5VD :DDF6C[ 2?5 E96 :DDF6C 28C66D E@ A2J E96> 324< 27E6C 2 D6E A6C:@5 @7 E:>6] %96 :?G6DE@C 2=D@ C646:G6D C68F=2C :?E6C6DE A2J>6?ED] q@?5D 5@?VE @776C E96 9:89\C:D<[ 9:89\C6H2C5 K6DE:?6DD @7 DE@4<D[ 3FE E96JVC6 DFA6C C6=:23=6]k^Am
kAmqFE ?@E 6G6CJ :?G6DE@C 9@=5D 3@?5D F?E:= >2EFC:EJ[ 2?5 E92EVD H96C6 E9:?8D 86E DA:4J] q@?5D 92G6 D6E C2E6D @7 C6EFC?[ 3FE AC:46D 42? G2CJ H96? E96JVC6 C6D@=5] x7 2? :?G6DE@C 42? 3FJ 2 3@?5 2E 2 =@H6C C6D2=6 AC:46[ E92E 7:I65 C2E6 @7 C6EFC? — <?@H? 2D E96 J:6=5 — :D ?@H 9:896C C6=2E:G6 E@ E96 AC:46] W$:>:=2C=J[ H96? 3@?5 AC:46D 8@ FA[ E96 J:6=5 72==D]Xk^Am
kAmu@C 2 3F?49 @7 C62D@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 xC2? H2C 2?5 E96 C:D6 @7 px[ 3@?5 J:6=5D 92G6 366? C:D:?8 2D 3@?5D E96>D6=G6D 364@>6 =6DD 2EEC24E:G6 E@ :?G6DE@CD] %9:D %C62DFCJ >@G6 :D ECJ:?8 E@ 4@F?E6C24E E92E 5J?2>:4[ 2?5 96C6VD H9J E92E >2EE6CD 7@C >@CE8286 C2E6D]k^Am
kAm|@CE8286 C2E6D 2C6 @7E6? :?56I65 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^:?G6DE:?8^=62C?^EC62DFCJ\?@E6DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_eg__hU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm`_\J62C %C62DFCJ ?@E6k^2m[ 3642FD6 E96D6 :?G6DE>6?ED 24E 2 =@E =:<6 b_\J62C 9@>6 =@2?D] W*6D[ E96C6 :D 2 b_\J62C %C62DFCJ[ 3FE D:?46 >@DE 9@>6@H?6CD D6== @C C67:?2?46 H6== 367@C6 E96:C =@2?DV E6C>D 2C6 FA[ E96 `_\J62C :D 2 36EE6C AC@IJ]X (96? E96 J:6=5 @? E96 `_\J62C %C62DFCJ C:D6D[ >@CE8286 C2E6D 8@ FA[ E@@ — 2?5 E96JVG6 3@E9 366? C:D:?8 7@C >@?E9D]k^Am
kAm(96E96C E9:D %C62DFCJ :?:E:2E:G6 H:== >2<6 >F49 5:776C6?46 C6>2:?D E@ 36 D66?] |2C<6EDV :?:E:2= C624E:@? H2D DFA6C A@D:E:G6[ 3FE J:6=5D 2C6 324< FA E@52J] (9:=6 Sc 3:==:@? 2 H66< :D 2 =@E @7 >@?6J[ F?7@CEF?2E6=J :EVD 2 5C@A :? E96 3F4<6E C6=2E:G6 E@ E96 ?@H Sc_ EC:==:@? ?2E:@?2= 563E]k^Am
kAm%9:D ?6HD >:89E ?@E 3C:?8 >@CE8286 :?E6C6DE C2E6D >F49 =@H6C :? E96 D9@CE E6C>] qFE ?@H J@F 86E H9J H2E49:?8 3@?5 >2C<6E 9625=:?6D >2J 36 H@CE9H9:=6 :7 J@FVC6 EC24<:?8 >@CE8286 C2E6D]k^Am
k9amp >@C:3F?5 >2C<6E H:E9 2 D:=G6C =:?:?8k^9am
kAm%9:D H66< H6 2=D@ 8@E ?6H ?F>36CD @? 9@H E96 9@FD:?8 >2C<6EVD 5@:?8[ H:E9 E96 %F6D52J C6=62D6 @7 yF=J A6?5:?8 9@>6 D2=6D 52E2 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= pDD@4:2E:@? @7 #62=E@CD W“A6?5:?8” >62?D E96 4@?EC24EVD 366? D:8?65[ 3FE E96 =@2? 92D?VE J6E 4=@D65X] p?5 @@7[ :EVD 366? 2 4CF6= DF>>6C]k^Am
kAmyF=JVD A6?5:?8 D2=6D H6C6 5@H? 3@E9 >@?E9\@G6C\>@?E9 2?5 J62C\@G6C\J62C] ~? 2 >@?E9=J 32D:D[ A6?5:?8 D2=6D H6C6 2E E96:C =@H6DE =6G6= D:?46 y2?F2CJ[ 2 E:>6 @7 J62C H96? J@FV5 6IA64E D2=6D E@ 36 D=@H] #:D:?8 >@CE8286 C2E6D E9C@F89@FE yF=J =:<6=J 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ E96 F?6IA64E65 DF>>6C D=F>A[ 3FE :E H2D?VE ;FDE C2E6D DA@@<:?8 A@E6?E:2= 3FJ6CD] p7E6C 2==[ H6 D2H 2 J62C\@G6C\J62C 564C62D6 56DA:E6 >@CE8286 C2E6D 36:?8 5646?E=J =@H6C =2DE >@?E9 E92? E96J H6C6 :? yF=J a_ad]k^Am
kAmQqFJ6CD 2C6 DE:== @FE E96C6[ 3FE 3642FD6 9:C:?8 92D D=@H65 2?5 A6@A=6 2C6 H2E49:?8 E96:C @H? ;@3 D64FC:EJ >@C6 4=@D6=J[ ?@3@5J H2?ED E@ D:8? 2 b_\J62C 4@>>:E>6?E H96? E96JVC6 H@CC:65 23@FE ?6IE BF2CE6C[Q |:<6 |:65=6C[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ @7 r6?EFCJ a` #62= tDE2E6[ D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=65 4@>>6?E2CJ] qFE 96 2=D@ ?@E65[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^>@CE8286D^=62C?^:D\:E\2\8@@5\E:>6\E@\3FJ\2\9@FD6nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_eg__hU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQm2 E6A:5 >2C<6E 42? AC6D6?E @AA@CEF?:EJk^2m :7 J@FVC6 AC6A2C65] Q{6DD 4@>A6E:E:@? >62?D E:>6 E@ 6G2=F2E6 2 AC@A6CEJ[ ?68@E:2E6 C6A2:CD 2?5 D6==6C 4@?46DD:@?D[ 2?5 >2<6 2 564:D:@? 2E J@FC @H? A246 :?DE625 @7 D@>63@5J 6=D6VD]Qk^Am
kAm%92E 86=D H:E9 H92E H6 D2H :? }6C5(2==6EVD yF=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^>@CE8286D^?6HD^9@>63FJ:?8\4=:>2E6\:?56InFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_eg__hU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQmw@>63FJ:?8 r=:>2E6 x?56Ik^2m] t249 >@?E9[ H6 2?2=JK6 7:G6 <6J 64@?@>:4 :?5:42E@CD E@ 82F86 9@H 72G@C23=6 4@?5:E:@?D 2C6 7@C 9@>6 3FJ6CD] yF=J 42>6 :? 2E dc]a[ H9:49 :D A2CE=J 4=@F5J — E92EVD 366? E96 9@>63FJ:?8 H62E96C[ D@ E@ DA62<[ 7@C 2 H9:=6] %9:?8D 46CE2:?=J 4@F=5 36 36EE6C[ 3FE 7@C 2 H6==\A@D:E:@?65 3FJ6C 2 >2C<6E E92EVD =6DD E92? :562= @? A2A6C 42? 36 52C? 8@@5 :? AC24E:46]k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\>@C6\7C@>\?6C5H2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0>@C607C@>0?6C5H2==6EQmkAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6Ek^DEC@?8mk^AmkF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^>@CE8286D^>@CE8286\C2E6DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_eg__hQ E:E=6lQr@>A2C6 rFCC6?E |@CE8286 #2E6DQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmr@>A2C6 rFCC6?E |@CE8286 #2E6Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^2CE:4=6^>@CE8286D^9@H\E@\86E\E96\36DE\>@CE8286\C2E6nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_eg__hQ E:E=6lQw@H E@ v6E E96 q6DE |@CE8286 #2E6Q E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmw@H E@ v6E E96 q6DE |@CE8286 #2E6k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^42=4F=2E@C^9@H\>F49\9@FD6\42?\:\277@C5nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l3=@I5:8:E2=U2>AjFE>04@?E6?Ela_eg__hQ E:E=6lQw@H |F49 w@FD6 r2? x p77@C5nQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmw@H |F49 w@FD6 r2? x p77@C5nk^2mk^=:mk^F=mk^5:Gm
k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HAQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@I \ (!Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@I0HAQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HA\\:??6CQmk2D:56 :E6>D4@A6lQQ :E6>AC@AlQ2FE9@CQ :E6>EJA6lQ9EEAi^^D496>2]@C8^!6CD@?Q 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@IQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@IQmkAmz2E6 (@@5 HC:E6D 7@C }6C5(2==6E] t>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i<H@@5o?6C5H2==6E]4@>Qm<H@@5o?6C5H2==6E]4@>k^2m]k^Amk^2D:56mk^5:Gmk^5:Gm
kA 4=2DDlQ?H\@C:8:?2==J\A@DE65\=:?<Qm%96 2CE:4=6 |@CE8286 #2E6D pC6 {@H6C %9:D (66<] r@F=5 %96J sC@A uFCE96Cn @C:8:?2==J 2AA62C65 @? }6C5(2==6E]k^Am
