09/23/2026
🏡 Mortgage rate update: Here’s what buyers should know right now.
Mortgage rates have climbed in recent weeks, and if you’re planning to buy a home, it’s time to check what that change means for your budget.
📊 Here are the national figures, with their dates:
Mortgage News Daily reported a 7.26% national average for a 30-year fixed mortgage on September 23, 2026. Its FHA and VA averages that day were 6.87% and 6.89%, respectively.
Freddie Mac’s latest weekly survey reported a 6.95% average for a 30-year fixed mortgage as of September 17, up from 6.76% the previous week.
Why the different numbers? They come from different sources and reporting schedules. Neither is a promise of the rate an individual buyer will receive. Your lender’s quote will depend on your loan program, credit profile, down payment, loan details, and when you request or lock a rate.
🏦 What about the Federal Reserve? On September 16, the Fed raised its benchmark rate by a quarter of a percentage point. The Fed does not set the mortgage rate a lender quotes you. Mortgage rates respond to broader financial markets and economic expectations, so they can move between Fed meetings, too.
💡 What should you do if you’re considering buying?
🔹 Refresh your preapproval. If you got preapproved a while ago, ask your lender to update your numbers before you set your home search budget.
🔹 Focus on the full housing payment. Ask your lender to account for principal, interest, property taxes, insurance, and any mortgage insurance or HOA dues that apply.
🔹 Compare loan options carefully. A headline rate doesn’t tell you the full cost. Review the APR, lender fees, discount points, and cash needed at closing on your Loan Estimates.
🔹 Choose a budget you can live with. Being approved for an amount and feeling comfortable with its monthly cost are two different things.
If you’re buying in North Carolina, I’ll help you build a home search around the numbers your lender confirms and the goals that matter to you. 🤝🏡
📍 Triad NC: Greensboro, High Point, & Winston‑Salem | Including Burlington & Alamance County | Surrounding NC communities
📲 (336) 567‑5843 | Brokered by Real Broker, LLC — NCREL #312309 | | Book: calendly.com/jessicajbrealtor
Sources: Mortgage News Daily daily rate survey, September 23, 2026; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, September 17, 2026; Federal Reserve statement, September 16, 2026. Figures are national averages, not individual loan quotes.
