08/06/2026
Mortgage rates hit new 2026 high, rise for fifth straight week
Freddie Mac's 30-year-fixed loan climbs to 6.69%
The 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage dipped to 6.01% from 6.04% last week. Above: Shown is the 4S Ranch community in San Diego. (CoStar)
The 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage dipped to 6.01% from 6.04% last week. Above: Shown is the 4S Ranch community in San Diego. (CoStar)
By Paul Owers
August 6, 2026
1:26 PM ET
Key takeaways
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.69% Thursday, marking another high for 2026.
Economic uncertainty tied to Middle East tensions continues to fuel heightened inflation concerns and higher borrowing costs.
Today's mortgage rates remain well above pandemic-era lows, though they are closer to historical norms.
Mortgage rates inched to another high for 2026 Thursday — rising for the fifth week in a row.
As of Thursday, the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.69%, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. It was 6.66% last week and 6.63% at this time last year.
The 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage, however, dipped to 6.01% from 6.04% last week. A year ago, the rate was 5.75%.
The more volatile daily mortgage rates were at two-week lows before moving higher Thursday afternoon. The 30-year, fixed rate averaged 6.77%, while the 15-year, fixed rate was at 6.30%, according to Mortgage News Daily.
“While mortgage rates continue to influence affordability, the housing market is showing signs of adjustment, with listing prices modestly below year-ago levels and for-sale inventory improving from the limited supply seen in recent years," Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's chief economist, said in a statement.
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Nationally, home sales in June rose 6.1% from a year earlier, but more listings have led to limited price appreciation, according to a Homes.com national housing market report. June's median home sale price of $401,000 inched up 1.5% from a year earlier.
Last week, the Federal Reserve voted to keep short-term interest rates unchanged. The central bank doesn't set mortgage rates, but its decisions often influence the mortgage market.
