Will mortgage rates go down in 2024? (2024)

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  • Inflation and Fed hikes have pushed mortgage rates up to a 20-year high.
  • 30-year mortgage rates are currently expected to fall to somewhere between 6.1% and 6.4% in 2024.
  • Instead of waiting for rates to drop, homebuyers should consider buying now and refinancing later to avoid increased competition next year.

Good news for borrowers: The wait for lower rates may soon be over. As inflation slows and the economy cools off, mortgage rates should start trending down at some point this year.

Because inflation has come down so much since it peaked in 2022, the Federal Reserve has indicated it's ready to consider cutting the federal funds rate this year. This would remove a lot of upward pressure off of mortgage rates.

The not-so-good news: Rates probably won't go back to the historic lows we saw in 2020 and 2021. And once rates fall, homebuyers will likely have other challenges to contend with, including increased competition and rising home prices.

It also may take longer for rates to drop than initially expected. While the Fed is poised to start lowering rates this year, it wants to be sure that inflation is nearing its target rate of 2%. Some recent data has suggested that price growth may be a bit more stubborn than we thought, which has pushed back expectations of a Fed cut.

Will mortgage rates go down in 2024? Right now, it's looking like they will, but there are some things homeowners and buyers should know. Check out our in-depth mortgage rate forecast for 2024.

Why are mortgage rates so high?

Like other consumer rates, mortgage rates are impacted in large part by what's going on in the economy. Rates climbed in 2022 in response to rising inflation. To try to quell rising prices, the Fedstarted aggressively hiking the federal funds rate, which has also kept mortgage rates elevated.

Inflation has slowed significantly since it peaked in June 2022, when prices had risen 9.1% year over year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In February 2024, the Consumer Price Index was up 3.2% year over year.

Fed officials have said they need more inflation data before they consider cutting rates. Inflation has been somewhat sticky in recent months, not cooling as much as expected.

We could see the Fed cut rates around mid-2024. But if inflation stagnates, we might not get a cut until later in the year, which would keep mortgage rates higher for longer as well.

Mortgage rate predictions 2024

Most major forecasts expect rates to fall in 2024. But exactly when will mortgage rates go down? Here's how a few of the leading players stack up in their predictions:

Q1 2024Q2 2024Q3 2024Q4 2024
Mortgage Bankers Association6.8%6.6%6.3%6.1%
Fannie Mae6.7%6.7%6.6%6.4%
National Association of Realtors6.8%6.6%6.3%6.1%

The MBA's forecast suggests that 30-year mortgage rates will fall into the 6.1% to 6.8% range in 2024, and NAR's forecast is very similar, predicting that rates will remain in the 6.1% to 6.8% range. Though Fannie Mae was initially forecasting that 30-year mortgage rates would drop below 6% this year, it's since revised its predictions and now believes rates will fall to 6.4% by the end of 2024.

While there's some dispute on exactly how much rates will decrease, the general consensus is that mortgage rates will go down in 2024, and they could even end up close to 6% by the end of the year.

When will mortgage rates go down to 3%?

It's possible that rates will one day go back down to 3%, though if current trends hold that's not likely to happen anytime soon.

Think about the reason why rates went so low in the first place: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fed cut the federal funds rate to near zero and purchased a large number of mortgage-backed securities to stave off an economic crisis. This allowed mortgage rates to drop as low as they did, with 30-year mortgage rates reaching an all-time low of 2.65% in January 2021, according to Freddie Mac.

No one can predict exactly when another economy-altering event like the pandemic will occur, but barring something extreme, we likely won't see rates that low again for a while. Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, even told CNBC that he doesn't think mortgage rates will reach the 3% range again in his lifetime.

Should I wait for mortgage rates to drop before buying a house?

Because mortgage rates are still so high, some hopeful homebuyers have decided to wait for lower rates to start shopping for homes. But that's not necessarily the best strategy, as there are some advantages to buying right now.

At the moment, the vast majority of borrowers have rates that are much lower than current rates. According to a Redfin analysis of Federal Housing Finance Agency data, 89% of homeowners have a mortgage rate below 6%. Many have rates that are even lower; 59.4% have a rate below 4%.

High rates have kept many of these homeowners from selling, since they don't want to give up their current rates. While this has severely limited inventory, the lack of additional buyers on the market has also kept prices moderate.

Afifa Saburi, capital markets analyst for Veterans United Home Loans, says that buying now and refinancing later is a good strategy for buyers who want to avoid competition and the higher home prices that will likely come with it.

"Would-be buyers that have the ability to buy can avoid a potentially competitive market by locking in a purchase now and taking advantage of a refinance in the future," says Saburi.

A mortgage refinance replaces your existing mortgage with a new mortgage, often with the goal of getting a lower rate or lower monthly payment. If you can afford to buy a house now, you could avoid a tough housing market next year and have the opportunity to lower your housing costs with a refinance once rates fall. Just be sure to shop around and get quotes from multiple mortgage refinance lenders to be sure you're getting the best rate.

Mortgage rates in 2024: FAQs

What will the mortgage interest rate be in 2024?

Mortgage rates are likely to trend down in 2024. Depending on which forecast you look at for housing market predictions in 2024, 30-year mortgage rates could end up somewhere between 6.1% and 6.4% by the end of the year.

Are interest rates going down in 2024?

All consumer interest rates, including mortgage rates, should start to ease soon as inflation has been steadily trending down for over a year now. And once the Federal Reserve starts cutting the federal funds rate, which markets currently expect to happen in mid-2024, rates should drop more substantially.

What will the mortgage rates be in 2024 and 2025?

Mortgage rates are currently expected to continue trending down through 2024 and into 2025. The Mortgage Bankers Association thinks that 30-year mortgage rates could fall to 5.6% in 2025.

How high will mortgage rates go in 2023?

Mortgage rates for 2023 peaked in October, when 30-year rates hit 7.79%, according to Freddie Mac.

What is the mortgage rate forecast for the next 5 years?

It's hard to accurately predict where mortgage rates might go in the next five years. Mortgage rates are impacted by the economy, which is often unpredictable or volatile. Right now, it looks like mortgage rates will ease over the next two years and remain relatively steady in the years that follow.

How long will high interest rates last?

Interest rates are expected to trend down in the coming months and years. Borrowers could see lower rates as soon as mid-2024.

Molly Grace

Mortgage Reporter

Molly Grace is a reporter at Business Insider. She covers mortgage rates, refinance rates, mortgage lender reviews, and homebuying for Personal Finance Insider.Before joining the Insider team, Molly was a blog writer for Rocket Companies, where she wrote educational articles about mortgages, homebuying, and homeownership.You can reach Molly at mgrace@businessinsider.com, or on Twitter @mollythegrace.

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Will mortgage rates go down in 2024? (2024)

FAQs

Will mortgage rates go down in 2024? ›

Mortgage rate prediction FAQs

Will mortgage rates ever go back down to 3? ›

In summary, it is unlikely that mortgage rates in the US will ever reach 3% again, at least not in the foreseeable future. This is due to a combination of factors, including: Higher Inflation: Inflation is currently at a 40-year high in the US, and the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates to combat it.

What is the prime rate today in 2024? ›

As of May 20, 2024, the current prime rate is 8.50%, according to The Wall Street Journal's Money Rates table.

Should I lock my mortgage rate today? ›

Locking in early can help you get what you were budgeting for from the start. As long as you close before your rate lock expires, any increase in rates won't affect you. The ideal time to lock your mortgage rate is when interest rates are at their lowest, but this is hard to predict — even for the experts.

Will interest rates go down in 2024 for cars? ›

Auto loan rates for new and used vehicle purchases fell in the first quarter of 2024 to 6.73% and 11.91%, respectively, down slightly from the 15-year highs we saw at the end of 2023, according to Experian.

How low will mortgage rates go in 2024? ›

Mortgage rate prediction FAQs

Mortgage rates could fall in 2024, but that's not a given. The Mortgage Bankers Association projects a 6.5% rate by the end of the year, while Fannie Mae predicts 2024 will end with rates at 7%.

How low will mortgage rates drop in 2025? ›

Here's where three experts predict mortgage rates are heading: Around 6% or below by Q1 2025: "Rates hit 8% towards the end of last year, and right now we are seeing rates closer to 6.875%," says Haymore. "By the first quarter of 2025, mortgage rates could potentially fall below the 6% threshold, or maybe even lower."

What if rates drop after I lock? ›

If interest rates go up after you've locked in your rate, you get to keep the lower rate. On the other hand, if you lock your rate and interest rates fall, you can't take advantage of the lower rate unless your rate lock includes a float-down option.

What month are mortgage rates lowest? ›

So if you're on the fence about buying or refinancing a home this winter, know that January and February bring some of the lowest mortgage rates of the year.

What is the best day to lock in interest rates? ›

Monday is the best day to lock-in mortgage rates; Wednesdays are risky. Mortgage rates are in constant flux, even changing multiple times a day. This volatility can make it challenging to know when to lock in your rate.

What is the interest prediction for 2024? ›

Also, mortgage rates are still much higher than we've been used to in recent years. On 30 May 2024, the average 2 year fixed mortgage rate is 5.80%. While this is a significant drop from its July 2023 peak of 6.86%, it's still much higher than December 2021 when was 2.34%.

Will the Fed lower rates in 2024? ›

As recently as their last meeting on March 20, the officials had projected three rate reductions in 2024, likely starting in June. But given the persistence of elevated inflation, financial markets now expect just one rate cut this year, in November, according to futures prices tracked by CME FedWatch.

Should I buy a car now or wait until 2024 in the USA? ›

Used car prices may continue to fall, but a more likely scenario is prices holding steady in early 2024. Waiting too long could result in even higher interest rates, adding insult to injury as rates already average well north of 13% APR. See our car market predictions for 2024.

Will interest rates ever go back to 4%? ›

Currently, over six out of 10 purchase and refinance loans are at rates below 4%, according to Freddie Mac. Those ultra-low rates are unlikely to return anytime soon—if at all—resulting in limited motivation for many homeowners to refinance.

What will mortgage interest rates be in 2026? ›

The 10-year treasury constant maturity rate in the U.S. is forecast to decline by 0.8 percent by 2026, while the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is expected to fall by 1.6 percent. From seven percent in the third quarter of 2023, the average 30-year mortgage rate is projected to reach 5.4 percent in 2026.

When was the last time mortgage rates were below 3? ›

The lowest interest rate for a mortgage in history came in 2020 and 2021. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, the 30-year fixed rate dropped under 3% for the first time since 1971, when Freddie Mac first began surveying mortgage lenders.

What percentage of mortgages are below 3? ›

More than three-quarters of homeowners — 78.7 percent — have a mortgage rate below 5 percent, while nearly 6 in 10 — 59.4 percent — have a mortgage below 4 percent. Just 22.6 percent have a mortgage rate below 3 percent, according to Redfin.

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