Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure. According to the Zillow lender marketplace, mortgage rates are generally higher today, Tuesday, August 18, 2026, than they were yesterday — though the 30-year rate managed to remain mostly unchanged.
The average 30-year fixed rate is 6.53%, down one basis point since yesterday. The 15-year fixed loan is currently at 5.94%, eight basis points higher than yesterday. The 5/1 ARM is 6.39%, 15 basis points higher than on Monday.
Read more: Weekly survey of mortgage lenders with the lowest rates: Small moves in rates and fees Here are the current mortgage rates, according to our latest Zillow data, for Tuesday, August 18, 2026: Remember that these are the national averages and are rounded to the nearest hundredth. These are the current mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data for Tuesday, August 18, 2026: Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Refinance rates are usually higher than purchase rates.
Learn more: See our top picks for the best mortgage lenders right now A mortgage calculator can help you see how various mortgage term lengths and interest rates will affect your monthly payments. Use this mortgage calculator to explore different outcomes. This embedded content is not available in your region.
You can bookmark the Yahoo Finance mortgage payment calculator and keep it handy for future use, as you shop for homes and lenders. It also considers factors like property taxes and homeowners insurance when calculating your estimated monthly mortgage payment. This gives you a better idea of your total monthly payment than if you just looked at the mortgage principal and interest.
Generally, 15-year mortgage rates are lower than those for 30-year mortgages. When comparing 15- versus 30-year mortgage rates, know that the shorter term will save you money on interest in the long run. However, your monthly payments will be higher because you're paying off the same loan amount in half the time.
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