The average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgage loan in the U.S. is 6.730%, down from the day before, according to data from Mortgage Research Center.
Meanwhile, the average rate for a 15-year, fixed-rate conforming mortgage loan is 5.889%, down for the same time period.
Compare mortgage rates for July 29, 2026
Here’s a quick look at week-over-week rate changes.
Fortune reviewed the latest Mortgage Research Center data available on July 28.
What you’d pay in interest with where rates are at today
We ran the numbers through the mortgage calculator provided by the federal government’s Office of Financial Readiness. At the current rate of 6.730%, on a 30-year mortgage where you borrow $300,000, you’d pay roughly $399,048.73 in interest over the life of the loan.
On a 15-year mortgage with the same loan amount used for the estimate, you’d pay roughly $152,450.21 in interest over the life of the loan at the current rate of 5.889%.
What the Fortune/MRC partnership means for you
Fortune partners with Mortgage Research Center, a company with deep expertise in the mortgage data space, to keep you informed throughout your homebuying journey. We review average rates provided by MRC each workday they’re available, keeping you up to date on a variety of loan types.
Read on to see how mortgage rates have changed from the day prior.
30-year conventional mortgage rates
This may be the most popular mortgage type in the United States.
The current average 30-year mortgage rate is 6.730%. That’s down from 6.748% on the last day’s report.
15-year conventional mortgage rates
This type of mortgage is popular with homeowners seeking to minimize interest payments over the life of their loan.
The current average 15-year mortgage rate is 5.889%. That’s down from 5.907% on the last day’s report.
30-year jumbo mortgage rates
A jumbo mortgage is one that exceeds the conforming loan limits set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. While the limit can vary in certain high-cost-of-living-areas, in most of the U.S., it’s $832,750 for 2026.
The current average rate on a 30-year jumbo loan is 6.882%. That’s ever so slightly up from 6.881% on the last day’s report.
30-year FHA mortgage rates
This type of mortgage is oftentimes more accessible to borrowers with slightly lower credit scores than conventional mortgages. Lenders are protected because these loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
The current average rate on a 30-year FHA home loan is 6.098%. That’s up from 6.063% on the last day’s report.
30-year VA mortgage rates
These loans are, in general, available to U.S. military members and veterans and surviving spouses. One attractive feature is that they have no minimum down payment requirement, unlike most other mortgage types.
The current average rate on a 30-year VA home loan is 6.164%. That’s slightly up from 6.160% on the last day’s report.
30-year USDA mortgage rates
A USDA loan is meant to help low- to moderate-income borrowers purchase a home in an eligible rural area. Like VA loans, USDA loans have no minimum down payment requirement.
The current average rate on a 30-year USDA home loan is 6.112%. That’s slightly up from 6.107% on the last day’s report.
What the Federal Reserve is doing in 2026
The Fed does not set mortgage interest rates directly. However, the central bank does set something called the federal funds rate, which is what banks charge each other to borrow money overnight.
Much of the time, rates on consumer products such as mortgages move alongside changes to the federal funds rate. So, if the Fed hikes or cuts its benchmark rate, mortgage rates might move up or down accordingly.
At its most recent meeting June 16-17, the Federal Open Market Committee left the federal funds rate at 3.50% – 3.75%. The FOMC is meeting again this week, July 28-29.
Many would-be homebuyers probably remember the historical low average mortgage rate of 2.65%, reached in January 2021. But this came as the Fed slashed the federal funds rate to effectively zero, trying to hold off a recession connected with the coronavirus pandemic.
Barring a disaster of pandemic-level proportions, experts do not expect we’ll see mortgage rates go that low again.
Trends with mortgage applications
Mortgage applications are up slightly. That’s according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association showing that for the week ending July 17, home loan applications increased 1.9% compared to a week earlier—despite elevated mortgage interest rates.
“Growing home inventory in many markets is supporting more purchase activity,” Mike Fratantoni, SVP and chief economist at MBA, observed in a news release.
While purchase activity was up, refinance applications were down as a share of overall mortgage applications. And, FHA and VA loan applications decreased as a share of the total.
Recent reporting on the housing market from Fortune
Keep up on what’s happening with housing and the economy in general by following the work of the Fortune newsroom:
- No, Miami isn’t more expensive than New York. But it may be less ‘affordable’
- The millennial generation is split in 2: an older crowd with boomer-style comfort, a younger set going ‘back to the early 1900s’
- ‘It’s called StreetEasy, not StreetHard’: Mamdani cracks down on scourge of ‘housefishing’ and ‘real estate slop’
- The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
- Google’s founders are snapping up Miami mansions, as billionaires flee California’s proposed tax—and the company is buying office space to accommodate
- Retirees wait for the day they can sell their homes and cash in—but there’s a secret Medicare ‘trap’ that could stop them in their tracks
- Billionaires like Ken Griffin are moving to Miami—but middle-class earners can’t copy them and reap the same benefits, real estate experts say
Why you should comparison shop
In a high-interest-rate market, homebuyers who apply with multiple mortgages might save between $600 to $1,200 annually compared to those who do not, according to Freddie Mac.
When comparison shopping for a mortgage, keep in mind you’re comparing two factors. For one thing, you’re comparing different lenders to find the one that will offer you the best rate, service that aligns with your expectations, etc. And for another, you’re comparing different types of loans.
For instance, someone with a nearly perfect credit score might get the best deal for their situation with a conventional mortgage. But someone with a credit score under 600, who would likely be denied for a conventional mortgage, might still have a chance at approval for an FHA loan in some circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Are a mortgage’s interest rate and APR the same?
They’re related but not entirely the same. Your APR includes your interest rate plus any applicable fees, meaning it will generally be the higher of the two numbers.
What’s a good mortgage rate in July 2026?
Scoring a rate just above 6.00% means you’re probably doing good, as we’ve seen the average for 30-year conventional home loans hovering close to 6.50% recently.
Will mortgage rates go down?
It’s possible but nothing is set in stone. Mortgage rates might go down if the Fed proceeds with a cut to the federal funds rate in 2026. But, other factors influencing mortgage rates include inflation, the national debt, and the current demand for home loans.
