Mortgage Rates Up Slightly, Jobs Added in November | Today, Dec. 6, 2024

December 6, 2024 - 8 min read

Today’s mortgage rates

Most mortgage rates rose this morning following an overall decline for the week. However, the average 30-year fixed rate ticked down this morning.

Despite the November jobs report exceeding expectations, today’s economic indicators point to downward pressure on mortgage rates in the short-term.

Current mortgage and refinance rates

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ProgramMortgage RateAPR*Change
Conventional 30-year fixed
Conventional 30-year fixed6.928% 6.978% +0.04
Conventional 20-year fixed
Conventional 20-year fixed6.803% 6.86% +0.15
Conventional 15-year fixed
Conventional 15-year fixed6.195% 6.274% +0.05
Conventional 10-year fixed
Conventional 10-year fixed6.076% 6.149% +0.05
30-year fixed FHA
30-year fixed FHA6.886% 6.931% +0.02
30-year fixed VA
30-year fixed VA6.748% 6.792% +0.1
5/1 ARM Conventional
5/1 ARM Conventional6.45% 7.115% -0.03
Rates are provided by our partner network, and may not reflect the market. Your rate might be different. Click here for a personalized rate quote. See our rate assumptions See our rate assumptions here.

>Related: 7 Tips to get the best refinance rate

30-year fixed rate mortgage

At the time this was published, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 6.78%.

The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) hit a record weekly low of 2.65% on Jan. 7, 2021, and a record weekly high of 8.89% on Dec. 16, 1994, according to Freddie Mac.

A 30-year FRM gives borrowers an affordable option but you pay more interest over the life of the loan compared to shorter mortgages.

15-year fixed rate mortgage

Today, the average 15-year fixed mortgage rate went to 6.1%.

The average 15-year FRM hit a record weekly low of 2.1% on July 29, 2021, and a record weekly high of 18.63% on Sep. 10, 1981, according to Freddie Mac.

The 15-year FRM offers borrowers a briefer term with less accrued interest, but the monthly payments will be much higher.

5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage

This morning’s 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage averaged 6.39%.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) typically have lower initial interest rates compared to fixed loans. Once that initial period ends, the interest rate adjusts to the current market conditions. In this case, the intial period is five years and the adjustments are up to once every year. Homeowners with shorter term lending plans tend to see these as advantageous.

Market data affecting today’s mortgage rates

Here’s a snapshot of the state of play as this article was published. The data mostly compares to roughly the same time the business day before, so much of the movement will often have happened in the previous session. The numbers are:

  • The yield on 10-year Treasury notes decreased to 4.163% from 4.201%. (Good for mortgage rates.) More than any other market, mortgage rates typically tend to follow these particular Treasury bond yields
  • Major stock indexes mostly opened up this morning. (Bad for mortgage rates.) When investors buy shares, they often sell bonds, pushing those prices down and increasing yields and mortgage rates. The opposite may happen when indexes are lower. But this is an imperfect relationship
  • Oil prices decreased to $67.27 from $68.36 a barrel. (Good for mortgage rates*.) Energy prices play a prominent role in creating inflation and also point to future economic activity
  • Gold prices increased to $2,662 from $2,661 an ounce. (Neutral (but moving in a good direction) for mortgage rates*.) It is generally better for rates when gold prices rise and worse when they fall. Because gold tends to rise when investors worry about the economy.
  • CNN Business Fear & Greed index — decreased to 54 from 58 out of 100. (Good for mortgage rates.) “Greedy” investors push bond prices down (and interest rates up) as they leave the bond market and move into stocks, while “fearful” investors do the opposite. So, lower readings are often better than higher ones

*A movement of less than $20 on gold prices or 40 cents on oil ones is a change of 1% or less. So we only count meaningful differences as good or bad for mortgage rates.

Caveats about markets and rates

Before the pandemic, post-pandemic upheavals, and war in Ukraine, you could look at the above figures and make a pretty good guess about what would happen to mortgage rates that day. But that’s no longer the case. We still make daily calls. And are usually right. But our record for accuracy won’t achieve its former high levels until things settle down.

So, use markets only as a rough guide. Because they have to be exceptionally strong or weak for us to rely on them. But, with that caveat, mortgage rates today might nudge upward or barely budge. However, be aware that “intraday swings” (when rates change speed or direction during the day) are a common feature right now.

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What’s driving mortgage rates today?

This week

Today’s economic reports include the one of the largest influencers over interest rates and Federal Reserve policy: the monthly U.S. Employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

November saw a total of 227,000 jobs added for the month, going above the market forecast of 214,000. The unemployment rate met expectations inched up to 4.2% from 4.1% in October. Hourly wages held month-over-month at 0.4%, a tick up from the expected 0.3%.

These data points mostly represent an expanding job market, which would normally put upward pressure on mortgage rates and reducing the odds of a December rate cut by the Fed. However, the underlying numbers tell a slightly different story:

“Although payroll employment rebounded in November ... the report overall shows more softening in the labor market,” said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association. “While we are not seeing a pickup in layoffs, new entrants and individuals who lose jobs are having a more difficult time regaining employment. The payroll gains continue to be concentrated in just a few sectors, government, health care, and leisure and hospitality.

“Fed officials have pointed to their ‘data dependence’ when it comes to decisions about future rate cuts. These data support a cut at the December meeting, and MBA forecasts that the Fed will continue to reduce short-term rates in 2025, although they are likely to slow the pace of cuts.”

We should learn more throughout the day about the Fed’s thoughts on the jobs report. A quartet of Fed executives speak today, beginning with Governor Michelle Bowman at 9:15am ET, Chicago President Austan Goolsbee at 10:30am, Cleveland President Beth Hammack at 12pm, and San Francisco President Mary Daly at 1pm.

Freddie Mac’s Dec. 5 report put the weekly 30-year fixed mortgage rate average at 6.69%, down 12 basis points from the previous week. But note that Freddie’s data are almost always out of date by the time it announces its weekly figures. Still, they’re a good way to track trends.

Expert forecasts for mortgage rates

Looking further ahead, Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) each has a team of economists dedicated to monitoring and forecasting what will happen to the economy, the housing sector and mortgage rates.

And here are their rate forecasts for the last quarter of 2024 and the first three quarters of 2025 (Q4/24, Q1/25, Q2/25, and Q3/25).

The numbers in the table below are for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages. Fannie’s were updated on Oct. 10 and the MBA’s on Oct. 27.

ForecasterQ4/24Q1/25Q2/25Q3/25
Fannie Mae6.0% 5.9%5.7%5.6%
MBA6.3% 6.2%6.0%5.9%

In its Mortgage Market Outlook, published Oct. 18, Freddie Mac wrote, “we expect [the economy] to continue to grow, though at a slower pace. Under our baseline scenario, we expect inflation to continue to trend lower. The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 0.5 percentage points in September and indicated further cuts of almost one percentage point in 2024 and another percentage point in 2025.”

Of course, given so many unknowables, these forecasts might be even more speculative than usual. And their past record for accuracy — due to the volatile nature of interest rates — hasn’t been wildly impressive.

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Mortgage rate methodology

The Mortgage Reports receives rates based on selected criteria from multiple lending partners each day. We arrive at an average rate and APR for each loan type to display in our chart. Because we average an array of rates, it gives you a better idea of what you might find in the marketplace. Furthermore, we average rates for the same loan types. For example, FHA fixed with FHA fixed. The end result is a good snapshot of daily rates and how they change over time.


Current mortgage rates methodology

We receive current mortgage rates each day from a network of mortgage lenders that offer home purchase and refinance loans. Those mortgage rates shown here are based on sample borrower profiles that vary by loan type. See our full loan assumptions here.

Today’s mortgage rates FAQ

What is a good mortgage rate?

A good mortgage rate is one that aligns with current market trends and your financial situation. As of December 5, 2024, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.69%, while the 15-year fixed mortgage averaged 5.96%, according to Freddie Mac.

How is your mortgage rate determined?

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including the economy, the borrower’s credit score, the loan term, and the overall housing market conditions. Lenders also consider the loan amount, down payment, and whether the loan is a conventional or government-backed loan.

How to get the lowest possible rate today?

When searching for the lowest possible mortgage rates, it’s essential to cast a wide net. Take the time to explore offerings from various lenders, including banks, credit unions, and online mortgage providers. By gathering multiple quotes, you’ll be better equipped to identify the most competitive rate and terms that align with your financial goals.

Is fixed or an adjustable-rate mortgage better?

Choosing between the two often boils down to your financial goals and risk tolerance. If you prioritize predictability and plan to stay in your home long-term, a fixed-rate mortgage might be a solid choice. However, if you’re comfortable with some level of risk and anticipate selling or refinancing before potential rate adjustments kick in, an adjustable-rate mortgage could offer initial lower rates that might suit your needs.

Should you lock in your mortgage rate today?

Many forecasts predict mortgage rates will decrease gradually through 2024 and 2025, with the 30-year fixed rate likely to drop below 6.5% by the fourth quarter. However, this decline may be slow, and short-term rate increases are possible. If you’re closing soon, locking in your rate may offer stability, but trust your instincts and risk tolerance when deciding whether to float or lock.

Paul Centopani
Authored By: Paul Centopani
The Mortgage Reports Editor
Paul Centopani is a writer and editor who started covering the lending and housing markets in 2018. Previous to joining The Mortgage Reports, he was a reporter for National Mortgage News. Paul grew up in Connecticut, graduated from Binghamton University and now lives in Chicago after a decade in New York and the D.C. area.