Economy July 30, 2026 12:04 PM

U.S. 30-Year Mortgage Hits One-Year High at 6.66% as Rates Tick Up

Freddie Mac survey shows week-over-week increases for both 30- and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages amid continued inventory gains in housing

By Priya Menon
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Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ending July 30, 2026, shows the average 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.66%, the highest in one year but still slightly below last year's 6.72%. The 15-year fixed rate also increased to 6.04%. Freddie Mac's chief economist says greater inventory is supporting buyer activity even as rates move.

U.S. 30-Year Mortgage Hits One-Year High at 6.66% as Rates Tick Up
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Key Points

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.66% as of July 30, 2026, up from 6.58% the previous week and highest in one year but below 6.72% from a year earlier - impacts housing market and mortgage finance sectors.
  • 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.04%, up from 5.96% the prior week and above last year’s 5.85% - affects prospective homebuyers and lenders offering shorter-term fixed products.
  • Freddie Mac attributes continued buyer activity in part to increased housing inventory, which provides more options as mortgage rates fluctuate - relevant to real estate market participants and housing supply-side stakeholders.

Mortgage borrowing costs in the United States climbed this week, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reaching 6.66% as of July 30, 2026, according to data published by Freddie Mac. That figure represents an increase from 6.58% the prior week and is the highest average recorded in the past year, although it remains marginally below the 6.72% seen at the same point last year.

The shorter 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also moved higher, averaging 6.04% for the week. That is up from 5.96% the previous week and compares with a 15-year average of 5.85% a year earlier.

Freddie Mac releases these estimates through its Primary Mortgage Market Survey, which compiles prevailing mortgage rate averages. The week-over-week increases show a modest upward shift in market pricing for long-term home loans within the survey period ending July 30, 2026.

Commenting on the data, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist Sam Khater said:

"The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.66% this week. The housing market continues to benefit from more available inventory, providing prospective homebuyers with additional options and helping support buyer activity as mortgage rates fluctuate."

The survey results indicate that while the 30-year rate has climbed to a one-year high, it has not eclipsed last year's average for this date. For the 15-year product, the current average exceeds the comparable figure from a year earlier. Together, the two series illustrate the short-term variability in mortgage pricing captured by Freddie Mac’s weekly reporting.

The data do not include further details on loan volumes, regional variation, or other loan products beyond the two fixed-rate maturities cited. The Primary Mortgage Market Survey is the source of the averages reported for the week ending July 30, 2026.


Clear summary

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.66% for the week of July 30, 2026, up from 6.58% the previous week and marking a one-year high, though still below the 6.72% recorded at this time last year. The 15-year fixed rate averaged 6.04%, up from 5.96% week-over-week and higher than the 5.85% recorded a year earlier. Freddie Mac notes that rising inventory is helping sustain buyer activity amid rate fluctuations.

Risks

  • Fluctuating mortgage rates could alter affordability and influence buyer decisions - a risk to housing demand and mortgage lenders.
  • Week-over-week increases in average rates may introduce short-term uncertainty for prospective homebuyers and real estate transactions.
  • The data reported are averages and do not reflect regional or product-specific variation, leaving uncertainty about local market conditions and lender pricing.

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