WASHINGTON, DC — Mortgage rates moved mostly higher in Zillow’s latest national snapshot for Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, with the 30-year fixed average rising to 6.64 percent. That was 10 basis points above the prior week, while the 15-year fixed rate inched up two basis points to 5.88 percent.
The biggest move came in the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage, which jumped 50 basis points to 6.74 percent. Zillow said the figures are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth, so they are meant to show broad market direction rather than a quote from any one lender.
What Zillow Reported
Zillow’s lender marketplace data also showed a 20-year fixed rate of 6.37 percent, a 7/1 ARM at 6.30 percent, and VA options at 6.14 percent for a 30-year loan, 5.59 percent for a 15-year loan, and 5.84 percent for a 5/1 ARM. On the refinance side, the 30-year fixed rate matched purchase rates at 6.64 percent.
Other refinance averages included 20-year fixed at 6.61 percent, 15-year fixed at 5.99 percent, 5/1 ARM at 6.50 percent, 7/1 ARM at 6.51 percent, 30-year VA at 6.02 percent, 15-year VA at 5.70 percent, and 5/1 VA at 5.63 percent. The data were published as Sunday pricing.
Why Rates Moved
The Yahoo Finance mortgage update tied the higher readings to a broad week-over-week move, not to any one local event. It also framed the change as coming near the end of the prime selling season, when buyers and lenders are watching how far borrowing costs drift as summer winds down.
The piece said the 30-year fixed remains the most common mortgage because the longer term lowers the monthly payment, while shorter terms usually carry lower rates but higher monthly costs. It also noted that adjustable-rate loans can start lower than fixed loans, even though that is not always the case and the rate can change after the initial lock period ends.
What Borrowers Can Check
For households shopping for a home or considering a refinance, the update pointed readers toward their own finances rather than any broad prediction. It said lenders often reserve their best pricing for borrowers with strong credit, larger down payments, and lower debt-to-income ratios.
The article also advised comparing offers from three or four lenders within a short window and looking at the annual percentage rate, not just the headline rate. Zillow’s mortgage calculator can estimate monthly payments using principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, and the MBA and Fannie Mae forecasts cited in the piece point to 30-year rates around 6.5 percent to 6.8 percent through 2026.
More on what homes, rents and new builds are doing near you, on RHS Commoner.
