WASHINGTON, DC — Mortgage rates stayed close to one-year highs on Friday, according to Zillow’s lender marketplace, even as some loan types moved only slightly from the day before. The average 30-year fixed rate was 6.50%, down two basis points from Thursday. The 15-year fixed loan edged up to 6.00%, while the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 6.25%.
Zillow’s national figures also put the 20-year fixed at 6.27% and the 7/1 ARM at 6.12% for purchase loans. For refinancing, the 30-year fixed was 6.60% and the 15-year fixed was 5.93%. Zillow said the averages were rounded to the nearest hundredth and reflected national pricing, not a single metro or lender.
What Zillow Reported
The latest data show how uneven the market remains for borrowers. Zillow listed purchase rates of 6.50% for a 30-year fixed loan, 6.00% for a 15-year fixed, 6.25% for a 5/1 ARM and 6.12% for a 7/1 ARM. VA loan averages came in at 6.50% for a 30-year term, 5.43% for a 15-year term and 5.71% for a 5/1 ARM.
On the refinance side, Zillow reported 6.60% for a 30-year fixed, 6.37% for a 20-year fixed, 5.93% for a 15-year fixed, 6.38% for a 5/1 ARM and 6.51% for a 7/1 ARM. The refinance VA averages were 6.05% for a 30-year term, 5.67% for a 15-year term and 5.71% for a 5/1 ARM. The company said the figures came from its latest national data.
Why Rates Stayed High
The market’s direction was tied to bond-market volatility, even after government bond buybacks initiated by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. That backdrop helped keep mortgage costs near the top of their recent range instead of producing a larger drop. The day’s changes were small enough to show movement, but not enough to suggest a clear turn in borrowing costs.
Freddie Mac’s weekly survey also pointed to a stubbornly elevated market. Through Wednesday, Freddie Mac said the average 30-year mortgage rate was 6.65%, down from 6.67% a week earlier and above 6.58% a year ago. Looking ahead, the Mortgage Bankers Association expects the 30-year rate to average 6.5% through 2026, while Fannie Mae forecasts it near 6.8% by the end of the year and through 2027.
What Buyers Should Watch
For households comparing loans, the gap between purchase and refinance pricing still matters, and so does the term length. Zillow’s numbers show that shorter fixed terms and some adjustable products can come in below the standard 30-year loan, but not always by much. That makes lender shopping and loan comparison important for anyone trying to understand the monthly payment tied to a specific home price and down payment.
Readers can track the same national averages through Zillow’s lender marketplace, Freddie Mac’s weekly survey and the mortgage calculator highlighted by Yahoo Finance. The next shift will depend on bond-market trading, broader economic data and how lenders reprice loans in the days ahead. For now, the clearest picture is one of small daily moves and borrowing costs that remain elevated for buyers and homeowners alike.
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