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Two infographics that show why today’s mortgage rates are a big deal

On The Haro Group blog, we talk a lot about today’s low mortgage rates. Why all the hype? Well, if you look at mortgage rates from a historical perspective, you’ll see why this rate is so significant.

Here’s a chart that shows the average rate and average monthly mortgage payment in the U.S. for the past 4 decades:

historical-mortgage-rates

Mortgage rates have been as high as 12.7%, and averaged 6.29% in the 2000s. So today’s rates, hovering around 3.9%, really are extraordinary. And since the mortgage rate you lock in now will affect how much interest you’ll be paying for the next three decades, this really is a great time to buy a new home.

The mortgage rate is expected to rise later on this year. In one sense that’s OK since we’ll still be near historical lows. However, even a small increase will affect your monthly mortgage payment.

Another way of looking at it: the lower the mortgage rate, the more house you can afford for the same payment. Here’s a chart showing how far a similar monthly payment can go, depending on the rate:

BuyersPurchasingPower2

Again, all of the mortgage rates on the chart are historically low, but a few percentage points can still make a big difference.

If you’re ready to buy or just want to discuss your options, contact The Haro Group for a free consultation. We’d love to answer your questions!

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Our agents write often to give you the latest insights on owning a home or property in the local area.