What is a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage?
A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is a home loan that has the same interest rate and monthly principal-and-interest payment over the 15-year loan period. 15-year mortgages can be used to buy a home or to refinance an existing home loan.
15-year mortgages usually have lower interest rates than 30-year mortgages, but the monthly payments tend to be higher because borrowers repay the money in half the time. Because borrowers pay off 15-year mortgages faster, they’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan. This feature makes them popular for refinancing out of a 30-year purchase mortgage.
How to find current 15-year refinance rates
NerdWallet’s mortgage rate tool can help you find competitive 15-year fixed mortgage rates. In the filters above, enter a few details about the loan you’re looking for, and you can see rate quotes without providing any personal information.
15-year mortgage rates vary by lender
Each lender offers its own combination of interest rate and fees, so you can save money by comparison shopping and applying with multiple lenders.
After you submit complete mortgage applications, each lender will provide you with a Loan Estimate form. This will let you compare interest rates, origination fees and closing costs and give you confidence that you’re getting the right loan for your situation.
Mortgage rates vary daily and are influenced by the economy’s overall rate of growth, the inflation rate and the health of the job market. Unpredictable events can affect all of those factors. NerdWallet’s mortgage interest rates forecast gives a snapshot of current trends, along with a forecast for the month.
Is it worth refinancing to a 15-year mortgage?
It’s worth checking out 15-year refinance rates if you can afford the monthly mortgage payment, which will be higher than that of a 30-year loan.
You will build home equity faster with a 15-year mortgage than with a 30-year mortgage, and you’ll pay less interest over the life of the loan. The higher monthly payments could squeeze your household budget, though.
