Today's mortgage and refinance rates: January 1, 2023

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Mortgage rates are starting out the new year relatively calm. After plunging in November, rates mostly stayed flat throughout December, with 30-year fixed rates hovering near 6%. They remain steady today.Home shoppers can look forward to rates dropping further in the coming months.

Lower rates help boost buying power, making shopping for a home easier for those in expensive markets.For example, if a homebuyer is looking to keep their monthly payment around $1,500 (not including taxes and insurance), the biggest loan they could get at a 7% rate is around $225,000. But at a 6% rate, they could get a loan as large as $250,000, meaning they could increase their budget by $25,000.Mortgage rates today Mortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow. See more mortgage rates on Zillow Mortgage refinance rates today Mortgage type Average rate today This information has been provided by Zillow.

See more mortgage rates on Zillow Mortgage calculatorUse our free mortgage calculator to see how today's mortgage rates will affect your monthly and long-term payments. By plugging in different term lengths and interest rates, you'll see how your monthly payment could change.Mortgage rate projection for 2023Mortgage rates started ticking up from historic lows in the second half of 2021 and have increased over three percentage points so far in 2022. They'll likely remain near their current levels for the remainder of 2022.But many forecasts expect rates to begin to fall next year.

In their latest forecast, Fannie Mae researchers predicted that 30-year fixed rates will trend down throughout 2023 and 2024.But whether mortgage rates will drop in 2023 hinges on if the Federal Reserve can get inflation under control.In the last 12 months, the Consumer Price Index rose by 7.1%. This is a significant slowdown compared to where inflation was earlier this year, which is a sign that mortgage rates may start coming down soon as well.If the Fed acts too aggressively and engineers a recession, mortgage rates could fall further than what current forecasts expect. But rates probably won't drop to the historic lows borrowers enjoyed throughout the past couple of years.When will house prices come down?Home prices are starting to decline, but we likely won't see huge drops, even if there's a recession.The S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index shows that prices are still up year-over-year, though they've fallen on a monthly basis over the past few months.

Fannie Mae researchers expect prices to decline 1.5% in 2023, while the MBA expects a 0.6% decrease in 2023 and a 1.2% decrease in 2024.Sky high mortgage rates have pushed many hopeful buyers out of the market, slowing homebuying demand and putting downward pressure on home prices. But rates may start to drop next year, which would remove some of that pressure. The current supply of homes is also historically low, which will likely keep prices from dropping too far.Fixed-rate vs.

adjustable-rate mortgage pros and consFixed-rate mortgages lock in your rate for the entire life of your loan. Adjustable-rate mortgages lock in your rate for the first few years, then your rate goes up or down periodically.ARMs typically start with lower rates than fixed-rate mortgages, but ARM rates can go up once your initial introductory period is over. If you plan on moving or refinancing before the rate adjusts, an ARM could be a good deal.

But keep in mind that a change in circumstances could prevent you from doing these things, so it's a good idea to think about whether your budget could handle a higher monthly payment.Fixed-rate mortgage are a good choice for borrowers who want stability, since your monthly principal and interest payments won't change throughout the life of the loan (though your mortgage payment could increase if your taxes or insurance go up).But in exchange for this stability, you'll take on a higher rate. This might seem like a bad deal right now, but if rates increase further in a few years, you might be glad to have a rate locked in. And if rates trend down, you may be able to refinance to snag a lower rate How does an adjustable-rate mortgage work?ARMs start with an introductory period where your rate will remain fixed for a certain period of time.

Once that period is up, it will begin to adjust periodically — typically once per year or once every six months.How much your rate will change depends on the index that the ARM uses and the margin set by the lender. Lenders choose the index that their ARMs use, and this rate can trend up or down depending on current market conditions.The margin is the amount of interest a lender charges on top of the index. You should shop around with multiple lenders to see which one offers the lowest margin.ARMs also come with limits on how much they can change and how high they can go.

For example, an ARM might be limited to a 2% increase or decrease every time it adjusts, with a maximum rate of 8%.Should I get a HELOC? Pros and consIf you're looking to tap into your home's equity, a HELOC might be the best way to do so right now. Unlike a cash-out refinance, you won't have to get a whole new mortgage with a new interest rate, and you'll likely get a better rate than you would with a home equity loan.But HELOCs don't always make sense. It's important to consider the pros and cons.HELOC prosOnly pay interest on what you borrowTypically have lower rates than alternatives, including home equity loans, personal loans, and credit cardsIf you have a lot of equity, you could potentially borrow more than you could get with a personal loanHELOC consRates are variable, meaning your monthly payments could go upTaking equity out of your home can be risky if property values decline or you default on the loanMinimum withdrawal amount may be more than you want to borrow