# Mortgage Rates Today Remain Steady Mortgage rates continue to rise throughout July. - **Source:** [NerdWallet](https://brifing.si/source/47fee75b-2b5e-493d-9ac3-f012b6c37891) - **Published:** 2026-07-21 - **Topic:** [Finance](https://brifing.si/c/finance) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/e3660a8b-2b20-44c8-b323-858c618b7205 ## Current State of Mortgage Rates Mortgage rates changed very little today. Throughout July, rates have remained higher compared to June. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.48% APR, according to Zillow data. This represents a one basis point decrease from last week. ## Factors Influencing Interest Rates Mortgage rates are influenced by various factors such as inflation reports, unemployment data, and global developments. In particular, conflicts in Iran have pushed oil prices higher, weakening the bond market and driving mortgage rates up. ## Is It the Right Time to Refinance? Refinancing may make sense if your current interest rate is at least 0.5-0.75 points higher than today's rates. If your current rate is around 6.98% or higher, you might consider refinancing. This could help lower your monthly payments or shorten your loan term. ## Is It the Right Time to Buy a Home? The 'right time' to buy a home depends on your personal financial situation. If you can comfortably afford payments at today's interest rates, you might consider moving forward rather than waiting for lower rates. Getting pre-approved and comparing offers is crucial. ## Should You Lock Your Rate? If you have an offer you're happy with, you might consider locking your interest rate. This protects you from rate increases during the loan process. Some lenders offer a 'float-down' option, allowing you to take advantage of a better rate if the market drops during the lock period. ## Why Do Mortgage Rates Vary? The rates you see online are usually for borrowers with perfect credit scores and large down payments. Personalized offers depend on your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and other financial factors. Therefore, everyone's rate may differ. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/news/mortgage-rates-today-tuesday-july-21-2026 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._