{"id":10889,"date":"2022-10-12T11:22:25","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T09:22:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everviz.com\/blog\/?p=9704"},"modified":"2024-04-02T12:07:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T12:07:46","slug":"mortgage-rates-historical-averages-and-trends-in-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everviz.com\/blog\/mortgage-rates-historical-averages-and-trends-in-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Mortgage rates – historical averages and trends in the US"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you are thinking about buying a house, you may have developed a sudden interest in mortgage rates. This may be particularly true for mortgage loan rates, a topic you\u2019ve probably given little thought to in the past. But what are mortgage rates and how do they work? In this article, we explain the factors that can influence mortgage rates and how they can impact your finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are mortgage rates?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you buy a house, you may borrow money in the form of a mortgage loan.  This is an agreement between you and a lender such as a bank.  You agree to pay back the loan in installments over a given period, but the lender retains the right to take your property if you fail to repay the money borrowed.   The lender charges interest in addition to the initial sum borrowed, and the amount of interest due is determined by the mortgage rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mortgage rate is the rate of interest that the lender charges on your loan. This affects how much you will repay over the course of the loan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do mortgage rates matter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Higher mortgage rates mean you pay more to borrow money.  However, if you choose a fixed-rate mortgage, you can lock in the rate for a number of years.  This protects you against further rate rises and gives you the security of knowing exactly how much you will need to pay each month.  Alternatively, you may choose an adjustable mortgage which means your monthly payments will fluctuate if the mortgage rate goes up or down.  This means you benefit if there is a decrease in the mortgage rate, but you risk paying more if the rates go up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n