Quick Answer
How do you know if refinancing is worth it? Divide your total closing costs by your monthly savings. The result is your break-even point -- the number of months you need to keep the loan to recoup what you paid to refinance. If you plan to stay in the home longer than that, refinancing typically saves money. As a quick screen, look for a rate drop of at least 0.75 percentage points, but always run the break-even math because rate-only rules ignore loan size, closing costs, and how long you will stay.
Key Takeaways
- The break-even formula: Total Closing Costs ÷ Monthly Savings = Months to Break Even
- Closing costs typically run 2–6% of the loan balance; expect $5,000–$15,000 on a typical loan
- The 0.75% rule of thumb is a starting screen, not a final answer
- If you may move within 3 years, a no-closing-cost refi often beats a traditional one
- Lenders typically price a cash-out refinance higher than a rate-and-term refi: Fannie Mae charges more for it at every credit score and loan-to-value (Section 8)
What Is the Refinance Break-Even Point?
When you refinance a mortgage, you pay closing costs upfront in exchange for lower monthly payments going forward. The break-even point is the moment your accumulated monthly savings finally equal those upfront costs. After that point, every additional month you keep the loan is real money in your pocket.
The Break-Even Formula
The math is one division problem:
Refinance Break-Even Formula
Months to Break Even = Total Closing Costs ÷ Monthly Payment Savings
For a clean example, suppose you currently pay $2,200 per month in principal and interest. After refinancing, your new payment is $1,920 -- a savings of $280 per month. Your closing costs were $7,000. The break-even is $7,000 ÷ $280 = 25 months. Stay in the home longer than 25 months and the refinance is a net win. Sell or pay off the loan sooner and you lose money on the closing costs.
Why the Break-Even Point Matters More Than the Rate Drop
People often focus on the headline rate, asking "Can I get 5.75% instead of 6.5%?" But the rate drop alone does not tell you whether refinancing makes sense. Two factors decide the outcome:
- Closing costs -- the upfront price you pay for the new loan
- Time horizon -- how long you plan to keep the loan
A small rate drop on a large loan can break even quickly. A larger rate drop on a small loan with high closing costs can take a decade or more to pay off. The break-even calculation translates rate, cost, and timeline into one decision-ready number.
2026 Mortgage Rate Context: Why Refinancing Math Matters Now
According to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 7.03% as of September 24, 2026 -- up from 6.30% one year earlier, and the first weekly average above 7% since January 2025. Rates dipped just below 6% in late February 2026 before climbing through the summer and into the fall.
This matters because many homeowners who closed loans in 2023 or 2024 locked in rates above 7%. With the market average back above 7%, the gap for most of those borrowers is now under the 0.75-point screen in Section 6 -- so whether refinancing pencils out depends entirely on your loan size, your remaining term, and your costs.
Freddie Mac publishes the national 30-year fixed average every week. The most recent figure when this page was built:
As of October 1, 2026, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.28%. Source: Freddie Mac, 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States [MORTGAGE30US], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (opens in new tab).
The table below measures each loan vintage against the September 24, 2026 average (7.03%). Each vintage's range is the lowest and highest weekly 30-year averages in Freddie Mac's PMMS for that period; individual loans closed above and below those averages. If the weekly figure above is different, move every gap by the difference: each 0.10-point rise in the market rate cuts every gap by 0.10 point, and each 0.10-point fall adds 0.10 point.
| Original Loan Vintage | PMMS Weekly 30-Year Average (Low-High) | Gap to September 24, 2026 (7.03%) | Refinance Math Likely |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 (record lows) | 2.65%-3.72% | -4.38% to -3.31% | No -- already lower than the September 2026 average |
| 2022 H1 | 3.22%-5.81% | -3.81% to -1.22% | No -- already lower than the September 2026 average |
| 2022 H2 | 4.99%-7.08% | -2.04% to +0.05% | No -- even the late-October 2022 peak is only 0.05 point above the September 2026 average |
| 2023 | 6.09%-7.79% | -0.94% to +0.76% | Borderline -- only loans near the top of the range clear 0.75% |
| 2024 | 6.08%-7.22% | -0.95% to +0.19% | Unlikely -- the widest gap is well under the 0.75% screen |
The Mortgage Bankers Association's Refinance Index was down 18% year-over-year for the week ending August 14, 2026, a reversal from the 29% year-over-year increase reported in May 2026 -- refinance demand cooled as rates climbed back from the near-6% lows earlier in the year to 6.67% by mid-August 2026 (PMMS, August 13), and the average has since passed 7%. Whether the math works for you depends on the specifics in the next sections.
Worked Examples: Three Refinance Scenarios
The break-even formula sounds abstract until you see the numbers play out. Here are three illustrative scenarios at different rate drops, loan sizes, and closing-cost levels. All examples assume a 30-year fixed-rate refinance.
The refinance rates are illustrative, not today's market: each is below Freddie Mac's September 24, 2026 average of 7.03%, so the scenarios show the math if rates fall back to where they were earlier in 2026 -- the PMMS 30-year average was 5.98%-6.22% from January 8 through March 19, 2026. At the September 24 average, only Scenario B's 7.50% loan could refinance lower at all, and by less than the 0.75-point screen in Section 6.
How the tables are built: both columns use the amount you originally borrowed and a full 30-year term. The Original Loan payment is the principal-and-interest payment on the loan as you closed it; the Refinanced Loan payment prices a new 30-year loan for that same amount, so the rate is the only difference between the columns. A real refinance pays off the lower balance you owe by then. In Scenario A, after 36 payments the balance is $290,181: a new 30-year loan for that amount at 6.25% costs $1,787 a month, $209 less than $1,996, but part of that comes from restarting the 30-year clock (see Section 7); a 27-year loan that keeps your original payoff date costs $1,856, $140 less. Use your own payoff balance and remaining term when you run the numbers.
Scenario A: Modest Rate Drop, Mid-Sized Loan
You closed a $300,000 mortgage in 2023 at 7.00%. Suppose a lender quotes you 6.25% to refinance. Closing costs are $7,500 (2.5% of balance).
| Item | Original Loan | Refinanced Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Loan balance | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Interest rate | 7.00% | 6.25% |
| Monthly P&I payment | $1,996 | $1,847 |
| Monthly savings | -- | $149 |
| Closing costs | -- | $7,500 |
| Break-even point | -- | 51 months (4.3 years) |
Decision: If you plan to stay in the home more than 4.3 years, this refi saves money. If you may move sooner, the closing costs eat the savings. The 0.75% rate drop here is right at the rule-of-thumb threshold, but the relatively small monthly savings push break-even past 4 years.
Scenario B: Larger Rate Drop, Big Loan
You closed a $550,000 mortgage in 2023 at 7.50%. Suppose a lender quotes you 6.00% to refinance. Closing costs are $13,200 (2.4% of balance).
| Item | Original Loan | Refinanced Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Loan balance | $550,000 | $550,000 |
| Interest rate | 7.50% | 6.00% |
| Monthly P&I payment | $3,846 | $3,298 |
| Monthly savings | -- | $548 |
| Closing costs | -- | $13,200 |
| Break-even point | -- | 25 months (2.1 years) |
Decision: A 1.50% rate drop on a large loan produces serious monthly savings. Even with $13,200 in closing costs, you break even in just over 2 years (25 months). If you keep the home another 5 years past that point, you keep another $32,880 in lower principal-and-interest payments ($548 × 60 months) beyond the break-even -- that is payment savings, not interest saved.
Scenario C: Small Rate Drop, Smaller Loan
You closed a $180,000 mortgage in 2024 at 6.75%. Suppose a lender quotes you 6.25% to refinance. Closing costs are $5,400 (3% of balance).
| Item | Original Loan | Refinanced Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Loan balance | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| Interest rate | 6.75% | 6.25% |
| Monthly P&I payment | $1,167 | $1,108 |
| Monthly savings | -- | $59 |
| Closing costs | -- | $5,400 |
| Break-even point | -- | 92 months (7.7 years) |
Decision: Skip it. A 0.50% drop on a small balance produces only $59/month in savings, and the break-even is nearly 8 years. Unless you are certain you will stay in the home for a decade or more, this refinance does not make financial sense. This is exactly why the 0.75% rule of thumb exists -- it is a quick way to flag situations like Scenario C.
Run These Numbers for Your Loan
Plug in your current and proposed rate, balance, and closing costs in our calculator to see your monthly P&I and total interest -- then divide your closing costs by the savings to get your own break-even.
Typical 2026 Refinance Closing Costs
Closing costs are the make-or-break input in your break-even math. Underestimate them and you will be disappointed by the result. Lenders typically quote total closing costs in the 2-6% range of the loan balance, but the actual mix of fees varies. Here is what to expect on a typical $300,000 refinance.
| Cost Category | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Loan origination fee | $1,500-$3,000 (0.5%-1%) | Often the largest single line item; negotiable |
| Appraisal | $500-$800 | Usually required; some lenders waive on rate-and-term refi |
| Title insurance (lender's policy) | $1,000-$2,000 | Protects the lender; required even on a refi |
| Title search and settlement | $400-$1,200 | Verifies clear title; closing/escrow agent fee |
| Recording fees and transfer taxes | $100-$500+ | State and county-specific; varies widely |
| Credit report and underwriting | $50-$500 | May be bundled with origination |
| Prepaid escrow (taxes + insurance) | $1,500-$5,000 | You get this back from your old escrow refund -- track it carefully |
| Discount points (optional) | 1% per point | Buys down the rate; affects break-even math separately |
| Typical total | $5,000-$15,000 (before optional points) | 2%-6% of loan balance; the top of the range typically reflects discount points |
Watch for "no-closing-cost" marketing. Lenders advertising no-cost refinances are not paying the costs out of charity. They either roll them into your loan balance or charge a higher rate (typically 0.125-0.25 percentage points above market). The fees still exist -- they are just hidden in your monthly payment.
The Loan Estimate: Where to Verify Your Costs
Within three business days of applying for a refinance, federal law requires the lender to send you a standardized Loan Estimate form. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishes a free explainer for reading this document. Page 2 lists every closing cost line item -- compare these directly to your monthly savings to compute the real break-even.
The 0.75% Rule of Thumb (and When to Ignore It)
For decades, mortgage advisors have used a simple screen: "Refinance only when you can drop your rate by at least 0.75 to 1 percentage point." It is shorthand, not gospel. The rule exists because at most loan sizes, smaller rate drops generate too little monthly savings to overcome typical closing costs in a reasonable timeframe.
When the Rule Holds Up
- Smaller loan balances (under $250,000), where dollar savings per percentage point are limited
- Average closing costs (2.5-4% of balance) -- the typical deal
- Plans to stay 3-5 years, where break-even must clear in roughly that window
When You Can Beat the Rule
- Large loan balances ($500K+), where a 0.5% drop saves about $164 a month on $500,000 (6.75% to 6.25%) and the fixed-dollar parts of closing costs are a smaller share of the loan
- Low-cost refinance options, including credit unions and lender promotions that waive origination
- Long expected tenure (10+ years remaining in the home), where any positive break-even produces meaningful gains
When Even 1% Is Not Enough
- You may move within 2-3 years -- closing costs rarely earn back that fast on traditional refis
- Loan balance is small ($150K or less), so even big rate drops generate modest dollar savings
- Closing costs are unusually high (5%+ of balance), which can happen with high-tax states or jumbo loans
The takeaway: treat the 0.75% rule as a yes/maybe/no screen. If you clear it comfortably, run the formal break-even math. If you fall short, weigh whether your loan is large enough or your timeline long enough to overcome the gap.
When Refinancing Does NOT Make Sense
The savings story is real, but so are the situations where refinancing destroys value. Watch for these red flags before signing.
1. You Are Restarting the Amortization Clock
If you are 10 years into a 30-year loan and refinance to a new 30-year term, you reset the clock to 30 years. Even with a lower payment, you may pay more total interest than if you had stayed the course. To preserve your existing payoff timeline, refinance into a shorter term -- a 20-year or 15-year loan that matches your remaining time.
2. You Are Rolling Closing Costs Into the Loan
Adding $7,000 in closing costs to your principal balance feels painless on day one. But you will pay interest on those costs for 30 years. Over time, financed closing costs can add $5,000-$10,000 in additional interest. If you have the cash, paying out of pocket usually beats financing.
3. Your Break-Even Exceeds Your Time Horizon
Scenario C above (break-even 92 months) is the classic case. If you may move, downsize, or pay off the loan within 5-7 years, a long break-even guarantees you lose money on the deal. This is the single most common refi mistake -- borrowers focus on monthly savings without checking how long they will be around to enjoy them.
4. You Are Refinancing for Cash Out During Financial Stress
Cash-out refinances let you take equity out of your home as cash, but lenders typically price them higher than rate-and-term refis (see Section 8). Equity extraction is still running at a healthy clip, but it is increasingly happening some other way: ICE Mortgage Technology's June 2026 Mortgage Monitor reported that homeowners withdrew roughly $47 billion of equity in Q1 2026, up about 2% year over year, with more than half of it taken through second liens and HELOCs rather than cash-out refinances as borrowers protected their existing low first-mortgage rates. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Q2 2026 Household Debt and Credit Report (released August 11, 2026) shows the same pattern from the balance side: HELOC balances rose $13 billion in the quarter to $459 billion, some $142 billion above the low reached in Q1 2022. These are the most recent editions of each series published as of September 2026; newer editions may exist by the time you read this. Cash-out can make sense for major investments (home renovation, debt consolidation at much lower rates), but using it to fund discretionary spending or to plug an income gap usually deepens financial trouble.
5. You Have Strong Reasons to Sell Soon
Job changes, divorce, downsizing, relocation -- these are valid reasons to keep the original loan. Refinancing only to face an unexpected sale 12 months later is a common and costly mistake. If your timeline is uncertain, a no-closing-cost refi or staying put often beats a traditional refinance.
Cash-out specific warning: Borrowing against home equity to pay off credit cards can save money on interest: the Federal Reserve's G.19 release puts the average credit card rate at commercial banks at 20.94% on all accounts and 22.15% on accounts assessed interest (second quarter of 2026), while Freddie Mac's 30-year average was 7.03% for September 24, 2026. That average is for home purchase loans to borrowers with good-to-excellent credit and 20% down, and lenders typically price a cash-out refinance higher (Section 8), so expect your quote to sit above it. But it converts unsecured debt into debt secured by your home. Default on a credit card and the worst case is collections. Default on a refi and you can lose the house. Read the CFPB's refinance guidance before pursuing a cash-out for debt consolidation.
Cash-Out vs Rate-and-Term Refinance
Two refinance types dominate the market. Choosing the right one materially changes both your closing costs and your rate.
Rate-and-Term Refinance
The classic refinance: you replace your existing loan with a new one at a different rate, term, or both, but you do not withdraw any equity. Your new loan balance equals your old balance plus financed closing costs (if any). This is the cleanest scenario for break-even math because all the math is about lowering payments.
Cash-Out Refinance
You borrow more than you currently owe and pocket the difference. If you owe $250,000 on a home worth $500,000 and refinance for $350,000, you walk away with $100,000 cash. The new payment reflects the higher balance, and lenders typically price a cash-out refinance higher than a rate-and-term refi for the same borrower.
Fannie Mae's Loan-Level Price Adjustment Matrix (dated September 9, 2026) shows where the difference starts. For a cash-out refinance it charges 0.375% to 5.125% of the loan amount, depending on credit score and loan-to-value (LTV), against 0% to 3.500% for a rate-and-term refinance (Fannie Mae calls it a "limited cash-out" refinance) in the same LTV ranges, and the cash-out charge is higher in every credit score and LTV range, by 0.375 to 2.500 points. With a credit score of 780 or higher and a loan of 75.01% to 80% of the home's value, for example, the charge is 1.375% instead of 0.500%. These adjustments are one-time prices on the loan amount, charged to the lender, not rate premiums: a lender may pass them on as points at closing or as a higher interest rate, and how much rate that adds varies by lender.
| Feature | Rate-and-Term | Cash-Out |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount vs current | Same (or +closing costs) | Higher (current + cash withdrawn) |
| Pricing | Market | Typically higher (Fannie Mae charges 0.375%-5.125% of the loan, vs 0%-3.500%) |
| Loan-to-value (LTV) limit | Up to 97% at Fannie Mae; above 95% only for a fixed-rate loan on a one-unit principal residence, underwritten through Desktop Underwriter, when Fannie Mae already owns the existing loan (Selling Guide B2-1.3-02) | Up to 80% at Fannie Mae for a one-unit principal residence; 75% for 2-4 units or a second home (Eligibility Matrix, August 5, 2026) |
| Best for | Lowering payment / changing term | Funding renovation, large purchase, debt consolidation |
| Break-even calculation | Standard formula above | Add cash use ROI to math |
If you are considering cash-out for home improvement, consult our home affordability guide first to ensure the higher payment fits your budget. For debt consolidation, compare against alternatives in our personal loan debt consolidation guide.
5-Step Refinance Decision Framework
Use this checklist to make a refinance decision in less than an hour. Each step builds on the previous.
Step 1: Get a Real Rate Quote, Not an Advertised Rate
Marketing rates assume perfect borrowers (760+ credit, 20%+ equity, top tier). Apply to two or three lenders and compare actual Loan Estimates. Federal law requires lenders to issue this standardized form within 3 business days. The APR -- not just the rate -- accounts for closing costs and is the apples-to-apples comparison.
Step 2: Calculate Your Monthly P&I Savings
Take the new monthly payment from the Loan Estimate and subtract your current monthly payment. If your current loan has private mortgage insurance (PMI) and the new one would not (because home appreciation pushed your loan-to-value below 80%), include the PMI savings in monthly savings.
Step 3: Total Up Closing Costs
Add the costs from page 2 of the Loan Estimate. Subtract any escrow refund you will receive from your old loan. The result is your net out-of-pocket cost. Use the net figure, not the gross, in the break-even formula.
Step 4: Compute Break-Even
Divide net closing costs by net monthly savings. Round up to the nearest whole month. This is your minimum holding period to recoup the refinance.
Step 5: Compare to Your Realistic Time Horizon
Be honest about how long you will keep the loan. Job changes, expanding families, downsizing, market moves, and divorce all shorten timelines. If your break-even is 50 months but you might move in 30 months, the refi loses money. If break-even is 18 months and you have no plans to move for a decade, it is a clear win.
If you clear all 5 steps with comfortable margin, refinance. If you are borderline, get quotes from at least one more lender or wait 60-90 days to see if rates improve further.
Pro tip: If you are in the middle ground (3-7 year break-even, uncertain tenure), ask your lender for a rate reduction with no points versus paying 1 discount point for a lower rate. Compare the two break-evens side by side. Sometimes the lower rate (with points) wins; sometimes the no-points option does. The Loan Estimate form makes both comparisons easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The break-even point is the number of months it takes for your monthly savings from refinancing to equal the closing costs you paid to refinance. The formula is: Total Closing Costs ÷ Monthly Savings = Months to Break Even. If your closing costs are $7,000 and you save $280 per month, your break-even point is 25 months. If you plan to stay in the home longer than that, refinancing typically saves money.
The traditional rule of thumb is that refinancing makes sense only when you can lower your interest rate by at least 0.75 to 1 percentage point. While the rule remains a useful screening test, the actual decision depends on your loan size, closing costs, and how long you plan to keep the home. On larger loans, a 0.5 percent rate reduction can break even in under three years when closing costs stay near the $5,000 low end of the typical dollar range rather than scaling with the loan: it saves about $164 a month on $500,000 (6.75% to 6.25%), so $5,000 in closing costs breaks even in 31 months, while costs of 2% of the balance ($10,000) take 61 months. Always run the break-even math instead of relying on the rule alone.
Mortgage refinance closing costs typically range from 2 percent to 6 percent of the loan balance. On a $380,000 loan, that translates to roughly $7,600 to $22,800. Costs include lender origination fees, appraisal ($500–$800), title insurance ($1,000–$2,000), recording fees, and prepaid escrow items for taxes and insurance. Some lenders offer no-closing-cost refinances by rolling fees into the loan or raising the rate by 0.125 to 0.25 percentage points.
Generally, no. Refinancing only saves money if you keep the loan past the break-even point. If you expect to sell or pay off the loan in less time than your break-even, you will lose money on closing costs. A no-closing-cost refinance can change the math: if the lender pays the costs in exchange for a slightly higher rate, you may benefit even with a short timeline. Always calculate both scenarios before committing.
A no-closing-cost refinance is a loan in which the lender covers your closing costs at signing. In exchange, you accept a slightly higher interest rate (typically 0.125 to 0.25 percentage points above market) or roll the costs into your loan balance. The trade-off is that you pay more interest over time. No-closing-cost refinances make sense for borrowers who plan to sell or pay off the home within 3 years, where the upfront fee savings outweigh the higher long-term interest.
Yes, but only briefly. Each refinance application generates a hard inquiry on your credit report. For most people, one additional hard inquiry costs fewer than five points on a FICO Score, according to myFICO. Newer FICO scoring versions treat multiple mortgage inquiries made within a 45-day window as a single inquiry for shopping purposes; older FICO versions and VantageScore use a 14-day window, so shopping within 14 days stays safe under every model. The temporary score dip recovers within a few months. The bigger long-term impact is positive: a lower payment improves your debt-to-income ratio, which helps your credit profile.
Your Next Steps
- Pull your current loan terms -- rate, balance, monthly P&I, original term, years remaining
- Check today's rates at multiple lenders (banks, credit unions, online lenders, mortgage brokers)
- Apply for 2-3 Loan Estimates within a 14-day window (safe under every scoring model; newer FICO versions allow up to 45 days) to minimize credit-inquiry impact
- Calculate break-even using the formula: closing costs ÷ monthly savings
- Compare break-even to your realistic time horizon -- including potential life changes
- Decide based on data, not the rate alone
Test Refinance Scenarios in Our Mortgage Calculator
Compare your current monthly payment against any new rate and term. See total interest, monthly payment, and amortization side-by-side -- then divide your closing costs by the savings to find your break-even.
Sources
- Freddie Mac - Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (opens in new tab)
- Freddie Mac, 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States [MORTGAGE30US], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (weekly; the most recent figure on this page) (opens in new tab)
- Federal Reserve Economic Data - 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average (MORTGAGE30US) (opens in new tab)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Should I Refinance? (PDF) (opens in new tab)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Loan Estimate Explainer (opens in new tab)
- NerdWallet - How to Calculate the Break-Even Point on a Mortgage Refinance (opens in new tab)
- Rocket Mortgage - Refinance Break-Even Point Explained (opens in new tab)
- Chase - Calculating the Break-Even Point When Refinancing (opens in new tab)
- Bankrate - Current Refinance Rates (opens in new tab)
- Fannie Mae - Loan-Level Price Adjustment Matrix (September 9, 2026; cash-out and limited cash-out refinance tables) (opens in new tab)
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide - B2-1.3-02, Limited Cash-Out Refinance Transactions (dated October 8, 2025; requirements for LTV ratios of 95.01-97%) (opens in new tab)
- Fannie Mae - Eligibility Matrix (August 5, 2026; maximum LTV for cash-out refinances, to which Selling Guide B2-1.3-03, Cash-Out Refinance Transactions, refers) (opens in new tab)
- Federal Reserve - Consumer Credit (G.19), Terms of Credit: credit card plans at commercial banks (opens in new tab)
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York - Household Debt and Credit Report (opens in new tab)
- ICE Mortgage Technology - Mortgage Monitor, June 2026 (Q1 2026 home equity withdrawals) (opens in new tab)
- Mortgage Bankers Association - Forecasts and Commentary (opens in new tab)
Important Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Mortgage rates, closing costs, and refinance terms change frequently and vary by lender, location, credit profile, and loan size. The example calculations in this guide are illustrative; actual numbers will differ. Individual circumstances vary, and you should consult with a qualified mortgage professional or financial advisor before making refinance decisions. We do not endorse any specific lender or financial product. Rate data current as of August 2026, except in Sections 3, 4 and 7: Section 3's lead paragraph and rate table, Section 4's rate note and Section 7's cash-out warning use Freddie Mac's September 24, 2026 weekly average and its PMMS weekly history (read September 29, 2026), and the most recent weekly 30-year average in Section 3 is refreshed from Freddie Mac's weekly survey each time the site is built. Section 7's credit card rates are the Federal Reserve's G.19 figures for the second quarter of 2026 (released September 8, 2026), and Section 8's price adjustments come from Fannie Mae's Loan-Level Price Adjustment Matrix dated September 9, 2026; both were read on September 29, 2026. Section 8's cash-out LTV limits come from Fannie Mae's Eligibility Matrix dated August 5, 2026, read the same day.
Content reviewed by Mark at Markco Labs. Learn more about our accuracy standards.