Mortgage Rates End 2018 Lower

Mortgage rates continued their move lower as 2018 comes to an end. Average 30 year mortgage rates today are at 4.61 percent, down from the prior week's average 30 year mortgage rate of 4.67 percent. Current mortgage rates on 15 year fixed loans are averaging 3.78 percent, a decline from last week's average 15 year rate of 3.84 percent.

Today's 30 year jumbo mortgage rates are averaging 4.43 percent, down from last week's rate of 4.49 percent. 15 year jumbo mortgage rates are averaging 4.16 percent, a decline from the prior week's average rate of 4.22 percent.



As we head into 2019 the outlook for where mortgage rates are headed is anyone's guess at this point. The Federal Reserve is expected to increase the fed funds rate at least two more times in 2019. These increase would force U.S. Treasury yields higher which will force lender's to increase mortgage rates.

Then again if economic growth slows considerably, especially with the trade war in full swing, interest rates could move lower. One group that forecasts mortgage rates, The Mortgage Bankers Association, is forecasting 30 year conforming rates to be at 5.10 percent by the end of 2019.