Current Mortgage Rates -- May 25, 2021: Some Rates Hold Steady While Others Tick Downward

Here's what today's mortgage rates look like. Are you ready to lock in a home loan?

Some of today's mortgage rates didn't move from yesterday's, though some are down. Here's what they look like on May 25, 2021:

Data source: The Ascent's national mortgage interest rate tracking.

30-year mortgage rates

The average 30-year mortgage rate today is 3.166%, unchanged from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $431.00 for every $100,000 you borrow. That doesn't include added expenses like property taxes and homeowners insurance premiums.

20-year mortgage rates

The average 20-year mortgage rate today is 2.910%, down 0.022% from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $550.00 for every $100,000 you borrow. Though your monthly payment will go up by $119.00 with a 20-year, $100,000 loan versus a 30-year loan of the same amount, you'll save $23,105.00 in interest over the course of your repayment period for every $100,000 you borrow.

15-year mortgage rates

The average 15-year mortgage rate today is 2.413%, unchanged from yesterday. At today's rate, you'll pay principal and interest of $663.00 for every $100,000 you borrow. Compared to the 30-year loan, your monthly payment will be $232.00 higher per $100,000 in mortgage principal. Your interest savings, however, will amount to $35,780.00 over the life of your repayment period per $100,000 of mortgage debt.

5/1 ARMs

The average 5/1 ARM rate is 2.823%, down 0.123% from yesterday. A 5/1 ARM will let you secure the same mortgage rate for five years, but from there, that rate could rise or fall -- it depends on market conditions. A 5/1 ARM makes sense when you're buying a starter home or a property you don't expect to live in for more than a handful of years. But if you're buying your forever home, a fixed-rate mortgage may be a better bet. That way, you won't run the risk of your rate climbing over time, and given where today's fixed rates are sitting, they're worth locking in.

Should I lock in my mortgage rate now?

A mortgage rate lock guarantees you a specific interest rate for a certain period of time -- usually 30 days, but you may be able to secure your rate for up to 60 days. You'll generally pay a fee to lock in your mortgage rate, but that way, you're protected if rates climb between now and when you close on your home loan.

If you plan to close on your home within the next 30 days, then it pays to lock in your mortgage rate based on today's rates -- especially since they're very attractive, historically speaking. But if your closing is more than 30 days away, you may want to choose a floating rate lock instead for what will usually be a higher fee, but one that could save you money in the long run. A floating rate lock lets you secure a lower rate on your loan if rates fall before you close on your mortgage. While today's rates are pretty low, we don't know if rates will go up or down over the next few months. As such, it pays to:

• LOCK if closing in 7 days
• LOCK if closing in 15 days
• LOCK if closing in 30 days
• FLOAT if closing in 45 days
• FLOAT if closing in 60 days

If you're ready to apply for a mortgage, make sure to reach out to a few different mortgage lenders to see what offers they present. You may find that you get a handful of offers with comparable rates, or you may find that one or two lenders stick out as being far more competitive. The closing costs lenders want to charge you should factor into your decision, too, which is why comparing offers is a smart bet in the course of financing a home.