Mortgage rates are in the news (as always!)… and here’s a look at what’s going on. Check out the video below for a quick overview.
Current Mortgage Rates
This website, Mortgage News Daily, is a great place for the most up-to-date mortgage info.
Notice that there are different loan options that can affect the mortgage rates. For example, if it works out for your particular circumstance, a 15 year mortgage rate is substantially lower that the normal 30 year conventional rate. However, your monthly payment will be somewhat higher BUT you’ll pay down/off your principal MUCH quicker… an overall SUBSTANTIAL savings.
Other substantial (I really seem to like that word today!) savings can come from going with an FHA or VA-backed mortgage. Your particular situation must fit within particular criteria but these could be a great option. For an FHA loan, for example, the house has to be livable with no peeling paint and no ripped carpet. For a VA loan, the borrower must have VA eligibility (like, being a veteran). There are details to these options that can be pros or cons.
Advice from Mortgage Industry Experts
MPA (Mortgage Professionals of America) offer some pretty good advice.
As of today, August 19, 2025, mortgage rates have hit their lowest point since last October. Going the right direction… should we expect even lower rates?
Well, maybe not; “But industry experts stress that mortgage rates often move independently of Fed (Federal Reserve) decisions… the rates on standard 30-year fixed mortgages aren’t linked to prime (the prime interest rate set by the Fed), and often don’t react much.”
Taylor Sherman, a mortgage loan originator, sums it up like this, “Yes, Fed policy determines rates, but it’s really about how the market views Fed policy.”
The MPA article concludes that today’s rates may feel high compared to plandemic-era lows under 3%, compared to historical rates, like +18% in the early 1980s, our rates today are not that bad and may be “the ‘new normal’ for the foreseeable future.”
Historical Mortgage Interest Rates
From the Federal Reserve we are reminded of where mortgage rates have been over the past couple of generations. Mortgage rates were a LOT higher for most of the time with lower rates from 2010 through the first part of the plandemic. The government and subsequent market response has given us the mortgage rates we have today.
Historic Price of Homes
Yes, the rates were TONS higher in the 1980s but houses were cheaper… and that’s what the Fed’s data shows too. Much of that is from inflation resulting from the government and Fed influence and some from supply-chain issues (particularly during the plandemic) and, from my observation, from demand created by people moving from less desirable places to find a better quality of life.
Hope from The National Real Estate Post
I get some helpful insights from Brian Stevens at The National Real Estate Post and his recent video was no exception. In a nutshell, inflation is up to 3.1% year-over-year and there are about 100,000 fewer jobs than expected. As good economic news seems to cause the Fed to increase rates, this not-so-good news leads to expectations the Fed could lower rates in September.
Brian reports that 56% of all homes are being sold BELOW asking price; another economic sign.
Bottom line, Brian say, “Lower rates and lower home prices; things finally might be looking up for us.”
Treasure Valley Dave's Thoughts
Good news from bad news? Maybe so. One thing not mentioned in these reports is the political aspect… the Federal Reserve can make decisions that affect us based on political factors that fit the political agenda of powers-that-be inside The Fed. Considering all of this, the priority of when the right time to buy or sell a home should depend on your particular situation… is something motivating you now to make a change? That should be your driving factor. Mortgage rates; if they go down in the future, you can refinance and lower your rate; if rates go up, you’ll be looking like a market genius sitting on a 6%-ish mortgage. It’s a win-win either way.
When you do have that motivation to buy, sell or relocate, Mareen and I are right here ready to help. We don’t pressure you into something… we provide you with the information and advice so that YOU can make the best possible decision. So if you’re just on your fact-finding trip to the Treasure Valley or you’re ready to bust a move, just let Mareen and me know… just call, text, email or smash that Contact Us button and let’s get connected! Maybe we can do lunch too! 
