The mortgage interest rate climate has changed. Here's what a good rate is considered to be at the start of 2026.

The highest money market account rate available today is 4.22% Changes from the Fed or your bank can quickly change money market rates Online banks typically offer the most competitive yields on the market Current Money Market Rates As of today,

Discover how banks set loan interest rates, from Federal Reserve policies to market trends and borrower creditworthiness, for better financial decisions.

The average mortgage interest rate on a 30-year term is 5.87%, according to Zillow, as of January 9, 2026. That's lower than the 5.99% rates had been consistently sitting at in recent weeks and could open up new, more affordable opportunities for buyers right now.

The divergence of opinion on the future of monetary policy is likely to only grow in 2026 as Fed Chairman Jerome Powell reaches the end of his leadership in May. Powell could decide to stay on as a governor, but he has given no indication he would do so and he is a frequent target of criticism from President Donald Trump.

For example, the Prime Rate is currently 6.75%. There’s nothing preventing a card issuer from tweaking a new customer offer from Prime Rate + 13% up to Prime Rate + 13.25% if it wishes to mitigate the impact of a Fed rate cut and make more money from interest charges.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Fed’s own median projection or “dot plot” suggested there would be only one additional 25 basis points cut. This would move the rate to around 3.25% to 3.50% by year end. Market expectations are slightly more dovish, calling for two rate cuts, which would push rates closer to 3%.

Discover how open market operations affect interest rates and the Federal Reserve's role in economic fluctuations through key strategies like buying and selling securities.