Fixed mortgage and refinance rates moved higher on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, extending a pattern that has kept borrowing costs near multi-month highs and left both homebuyers and refinancers waiting for a durable shift in the interest-rate landscape.
The latest daily readings show the average 30-year fixed refinance rate reaching 7.18% as of August 11, an increase of 11 basis points from the previous day, according to Zillow data. The 15-year fixed refinance rate rose 12 basis points to 6.21%, while the 5-year adjustable-rate refinance held steady at 6.50%. On the purchase side, the average 30-year fixed conforming mortgage rate stood at 6.728% on August 11, up from the prior day, based on Mortgage Research Center figures.
These moves are part of a broader upward trend. Freddie Mac’s weekly survey pegged the 30-year fixed rate at 6.69% as of Thursday, a new 2026 high and the fifth consecutive weekly increase. The 15-year fixed rate dipped slightly to 6.01% from 6.04% the week before. Meanwhile, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that the average contract rate for 30-year conforming loans has been stuck at 6.58% for several weeks.