National average vs your personal quote
Mortgage rates
as of 2026-09-17
Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) is a national average used for headlines and planning. As of September 17, 2026, the 30-year fixed averaged 6.95% (up from 6.76% the prior week) and the 15-year averaged 6.26% (up from 6.09%). That national average is not the rate a Tampa lender will quote you.
- 30-year fixed (PMMS)fact
- 6.95%[1]
- 15-year fixed (PMMS)fact
- 6.26%[2]
- What your quote isfact
- Personal & dated[3]
- Sample P&I (estimate)estimate
- ~$2,648 / mo[1]
National average for the week ending September 17, 2026 — up from 6.76% the prior week. Useful for tracking direction; not a personal quote.
National average the same week — up from 6.09% the prior week. Same caveat: survey average ≠ your lender’s offer.
Based on your credit, loan size, down payment, and product. Ask for the annual percentage rate (APR) and fees, not only the note rate.
Illustrative principal and interest only on a $400,000 loan at 6.95% for 30 years — no taxes, insurance, or fees. Labeled ESTIMATE; your payment will differ.
Series source[1]
Think of PMMS as the weekly weather report for mortgage rates nationwide. Freddie Mac asks lenders what average rate they are offering on a standard 30-year fixed loan, then publishes one number. The September 17, 2026 print put that national 30-year average at 6.95%, up from 6.76% the week before; the 15-year national average moved to 6.26% from 6.09%. Those prints help you see whether rates drifted up or down. They do not tell you what a Tampa (or any city) lender will offer you.
A lender quote is different. It is a rate and fee package built for your credit score, debt-to-income picture, down payment, loan program (conventional, FHA, VA, and so on), and how long you want the rate locked. Two buyers looking at the same house can get different quotes on the same day — and both can sit above or below the national average.
Optional teaching math (ESTIMATE only): on a $400,000 loan amount at 6.95% for 30 years, principal and interest alone is roughly $2,648 per month before taxes, homeowners insurance, flood coverage, mortgage insurance, or homeowners association (HOA) dues. Change the rate, loan size, or term and the payment moves. Use this only to build intuition — then refine with written lender quotes.
When you compare quotes, look past the headline rate. Ask for the APR, discount points (if any), lender fees, and how long the lock lasts. A slightly higher rate with fewer upfront fees can be cheaper if you will not keep the loan for decades. Educational only — we do not originate loans or recommend a specific lender.
What to watch
- Next weekly Freddie Mac PMMS print — it shows whether the national average moved, which often shifts how buyers and sellers talk about affordability.
- Your own written quotes with the same loan assumptions (price, down payment, credit band) so you can compare apples to apples.
- Lock timing once you have an accepted offer — rate locks expire, and floating without a plan can change your payment mid-contract.