US mortgage rates fall for second straight week to 6.65%

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate slipped to 6.65% for the week ending August 20, 2026, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. That’s down from 6.67% the prior week, marking the second consecutive weekly decline after rates briefly climbed to 6.69% during the week of August 6. Two basis points won’t change anyone’s life overnight. But the directional shift matters for a housing market that has spent years adjusting to a rate environment that would have seemed dystopian in the sub-3% era of 2021. The numbers in context The 15-year fixed rate followed a similar trajectory, ticking down to 5.95% from 5.96% the previous week. Neither move qualifies as dramatic, but both contribute to a modest cooling trend that potential buyers have been waiting for. Freddie Mac’s survey serves as one of the most widely watched benchmarks in housing finance. It tracks conforming loans, meaning those that meet the standards for purchase by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, typically requiring a 20% down payment and strong credit profiles. Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sam Khater noted that the rate reductions offer some relief to homebuyers, particularly those willing to shop around fo...