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Mortgage and refinance rates today, March 4, 2025: Rates hold steady

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Mortgage and refinance rates today, March 4, 2025: Rates hold steady

Some mortgage rates have decreased today while others have increased, but either way, the shifts are pretty minor. According to Zillow, the average 30-year fixed interest rate is down one basis point to 6.26%, and the 15-year fixed rate is up one basis point to 5.58%.

Interest rates have fallen for the last two weeks, and now that rates are holding steady, it could be a good time to start applying for preapproval with mortgage lenders.

Dig deeper: 2025 housing market — Is it a good time to buy a house?

Here are the current mortgage rates, according to our latest Zillow data:

  • 30-year fixed: 6.26%

  • 20-year fixed: 5.94%

  • 15-year fixed: 5.58%

  • 5/1 ARM: 6.15%

  • 7/1 ARM: 6.21%

  • 30-year VA: 5.72%

  • 15-year VA: 5.24%

  • 5/1 VA: 5.89%

Remember that these are the national averages and rounded to the nearest hundredth.

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Read more: How to get the lowest mortgage rates possible

Have questions about buying, owning, or selling a house? Submit your question to Yahoo’s panel of Realtors using this Google form.

These are the current mortgage refinance rates, according to the latest Zillow data:

  • 30-year fixed: 6.30%

  • 20-year fixed: 5.92%

  • 15-year fixed: 5.59%

  • 5/1 ARM: 6.24%

  • 7/1 ARM: 6.55%

  • 30-year VA: 5.73%

  • 15-year VA: 5.43%

  • 5/1 VA: 5.91%

  • 30-year FHA: 5.96%

  • 15-year FHA: 5.24%

Again, the numbers provided are national averages rounded to the nearest hundredth. Refinance rates are usually higher than purchase rates.

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A mortgage calculator can help you see how various mortgage term lengths and interest rates will affect your monthly payments. Use the free Yahoo Finance mortgage calculator to play around with different outcomes.

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Our calculator also considers factors like property taxes and homeowners insurance when calculating your estimated monthly mortgage payment. This gives you a better idea of your total monthly payment than if you just looked at mortgage principal and interest.

As a rule of thumb, 15-year mortgage rates are lower than 30-year mortgage rates. When comparing 15- versus 30-year mortgage rates, know that the shorter term will save you money on interest in the long run. However, your monthly payments will be higher because you’re paying off the same loan amount in half the time.

For example, with a $400,000 mortgage with a 30-year term and a 6.26% rate, you’ll make a monthly payment of about $2,465 toward your mortgage principal and interest. As interest accumulates over decades, you’ll end up paying $487,570 in interest.

If you get a $400,000 15-year mortgage with a 5.58% rate, you’ll pay about $3,285 monthly toward your principal and interest. However, you’ll only pay $191,361 in interest over the years.

If that 15-year mortgage monthly payment is too high, remember you can always make extra mortgage payments on your 30-year loan to pay off your mortgage faster and ultimately pay less interest.

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With a fixed-rate mortgage, your rate is locked in from day one. However, you will get a new rate if you refinance your mortgage.

An adjustable-rate mortgage keeps your rate the same for a set period of time. Then the rate will go up or down depending on several factors, such as the economy and the maximum amount your rate can change according to your contract. For example, with a 7/1 ARM, your rate would be locked in for the first seven years, then change every year for the remainder of your term.

Adjustable rates sometimes start lower than fixed rates, but once the initial rate-lock period ends, you risk your interest rate going up. ARM rates have also been starting higher than fixed rates recently, so they’re not as good of a deal as usual.

Dig deeper: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgage — Which should you choose?

Mortgage rates have been decreasing for about two weeks, but they’re fairly stagnant today. Economists also don’t expect drastic drops before the end of 2025.

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In 2024, mortgage rates trended downward from early August to the Sept. 18 Federal Reserve meeting, when the central bank announced a 50-basis-point slash to the federal funds rate. Since that announcement, mortgage rates have mostly increased or held steady.

The Fed decreased its rate again at its November and December meetings (by 25bps each time). The trajectory of future mortgage rates will largely depend on the Federal Reserve’s decision on whether or not to cut the federal funds rate at its 2025 meetings.

The Fed decided not to cut the fed funds rate at its Jan. 29 meeting. According to the CME FedWatch tool, there’s currently a 91% chance that the rate remains unchanged at the March meeting too. This means rates probably won’t significantly drop in the next couple of months.

Dig deeper: Understanding the Fed’s rate decisions — Do we want high or low interest rates?

According to Zillow data, today’s 30-year fixed rate for purchases is 6.26%, and the 30-year refinance rate is 6.30%. These are the national averages, so keep in mind the average in your state or city could be different. Your rate will also vary depending on your personal finances.

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Mortgage rates will probably gradually drop throughout 2025, but they’re unlikely to plummet anytime soon.

Mortgage rates should go down in 2025, though probably not as drastically as many expected a few months ago. Any decreases may be relatively small depending on the economy, inflation, and the Fed.

Finance

Benin's finance minister Wadagni wins presidential election with 94% landslide

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Benin's finance minister Wadagni wins presidential election with 94% landslide
Benin’s ​Finance Minister ‌Romuald Wadagni ​secured ​a landslide victory ⁠in ​the West ​African nation’s April 12 ​presidential ​election, garnering over ‌94% ⁠of votes, provisional ​results ​from ⁠the electoral ​commission ​showed ⁠on Monday.
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Financial Literacy Month aims to educate about smart money habits

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Financial Literacy Month aims to educate about smart money habits

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – April is Financial Literacy Month to raise public awareness of the importance of smart money management habits. The goal of this month is make sure everyone has the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions.

Whether you’re just beginning your financial journey or already managing your budget, savings, and investments, this month is designed to strengthen your financial foundation, and help you understand how small changes today can lead to long-term financial success.

Studies show that financial literacy is directly linked to higher savings rates, lower levels of high-interest debt, and better financial decision-making.

But financial education remains inconsistent across the country. Personal finance is a leading cause of stress in relationships, and many young adults graduate without the financial skills they need to manage credit, debt, and savings. So, improving financial literacy can lead to greater financial stability and long-term success.

The goal of this month is make sure everyone has the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions.

Creating greater financial wellness is a key component of Regions Bank’s community engagement strategy.

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Regions provides easily accessible, no-cost financial education courses to anyone, whether they’re a Regions customer or not, with customized tools, online resources, webinars, podcasts and in-person sessions covering topics ranging from budgeting, to saving and understanding credit, to insights for small-business owners, college students and people planning for retirement — and every life event and milestone in between. Find more about Regions Next Step on the bank’s website.

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Japan Prepares to Regulate Crypto as a Financial Product | PYMNTS.com

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Japan Prepares to Regulate Crypto as a Financial Product | PYMNTS.com

Japan is reportedly moving closer to classifying cryptocurrencies as financial products.

According to a report Friday (April 10) from Nikkei, a draft amendment before the country’s Cabinet would place crypto assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, a framework used for stocks and securities. 

Assuming the measure passes during the current legislative session, the law could go into effect as soon as fiscal 2027, the report said.

Before now, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has regulated crypto under the Payment Services Act, due to the digital currency’s potential use as a payment method.

But with crypto becoming an investment instrument, the FSA wants to move regulation to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, the report said.

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The new law will also create tougher penalties for crypto violations, the report said. For example, operating without registration could lead to a 10-year prison term, compared to the current three-year sentence. Fines would also be increased, from 3 million yen to up to 10 million yen (around $62,000).

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In other digital asset news, PYMNTS wrote last week about new Federal Reserve research that shows the large majority of stablecoins aren’t flowing through the real economy. Instead, they are either sitting idle or circulating within cryptocurrency markets rather than being used to pay for goods and services.

A briefing released last week by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City explores how stablecoins are actually used, based on data across industry platforms. 

“The takeaway is blunt: payments barely register, while most activity remains inactive or tied up in financial infrastructure rather than commerce,” PYMNTS wrote.

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These findings reinforce a pattern that PYMNTS Intelligence has chartered across corporate finance functions. In the March 2026 data book, “Stablecoins Gain Ground: Why CFOs See More Promise There Than in Crypto,” interest among executives in stablecoins continued to surpass actual deployment.

According to that report, more than 40% of middle-market firms say they have at least discussed or tested stablecoins, yet only 13% report actual use. The gulf between awareness and implementation highlights an ongoing hesitation among finance leaders. Stablecoins are seen as potentially useful, but not yet integrated into everyday financial operations.

“The data also helps explain the idle balances identified in the Fed’s research. Firms are not rejecting stablecoins,” PYMNTS wrote. “Instead, they are holding back until the operational case becomes clearer, particularly as they weigh how these tools would integrate with treasury systems and payment workflows.”

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