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Re:

Mortgage Rates on December 15, 2025: 30-Year and 15-Year Rates

Bankrate-based averages reported for December 15, 2025, were 6.29% for a 30-year fixed purchase mortgage and 5.63% for a 15-year loan, while other providers showed different rates.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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On December 15, 2025, Bankrate’s reported average purchase rates were 6.29% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 5.63% for a 15-year fixed mortgage, according to WSJ Buy Side. Those figures were each up 0.01 percentage point from the prior week. Other rate providers reported different averages, so these are historical benchmarks—not rates guaranteed to any borrower.

Mortgage rates reported for December 15, 2025

The following figures refer to different providers and measurement periods. They are not interchangeable quotes for the same borrower or loan.

Provider and report 30-year fixed 15-year fixed What the figures represent
Bankrate, reported by WSJ Buy Side, December 15 6.29% 5.63% Purchase-loan interest rates, not APRs. Each was 0.01 percentage point above the prior week.
Zillow, reported by Yahoo Finance, December 15 6.13% 5.53% National averages rounded to the nearest hundredth, as described by Yahoo Finance.
Mortgage Research Center, reported by Forbes Advisor, December 15 6.29% 5.63% Forbes Advisor reported that the 30-year average was 0.93% higher than the prior week.
Freddie Mac weekly averages, December 11, cited by The Mortgage Reports 6.22% 5.54% A separate weekly series dated four days earlier, not a December 15 daily quote.

Provider averages differ because their data, borrower and loan assumptions, and publication windows differ. The figures do not establish one rate available to every borrower. The December 15 Bankrate-based report described a small weekly increase, while the other published averages reflect their own data sources and methods.

What “hold steady” means here

For the Bankrate-based purchase-rate table, “steady” means little week-over-week movement: both terms rose by one basis point, or 0.01 percentage point. It does not mean every provider reported unchanged rates. Zillow’s averages were lower than the Bankrate-based figures, and the Freddie Mac numbers belong to a different weekly measurement dated December 11.

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Why the 15-year and 30-year options differ

15-year fixed mortgage

A 15-year term generally comes with a lower interest rate and gives interest less time to accrue. The trade-off is a higher required monthly principal-and-interest payment because the balance must be repaid in fewer months.

30-year fixed mortgage

A 30-year term spreads repayment over more months, generally lowering the required monthly principal-and-interest payment. Because repayment takes longer, total interest over the full term is generally higher than for a comparable 15-year loan.

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The lower rate alone does not decide which term is better. Compare the expected monthly payment and full-term interest with your budget and how long you expect to keep the mortgage. Also compare APR, upfront fees, and any discount points; a lower note rate may involve costs that change the overall value.

Why your personal mortgage quote may differ

Published averages are not personal offers. A lender’s quote can vary with credit history, down payment, loan type, points, loan term, lender pricing, and market conditions. The December 15 rate coverage also identified the 10-year Treasury yield, mortgage-backed securities and their spreads, and investor sentiment as influences on mortgage rates. Changes in those market benchmarks do not translate mechanically into an identical same-day change in a borrower’s mortgage rate.

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When comparing offers, request quotes using the same loan amount, down payment, term, and loan type. Review both the interest rate and APR, along with fees and discount points, so you can compare the borrowing cost rather than just the headline rate.

What is a good mortgage rate?

There is no single “good” rate that applies to every borrower. A useful comparison is a personalized quote against other offers available to you for the same loan terms and costs. The December 15 averages provide historical context, but they cannot show what a particular applicant would qualify for or whether a rate is competitive for that applicant.

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  • CONFIDENTLY AND EASILY SOLVE: Clients' financial questions whether they're buyers, sellers, investors or renters. Increase your perceived professionalism as a new agent, experienced broker or seasoned loan officer. Close more home sales and impress your clients with fast, accurate answers to all their real estate finance questions from PITI Payments to IRR, NPV and Cashflows
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  • FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT LOAN: For your client at the press of a button for jumbo, conventional, FHA/VA, or even 80:10:10 or 80:15:5 combo loans; check to see if ARMs or bi-weekly loans, quarterly payments or if interest-only payments are the answer; giving your client more choices; easily perform what if loan or TVM calculations find loan amount, term, interest or PITI or PI payments
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How to read the December 11 Freddie Mac figures

Freddie Mac’s weekly averages cited by The Mortgage Reports—6.22% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 5.54% for a 15-year fixed mortgage—are dated December 11, 2025. They can provide context for the period, but should not be presented as December 15 daily rates or compared as though all providers measured the same loans on the same schedule.

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