The Federal Reserve is scheduled to meet December 17 and 18 and, if they change the benchmark rate, this will affect the costs at which banks access credit. This change can indirectly impact consumer loan costs. Fed rate cuts also drive changes in financial indexes used to set variable HELOC rates.

These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. Mortgage rates are down slightly today, but where they go next depends on incoming economic data.

Rates for 30-year new purchase mortgages fell again, lowering the average to its cheapest level in six weeks. Rates moved lower for almost every other loan type as well.

"I expect mortgage rates to stay around 6.875% to 7.125% in December," says Aaron Gordon, a branch manager and senior mortgage loan officer at Guild Mortgage. "We won't likely see big moves downward until we see unemployment go up, less government spending or the Fed jump back into the mortgage market."

These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. Mortgage rates have eased this week, but we won't see them fall substantially until inflation slows further.

The 30-year mortgage rate is back at 7%. When will rates fall — and by how much? MarketWatch spoke to several economists about their 2025 forecasts. The consensus was that they expect the rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage to drop to a 6.

Start comparing your top mortgage rate options online now. Will mortgage rates fall in December? Here's what experts predict. If you're wondering whether mortgage rates will fall