Today’s Homebuyers Save $150 a Month By Choosing an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage—The Biggest Discount Since 2022

Key Terms

adjustable-rate mortgage financial

A mortgage whose interest rate resets periodically based on a market benchmark, so the borrower’s monthly payment can go up or down over time. Think of it like a boat ride on changing water: the cost moves with market tides rather than staying fixed, and that matters to investors because shifting payments affect borrower ability to repay, the value of mortgage-backed securities, bank earnings and overall sensitivity to interest-rate swings.

basis points financial

Basis points are a way to measure small changes in interest rates or percentages, where one basis point equals 0.01%. For example, if a loan's interest rate increases by 50 basis points, it's gone up by 0.50%. They help people understand tiny differences in rates that can add up over time, making financial comparisons clearer.

interest-rate caps financial

An interest-rate cap is a contract or clause that limits how high a floating interest rate can rise, protecting a borrower or investor from steep increases in borrowing costs or falling bond prices. Think of it like a roof on a house: payments or yields can fluctuate up to a certain point, but anything above the cap is offset, which reduces cash-flow swings and makes future costs or returns easier to predict. Investors care because caps change risk, potential returns, and the value of debt or rate-sensitive assets.

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• The average rate for an ARM so far this month is 5.51%, compared with a 6.19% average for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage
• The typical homebuyer using an ARM takes on a monthly payment of $2,578, down 7% from last year

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The typical homebuyer would save $150 per month taking out an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) instead of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket. That’s a 5.8% discount, the biggest ARM users have had since June 2022 in both dollar and percentage terms.

That’s because the average homebuyer using an ARM so far in March took on a 5.51% rate, while the average buyer taking out a fixed mortgage had a 6.19% rate. The ARM is 0.68 basis points lower—the biggest gap since June 2022.

This is according to a Redfin analysis of 30-year fixed mortgage rates compared with 7/6 ARMs as of March 16, 2026.

The typical monthly payment for a homebuyer using an ARM is $2,578, versus $2,727 for someone using a fixed rate.

The Typical ARM Buyer’s Housing Payment Is 7% Lower Than a Year Ago

Today’s payment for buyers using an ARM, $2,578, is down 7.4% from a year ago. That’s compared with a 5% decline for fixed-rate borrowers, to $2,727.

Overall, mortgage rates are lower than they were a year ago, bringing homebuyers a bit of relief. But rates for ARMS have declined more: Today’s average rate for an ARM, 5.51%, is down from 6.38% a year ago; the average 30-year fixed rate of 6.19% is down from 6.77%.

“Adjustable-rate mortgages are offering meaningful savings in 2026’s expensive housing market,” said Bill Banfield, chief business officer at Rocket. “Even though housing costs have recently come down a bit, it remains tough for first-time buyers to break in—and for existing homeowners to walk away from their ultra-low rates. With ARMs providing borrowers with the biggest discount in nearly four years, choosing an ARM could be a gamechanger, saving buyers hundreds of dollars each month and thousands over a few years. ARMs typically make sense when rates are high enough that buyers don’t want to lock them in—like now. When rates are low, like they were during the pandemic, it’s worth locking them in for as long as possible.”

The benefit of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, even when rates are fairly high, is that borrowers know exactly what their payment will be for the entire length of the loan. In today’s market, ARMs are offering lower payments during the initial period, but they come with some uncertainty. After the initial fixed-rate period, rates may be higher, pushing up monthly payments. Of course, rates could also be lower when the seven-year period ends.

ARMs Aren’t As Risky As They Used to Be

The ARM discount is big enough that buyers taking out a mortgage should talk to their lender about whether it’s a good option. ARMs can be a smart strategy for borrowers who plan to stay in a home only for the short term, have the financial means to afford a higher payment and/or plan to refinance their loan later. There’s a fairly good chance rates will fall enough during the fixed-rate period that it makes sense to refinance.

ARMs are not nearly as risky as they once were; new rules went into effect after the financial crisis to protect borrowers. One, ARMs come with interest-rate caps, which limit how much the rate can increase each term and over the life of the loan. Two, borrowers often have to qualify for an ARM based on a higher rate, so they typically have leftover room in their budget if the rate does increase. The typical mortgage lasts between four and seven years before the borrower refinances or sells, according to the National Mortgage Database; often, a homebuyer who takes on an ARM with a seven- or 10-year fixed rate period never even gets to the adjustable-rate period.

To view the full report, including charts and a methodology, please visit:
https://www.redfin.com/news/adjustable-rate-mortgage-savings/

About Redfin

Redfin is a technology-driven real estate company with the country's most-visited real estate brokerage website. As part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), Redfin is creating an integrated homeownership platform from search to close to make the dream of homeownership more affordable and accessible for everyone. Redfin’s clients can see homes first with on-demand tours, easily apply for a home loan with Rocket Mortgage, and save thousands in fees while working with a top local agent.

You can find more information about Redfin and get the latest housing market data and research at https://www.redfin.com/news. For more information about Rocket Companies, visit https://www.rocketcompanies.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260319832351/en/

Contact Redfin Journalist Services:
Angela Cherry
press@redfin.com

Source: Redfin