Houston Mortgage Rates Today

Whatever the market is doing this week, the decision that matters is whether the monthly payment works for you. This page gives you the live numbers and the context to understand what drives them.

I'm Brandon Huynh, loan officer at Lock It Mortgage (NMLS #2522494), based in Houston and licensed in 40+ states. For a personalized rate quote based on your credit score, down payment, and loan type, call 832-997-1527.

Current Mortgage Rates in Houston, TX

The live card above shows today's national averages for the three most common Houston loan types. The rates are national averages across a wide range of lenders and borrower profiles, so they are a benchmark rather than a quote. Your actual quoted rate will depend on your credit score, loan-to-value, loan type, and property. In a competitive local market like Houston, well-qualified borrowers often get quoted below the national average.

The 2026 conforming loan limit for Harris County is $832,750. Any loan above that threshold is classified as jumbo and typically carries a higher rate. For most Houston buyers, conforming loan limits are not a constraint.

What Moves Houston Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates track the 10-year Treasury yield more closely than the Fed funds rate. Inflation data, Federal Reserve policy, and the broader bond market push that yield around, and mortgage pricing follows. The live card above reflects wherever the market sits today.

For a read on what the current environment means for your purchase or refinance timeline, call 832-997-1527. That conversation is specific to your loan and your numbers, not a market prediction.

How Houston Mortgage Rates Compare by Loan Type

Each loan program carries a different rate for structural reasons. Understanding why helps you choose the right program, not just the one with the lowest advertised rate.

VA loans carry the lowest rates because they are backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. That guarantee lets lenders offer better pricing with no down payment required and no monthly mortgage insurance. The tradeoff is a one-time VA funding fee of 1.25% to 3.3% depending on your service history and down payment, though that fee can be financed into the loan. If you are a veteran or active military member in Houston, the VA loan is almost always the most cost-effective option. See the full comparison at VA Loans Houston.

FHA loans typically carry a lower base rate than conventional. FHA is government-backed through the Federal Housing Administration, which reduces lender risk and brings the rate down. The catch is mortgage insurance. FHA requires 1.75% upfront MIP at closing plus 0.55% annually for the life of the loan for borrowers with less than 10% down. For borrowers with a credit score below 680 or a smaller down payment, FHA is often the right choice. Read more at FHA Loans Houston.

Conventional conforming loans hit the middle ground. The rate typically runs a bit higher than FHA, but there is no upfront mortgage insurance cost and PMI can be removed once you reach 20% equity. For borrowers with 680 or higher credit and 10% or more down, conventional often comes out cheaper long-term than FHA. See the side-by-side breakdown at FHA vs Conventional Houston and Conventional Loans Houston.

Jumbo loans carry a premium because they exceed the $832,750 conforming limit and cannot be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Lenders retain the risk on their own books, so rates are higher. Jumbo programs typically require 10% to 20% down, a 700 or higher credit score, and stronger cash reserves.

DSCR loans are for real estate investors. They qualify on the rental income the property generates rather than your personal income. DSCR pricing depends on your credit score, loan-to-value ratio, the property's DSCR ratio, and whether you accept a prepayment penalty. Investors with a DSCR above 1.25 and a lower loan-to-value access the better end of the range.

What Affects Your Mortgage Rate in Houston

Your quoted rate is not the same as the index rate. It is adjusted based on several specific factors in your application.

Credit score is the biggest lever. Lenders apply Loan-Level Price Adjustments set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that shift your rate based on your score and loan-to-value ratio. On a 30-year conventional loan, the gap between a lower score and a strong one is a materially different rate, which compounds into a materially different total cost over the life of the loan.

Loan-to-value directly affects your rate. Coming in at a lower loan-to-value generally earns a better pricing tier. Reaching 80% loan-to-value on a conventional loan also eliminates the need for PMI, which lowers your total monthly housing cost.

Loan type determines the base rate environment. The ordering from lowest to highest is typically VA, FHA, conventional, jumbo, and DSCR.

Property type adds adjustments. Primary residences get the best pricing. Second homes carry a pricing premium, and investment properties carry a larger one. Condos can carry additional LLPA fees depending on loan-to-value.

Texas-specific note: Texas has no state income tax but has property taxes among the highest in the nation, typically 2% to 3% of home value. Property taxes do not directly affect your interest rate but they increase your total monthly housing cost and affect your debt-to-income ratio, which can indirectly influence the rate you qualify for.

How to Lock In the Best Houston Mortgage Rate

A rate lock is a guarantee from your lender that you will receive a specific interest rate for a set period regardless of what the market does between now and closing.

Standard lock periods run 30 to 45 days and typically carry no added cost. Extended locks of 60 to 90 days are available for new construction or more complex transactions and may carry a modest added cost.

The decision between locking and floating comes down to your timeline. The general guidance: if you are within 30 to 45 days of closing and the rate is at a level that works for your payment, lock it. Floating longer introduces the risk of a move in the wrong direction.

Float-down options let you capture a lower rate if rates drop during your lock period. This option typically carries a fee. In a declining rate environment it can be worth the cost. Your loan officer should walk you through whether it makes sense given your specific close date and loan amount.

Watching rates?

If you're waiting for the right moment rather than shopping today, tell me what you're waiting on and I'll reach out when something actually changes for your situation. Not a newsletter, and not a rate prediction, because nobody honestly has one. Just a note from me when the numbers move somewhere worth a conversation.

Email address Phone number, optional, if you'd rather I text What are you waiting for? Choose one A better rate before I buy A better rate to refinance I'm rebuilding my credit first I'm saving up Waiting on a lease or a sale Just watching for now Other Keep me posted

Signing up here is not a mortgage application and it doesn't start one. I'll reach out by email, or by text if you left a number, and you can tell me to stop at any time. I won't share your information. Brandon Huynh, NMLS #2522494. Equal Housing Lender.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

• FHA Loans Houston
• VA Loans Houston
• Conventional Loans Houston
• Jumbo Loans Houston
• Refinance Houston
• DSCR Loans Houston
• FHA vs Conventional in Houston