Mortgage Rate Report August 2026: Sideways, With a Cheaper Top End
Rates at a glance (as of August 3, 2026)
| Fixation | Top rate (excellent profile) | Typical market range |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years | from ~3.3% | ~3.6-4.1% |
| 15 years | from ~3.5% | ~3.8-4.2% |
| 20 years | from ~3.7% | ~3.8-4.3% |
Exact conditions depend on loan-to-value, credit profile and lender - the table shows published top rates and typical market ranges, not a commitment for any specific offer. Longer fixations currently cost a premium of roughly 0.2-0.25 percentage points (15 years) and roughly 0.35-0.4 percentage points (20 years) over a 10-year fix.
What has changed since the July report
The July report noted typical values of about 3.8% (10 years) to 4.3% (20 years). Since then the market has moved sideways, and top-end offers have become noticeably cheaper - 10-year top rates start around 3.3% in early August. The reason figures differ between sources is simple: some portals report best conditions for excellent profiles and low loan-to-value, others report averages across all profiles - which is why the table shows both separately.
On monetary policy, nothing has changed since July: at its July 23 meeting the ECB left rates unchanged (deposit rate 2.25%), with the next meeting due in September. Most market observers expect stable to slightly falling mortgage rates for the rest of the year - that is no guarantee, and moves in either direction remain possible at any time.
What this means for your planning
At roughly 0.2-0.4 percentage points, the premium for long fixations is currently moderate - locking in certainty over 15 or 20 years costs comparatively little extra right now. And since the gap between top rates and typical conditions is wide, comparing several offers pays off more than usual. For the full calculation, remember purchase incidentals - in particular the real estate transfer tax, which varies widely by federal state (see the state-by-state comparison and the transfer tax calculator).