Average mortgage debt in 2026
Mortgage debt far outpaces other forms of household debt in the U.S.
Jeff Ostrowski has closely covered two nationwide housing booms and one devastating bust. Before joining Bankrate in 2020, he spent more than 20 years writing about real estate, business, the economy and politics. He previously worked as a reporter at the Palm Beach Post and the South Florida Business Journal.
From 2019 through 2025, Jeff served on the board of the nonprofit National Association of Real Estate Editors. He twice has won gold awards in the group’s journalism contest. His Bankrate coverage of housing affordability was also honored with a Best in Business award from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing.
When he’s not working, Jeff enjoys surfing, biking and traveling, usually with a surfboard or bike.
Jeff is the author of How to Buy a Home in a Miserable Market, available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.
When you’re applying for a mortgage, shop around and do your homework — informed borrowers can save thousands of dollars over the life of their loan. Don’t fixate on finding the absolute perfect option, though, or timing your loan to a low point for mortgage rates. If you’re borrowing now, mortgage rates could go down in the future. Avoid worrying about all those things that are both out of your control and impossible to predict.
Mortgage debt far outpaces other forms of household debt in the U.S.
Ready to refinance your mortgage? Compare today's refinance rates from trusted lenders and see how much you can save.
Mortgage rates rose again this week, despite the Fed holding steady.
Find current 10-year refinance rates and compare lenders to get the best rate.
Looking for home mortgage rates in Massachusetts? View loan interest rates from local banks, MA credit unions and brokers, from Bankrate.com.
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Looking for home mortgage rates in Georgia? View loan interest rates from local banks, GA credit unions and brokers, from Bankrate.com.
Mortgage rates rose this week but remain near a low not seen since 2022.
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