Home-buying opportunities are looking up as mortgage rates fall. Rates have dropped to under 6.5% over the past several weeks, causing more buyers to apply for home mortgages. At the same time, pending home sales have increased. The recent rate drops can add up to considerable savings, according to a new study from LendingTree.
Falling Mortgage Rate Creates Sweet Spot
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.30% this week, Freddie Mac reports. “This has provided savvy buyers a sweet spot to reexamine the home search process with more inventory, widening their choices,” says Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®.
Over the past few weeks, mortgage rates have settled at their lowest level in about a year, adds Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac. “There is growing evidence that home buyers are digesting these lower rates and gradually are willing to move forward with buying a home, which is boosting purchase activity.”
Mortgage applications — a gauge of future buying activity — have been averaging double-digit annual increases in recent weeks, up 14% from a year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Meanwhile, the number of buyers signing contracts for a home purchase climbed 4% in August and was up 3.8% compared to a year ago, according to NAR data.
Savings Add Up for Comparison Mortgage Shoppers
Between July 2024 and July 2025, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped by 0.51 percentage points, with the average APR falling from 7.19% to 6.68%. This decline translates to potential savings of about $40,000 over the life of a 30-year loan, according to Lending Tree. The average monthly mortgage payment dropped by about $111, adding up to about $1,340 in savings a year for those who research among multiple lenders, the study notes.
“These savings are big,” Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief consumer finance, said in the study. “That extra $111 a month can give a typical American household a little bit of financial breathing room that they’re so desperate for. It can mean a little extra cash in the emergency fund or toward a credit card payment. It can mean a little extra to put toward investments or other long-term goals.”
The study also analyzed state-level savings. Home buyers in places like California, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., are seeing the largest monthly mortgage payment drops —around $210 on average — totaling about $76,000 in savings over 30 years.
How to Use Your Mortgage Rate Power
“You have much more power over mortgage rates than you think you do,” Schulz says. He advises:
- Shopping around for the best rates
- Paying points to bring down your APR
- Considering a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year mortgage
“Just make sure that you do your homework so you know what you’re getting into before you act,” he adds.