Definition: The 30-year mortgage rate refers to the average interest rate paid by homeowners on a typical 30-year loan from various financial institutions, such as banks and mortgage lenders. It's calculated based on several factors, including the amount borrowed, the interest rate offered by each lender, and the length of the loan term. The term "30 year" refers to the number of years in which the home is owned before it is sold or refinanced. This means that if a borrower borrows $100,000 for 30 years at an interest rate of 5%, they will pay back $50,000 over those 30 years. The "mortgage rate" refers to the amount paid by the lender based on the loan's term, so it is calculated as a percentage. In general terms, the higher the mortgage rate, the more expensive the monthly payment and the longer the interest period will be. So, if a borrower borrows $100,000 at an 8% interest rate for 30 years, their monthly payments would increase from $4,625 to $6,794. This means that with lower rates, the monthly payment would decrease in order to meet the monthly mortgage cost. It's important to note that the term "mortgage" is also used to describe any financial obligation related to a home purchase or refinancing, including the principal and interest payments for various types of mortgages such as 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, 15-year adjustable-rate mortgages, and jumbo mortgages. So in summary, the "30 year mortgage rate" is the average interest rate paid by homeowners on a typical 30-year loan from financial institutions, while the term "mortgage" refers to any financial obligation related to home purchases or refinancing.