These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. Mortgage rates are down slightly today, but they're still higher than they've been in recent months.

Though the Federal Reserve has been cutting interest rates, mortgage rates have been increasing or holding steady. When will potential homeowners see mortgage relief.

Mortgage experts agree that the right time to lock in a rate depends on your situation. Making your move later this month could offer some advantages. But your timeline, financial readiness and local housing market should guide your decision. The choice isn't just about getting the lowest rate — you must find the right balance for your needs.

"HELOC rates are typically tied to prime, so they are impacted when the Fed lowers or raises the federal funds rate. I believe these rates will remain flat, but if the Fed lowers the rate in November, you may see a small drop in HELOC rates—not much to get excited about, but every little bit helps," Whitehead says.

The average 30-year mortgage rate has been above 6% for two years — and is likely to stay above that level for the foreseeable future, experts say. A combination of better-than-

The average 30-year mortgage rate remains high despite the Federal Reserve again dropping its key interest rate.