The average U.S. rate for a 30-year fixed-rate conforming mortgage rose to 6.728% on Aug. 11, 2026, from 6.688% in the previous daily reading, while the 15-year fixed-rate conforming loan rate increased to 5.873% from 5.852%. Week over week, however, rates were still lower across the major loan categories tracked by Mortgage Research Center, including 30-year conventional, 15-year conventional, jumbo, FHA, VA and USDA loans. On a $300,000 loan at today’s average 30-year rate, borrowers would pay about $398,906.67 in interest over the life of the mortgage, compared with roughly $151,986.31 on a 15-year loan at 5.873%, based on calculations using the Office of Financial Readiness mortgage calculator. The data come as the Federal Open Market Committee left the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75% at its July 28-29 meeting, with the next meeting scheduled for Sept. 15-16. Mortgage applications, meanwhile, fell 2.9% in the week ending July 31, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, whose chief economist Mike Fratantoni said higher long-term rates after the July FOMC meeting pushed mortgage rates to their highest level in more than a year and weakened demand for both refinance and purchase loans.