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WASHINGTON MORTGAGE SHOPPING GUIDE

Compare Washington mortgage rates, fees and loan options

There is no single mortgage rate for every Washington borrower. Start with a dated market benchmark, then compare written quotes for the same loan, points and lock period. Your county, closing costs and available programs also deserve a closer look.

Published by Shop Lender Rates · Guide updated
Platform and editorial contact: Enrique Pelayo Jr., NMLS #131435. This date describes this guide, not a live rate check.

Request availability depends on participating, eligible originators. Sharing contact details is a separate choice.

Current mortgage-rate context for Washington shoppers

The mortgage averages below are weekly national benchmarks, not Washington-specific rates, APRs or offers from participating lenders. Read each observation date. Freddie Mac’s survey describes a particular set of mortgage applications; your credit, loan amount, property, points and timing can produce a different quote.

CURRENT PUBLISHED MARKET BENCHMARKS

Mortgage Market Pulse

Open the market dashboard ↗
Auto-refresh every 5 minutes · Last site check Oct 30, 1:55 AM PDT

Some source checks are unavailable (U.S. Treasury, FRED Treasury history, FRED mortgage averages). Only successfully retrieved, dated observations are shown; missing values are not estimated.

Freshness matters: Shop Lender Rates checks for newly published values every five minutes while this page is open. Clicking Refresh now bypasses our market cache and checks the source feeds immediately. Treasury values shown here are official daily benchmarks; Freddie Mac mortgage figures are weekly national averages. A newer check time does not change a value until its publisher releases a new observation.

LATEST PUBLISHED BRIEF · Tuesday, September 29, 2026 · checked 11:54 AM EDT

Long bonds extend their selloff despite softer data and oil

Tuesday's cross-currents still favor caution. The 30-year Treasury reached about 5.60%, its highest level since 2002, and the 10-year about 5.27% even as Brent fell to $103.32, consumer confidence dropped to 81.9 and job openings declined to 7.079 million. The available public agency-MBS snapshot is delayed but also weaker, with UMBS 5.5 down 4/32 and UMBS 6.0 down 3/32. Softer demand signals and improving Gulf exports are rate-positive, but the long-end selloff and Wednesday's PCE/GDP risk dominate.

This briefing describes its publication date. The benchmark cards above check for newer observations independently.

Treasury yields are daily benchmarks; mortgage averages are weekly national figures. These are not individual loan offers. Live MBS quotes and standardized lender pricing snapshots are not connected.

Source: Freddie Mac PMMS and its methodology. For the calculation and source details behind the dashboard, see our methodology.

How to compare Washington mortgage quotes

Build one scenario and ask each originator to price it using the same assumptions. Then separate lender pricing from property expenses and timing differences.

A consistent comparison before you choose an originator
CompareKeep consistentWhy it matters
Loan and propertyUse the same loan amount, term, fixed or adjustable structure, occupancy, property type, and down payment.Changing the scenario can change both eligibility and pricing.
Rate, APR and pointsRequest the interest rate, APR, discount points, lender charges and lender credits together.A lower rate can come with higher upfront costs. APR is useful, but is not the complete cash-to-close figure.
Lock and timingCompare quotes from the same date with the same lock period; confirm whether the rate is locked.A floating quote and a locked offer carry different timing assumptions.
Title and settlementAsk which provider and services each fee covers and which services you may shop for.Third-party estimates can differ before a provider is selected.
Taxes, insurance and escrowUse the same property-tax estimate, insurance premium and initial reserve assumptions.A smaller placeholder can make a quote look cheaper without reducing the eventual bill.
Prepaid interest and cash to closeCompare the daily interest charge, number of prepaid days, deposits and all credits.A different closing date changes prepaid interest; cash to close also includes items beyond lender fees.

Use the lender comparison worksheet to organize the numbers, or see a fictional Washington quote comparison over three and seven years. A platform quote or fee worksheet is not the lender’s official Loan Estimate; learn how those documents differ.

2026 Washington conforming loan limits: all 39 counties

The county can change the conforming loan limit. For example, Seattle and Bellevue are in King County, Tacoma is in Pierce County, and Everett is in Snohomish County. Vancouver is in Clark County; Spokane is in Spokane County.

39 of 39 areas shown. Source: FHFA 2026 county table. Search changes this table only.

2026 Washington · 1-unit conforming loan limits
County or equivalent areaMaximum loan amount
Adams County$832,750
Asotin County$832,750
Benton County$832,750
Chelan County$832,750
Clallam County$832,750
Clark County$832,750
Columbia County$832,750
Cowlitz County$832,750
Douglas County$832,750
Ferry County$832,750
Franklin County$832,750
Garfield County$832,750
Grant County$832,750
Grays Harbor County$832,750
Island County$832,750
Jefferson County$832,750
King County$1,063,750
Kitsap County$832,750
Kittitas County$832,750
Klickitat County$832,750
Lewis County$832,750
Lincoln County$832,750
Mason County$832,750
Okanogan County$832,750
Pacific County$832,750
Pend Oreille County$832,750
Pierce County$1,063,750
San Juan County$832,750
Skagit County$832,750
Skamania County$832,750
Snohomish County$1,063,750
Spokane County$832,750
Stevens County$832,750
Thurston County$832,750
Wahkiakum County$832,750
Walla Walla County$832,750
Whatcom County$832,750
Whitman County$832,750
Yakima County$832,750

County-equivalent names follow FHFA’s table, including parishes, boroughs, planning regions and independent cities. Confirm the property’s jurisdiction with your lender. FHA limits are separate.

The limit applies to the loan amount, not the purchase price. Multiunit properties have different limits. Meeting a county limit does not establish loan eligibility or guarantee a rate. Ask the lender whether your scenario is standard conforming, high-balance conforming or jumbo, and compare the same category.

Source: FHFA’s official 2026 county loan-limit table (PDF). Find all counties, property sizes and current releases at FHFA. County figures checked September 20, 2026.

Could Washington homebuyer assistance help?

Start with WSHFC Home Advantage

The Washington State Housing Finance Commission’s Home Advantage program does not require first-time homebuyer status. Its current first-mortgage program page lists a statewide income limit of $215,000. Homebuyer education, mortgage qualification and other program requirements still apply.

Use the Commission’s current first-mortgage program information and a Commission-trained participating loan officer to confirm the income calculation and eligibility for your situation.

Program information checked September 16, 2026; terms may change. Other assistance programs have different rules. An SLR profile alone does not establish participation in a Commission program. For planning, use our down-payment checklist.

Check the license and the property-cost assumptions

Verify the originator and sponsoring company

Washington DFI directs mortgage shoppers to NMLS Consumer Access. Check the individual and company records, their current status and their authority for your property state. Match the names and identifiers to the person and business providing the quote.

Washington DFI license verification ↗

Check property taxes with the county

Washington county assessors handle property assessment and county treasurers collect property taxes. Use the relevant official county information and an insurance estimate for the actual property. Compare lenders using the same assumptions for the payment and initial escrow deposit.

Washington county assessor and treasurer directory ↗

Our closing-cost guide explains how lender fees, title and settlement services, prepaid interest and escrow deposits fit together. Lower estimated taxes or insurance do not by themselves mean better lender pricing.

Put your Washington mortgage options into numbers

Refinancing

Compare the proposed loan with your existing mortgage and test closing costs against your expected time in the loan.

Refinance calculator ↗

Find the right starting point in Washington

Working through credit challenges?

Ask which loan programs fit your complete file and whether the lender has requirements beyond the program minimum. State assistance eligibility and mortgage approval are separate reviews.

Prepare a credit and mortgage plan →

Considering a refinance? Compare costs and your payoff timeline. Exploring home equity? Check combined payments and repayment terms before borrowing.

Washington mortgage shoppers’ questions

Who has the best mortgage rate in Washington?

There is no single best lender for every scenario. Compare written offers from eligible professionals using the same loan type, amount, points and lock period. Look at APR, lender charges, credits and your expected time in the loan alongside the note rate.

Are Seattle mortgage rates different from Spokane mortgage rates?

A city name alone does not determine a quote. Property location can affect county loan limits and housing expenses, while credit, loan-to-value, program and lender pricing also matter. The county table above shows why two similarly priced homes can lead to different loan categories.

How do I compare a 30-year fixed mortgage with other options?

First compare 30-year fixed quotes with one another. Then evaluate a shorter fixed term or adjustable-rate loan separately, including payment differences, fees and any future rate-adjustment risk. APR has limitations when comparing different loan structures.

What should I compare when refinancing in Washington?

Look beyond the change in monthly payment. Include closing costs, the new loan term, points or credits and how long you expect to keep the mortgage. A longer repayment schedule can reduce the payment while changing total interest. Start with the refinance decision guide.

Can I explore without sharing my phone number with lenders?

The guides and calculators are available without an account. For available private quote requests, you confirm your email and choose eligible originators; the initial scenario does not share your name, email or phone with those originators. A separate connection choice releases your entered contact information. Review how private quote shopping works.

Shopping beyond Washington?

Explore all 50 state guides for county limits and official housing agencies. Use the national mortgage-shopping guide to compare costs, credit inquiries and contact-sharing choices.

YOUR SCENARIO. YOUR CONTACT CHOICES.

Ready to compare Washington quote options?

Check participating originators, use one consistent scenario, and decide separately who receives your contact details.

Published by Shop Lender Rates, owned and operated by Mortgage Lending Group LLC. General education, not a rate offer or qualification decision. Sources do not imply agency endorsement. Editorial standards · About the publisher.