Current North Dakota Mortgage and Refinance Rates
Mortgage interest rates currently average 6.06% for 30-year fixed loans and 5.22% for 15-year fixed loans.
Refinance rates in North Dakota
30-year FIXED
Current refinance rates are averaging:
6.48%
15-year FIXED
Current refinance rates are averaging:
6.06%
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the most common refinance options.
- Rate-and-term refinances are typically used when homeowners want to change their loan terms or interest rate — or both — to reduce their monthly mortgage payment. Refinance rates are typically higher than purchase mortgage rates. For instance, conventional purchase mortgages in North Dakota have an average interest rate of 6.66%, whereas the average conventional refinance rate in the state is 7.41%.
- Cash-out refinances allow homeowners to borrow money from their home’s equity by replacing their existing mortgage with a new one. The funds are often used for home improvements or repairs, unexpected medical bills or meeting other financial goals. Cash-out refinances typically have higher rates than rate-and-term refinances.
- Conventional refinances aren’t backed by the government. As such, they typically have higher rates than government-backed refinance loans.
- FHA refinances are often a good option for homebuyers who can’t qualify for a conventional refinance. These loans are backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), and often have lower FHA loan rates than conventional loans.
- VA refinances are a great option for active duty military and veterans, since the VA loans typically have low rates and flexible requirements. VA loans — which are backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — are only for qualified military borrowers.
See whether refinancing makes sense for you using our mortgage refinance calculator.
What is the current mortgage rates forecast?
LendingTree’s mortgage rates prediction forecasts rates will remain around 6.0% in early 2026. The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate three times in 2025, but these cuts did not affect mortgage rates very much until December, when rates fell from their mid-6% average.
Home affordability and inflation are also unlikely to improve in the near future, so potential North Dakota homebuyers should focus on qualifying for the best rates to get the lowest monthly payment on their home loan.
How do I get the best mortgage rate for my North Dakota home loan?
Securing the right interest rate on your mortgage allows you to have a monthly payment you can comfortably afford, versus one that stretches your budget.
These five strategies can help you get a better mortgage rate.
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Increase your credit score
Although many factors impact the interest rate tied to your mortgage, your credit score is often the most important component. The higher your credit score, the better your rate will likely be. You can increase your credit score by paying bills on time, reducing your existing debt and tackling any derogatory accounts on your credit report, like those in collections. -
Lower your debt-to-income ratio
Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio helps lenders assess how much debt you already have and whether you can handle a new loan. You can lower your DTI ratio by increasing your income, paying off debt or having a cosigner on your mortgage. -
Buy a single-family home
Vacation homes, investment properties, multifamily homes and manufactured homes often come with higher mortgage rates. -
Consider buying mortgage points
When you buy mortgage points, you’re paying some of your interest upfront to lower the interest rate on your mortgage — often by up to 0.25 percentage points. Mortgage points are only worth considering if you plan on living in your home long term. Work with your lender to figure out whether the upfront cost will actually save you money over time. -
Shop around for loans
Get loan estimates from three to five lenders, ideally on the same day. It might seem tedious to contact several lenders, but it can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan, LendingTree data shows.
Read more about our picks for the best mortgage lenders.
Once you find and accept the mortgage offer that’s best for you, ask your lender for a mortgage rate lock. This ensures that your rate remains the same until closing, despite any market fluctuations.
North Dakota home loan programs
NDHFA HomeAccess
This homebuying assistance program offered by the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) is open to people in North Dakota who meet one of the three following criteria:
- Homebuyer is a single parent with at least one dependent child who lives in the home 50% of the time.
- Homebuyer or their spouse served in the active military, naval or air service, and was discharged or released “under conditions other than dishonorable.”
- Homebuyer, their spouse or one of their dependents is permanently disabled or age 65-plus and living in the home.
NDHFA HomeAccess can be used along with one of the agency’s down payment and closing cost assistance programs, DCA and Start.
Who qualifies
Borrowers must:
- Contribute a $500 minimum toward their home purchase
- Buy a single-family home priced no more than $481,176
- Meet the program’s income requirements
- Purchase a home — refinancing isn’t an option
NDHFA North Dakota Roots
Another program offered by the NDHFA, North Dakota Roots helps buyers secure a market or below-market interest rate. The program has no purchase price or income limits, and it also allows borrowers to refinance their mortgages. North Dakota Roots can be combined with NDHFA’s Start program, which helps homebuyers with their down payment and closing costs.
This program was initially designed to encourage transplants to put down “roots” in North Dakota and buy their first home in the state. Now, it’s open to all residents, regardless of how long they’ve lived in North Dakota.
Who qualifies
Borrowers must:
- Meet their chosen loan program’s requirements
- Borrow a maximum loan amount that complies with their loan program’s loan limits
- Contribute a $500 minimum toward their home purchase or refinance
NDHFA FirstHome
This program offered by the NDHFA helps low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers purchase a house. FirstHome can also be paired with one of the agency’s down payment and closing cost assistance programs, DCA and Start.
Who qualifies
Borrowers must:
- Have not owned a home as their principal residence in the past three years
- Purchase a single-family home priced no more than $481,176
- Meet the program’s income requirements
- Contribute a $500 minimum toward their home purchase
NDHFA Targeted Area Loan
The NDHFA provides reduced interest rate loans in “targeted areas” of North Dakota. You can determine whether a home is in a targeted area using the instructions on the NDHFA’s website. This program can also be paired with one of the agency’s down payment and closing cost assistance programs, DCA and Start.
Who qualifies
Borrowers must:
- Meet the program’s income requirements
- Buy a single-family home priced no more than $588,104 (higher limits available for multiunit homes)
NDHFA Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance
As mentioned above, the NDHFA has two programs that can assist people with their down payment and closing costs: DCA and Start. Both programs offer 3% of the first mortgage loan amount for homebuyers to put toward their down payment, closing costs or prepaid items. The primary difference between the two programs is that DCA requires participants to take a homebuyer education course before closing. Notably, though, both programs can only be used with one- or two-unit properties — in the latter case, the borrower will have to occupy one of the units.
HomeAccess, FirstHome and Targeted Area Loan can all be used with either DCA or Start. However, North Dakota Roots can only be used with Start.
Who qualifies
Borrowers must:
- Meet the program’s income requirements
- Purchase a one- or two-unit property (owner occupied)
- Not use any other down payment assistance programs
Learn about different types of ND mortgage loans
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North Dakota conventional loans
are often considered the industry standard for loan products. Conventional loans are the go-to choice for borrowers who have a good credit score and a sizable down payment. They typically come with favorable loan terms and competitive interest rates, and have a set of minimum requirements determined by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. -
North Dakota FHA loans
allow borrowers with a credit score of at least 580 to put down as little as 3.5% of the purchase price upfront. FHA loan borrowers with enough savings to put down 10% of the purchase price can qualify with a minimum 500 credit score. -
North Dakota VA loans
VA loans are flexible and often have attractive terms, so they’re worth considering for qualified military borrowers. With a VA loan, you can purchase or refinance a home without a down payment — plus you won’t pay for mortgage insurance. -
North Dakota USDA loans
Loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are available in rural parts of North Dakota. Keep in mind, though, that USDA loans are for low- or very-low-income borrowers. They typically don’t require a down payment. -
North Dakota streamline refinances
can be done with a VA interest rate reduction refinance loan (IRRRL) or an FHA streamline refinance loan. Streamline refinances, as their name suggests, are designed to be simple and straightforward, with very little paperwork to complete. The refinance loan must be the same as your original loan — for example, you’ll need to refinance from an FHA loan into an FHA loan, or from a VA loan into another VA loan.