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Current ARM mortgage rates

On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the national average 5/1 ARM APR is 6.95%. The average 10/1 ARM APR is 7.26%, according to Bankrate's latest survey of the ... nation's largest mortgage lenders.

Pros of ARM loans

  • Lower payments in the beginning: The lower introductory rate on an ARM makes the loan more affordable, at least initially, which frees up room in your budget month to month.
  • Investment opportunity: You could take those monthly savings and invest, or put the funds toward another financial goal.
  • Significant savings if you plan to move: If you’re certain you’ll offload the mortgage before the fixed-rate period ends, you could save a bundle on interest.

Cons of ARM loans

  • Risk of higher rate: No one can predict how interest rates will move. Even with caps in place, your rate and payment could rise considerably over the life of the ARM.
  • More challenging to budget for: With a fixed-rate mortgage, you’ll have one set payment. With an ARM, you’ll only have a set payment just for the introductory period. After that, your payment could fluctuate. This can make future budgeting or financial planning difficult. 
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BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

I’m a first-time homebuyer. Should I get an ARM?


Glenn Brunker

President, Ally Home

"How long a buyer intends to stay in their home is an important factor to consider when looking for the right loan. For first-time homebuyers who are planning to be in the home for three to five years, an ARM is typically a better investment as they can take advantage of the lower interest rate during the early stages compared to a fixed-rate mortgage."

Dan Green

CEO, Homebuyer.com

"Adjustable-rate mortgages are neither good nor bad. ARMs allow homebuyers to temporarily share interest rate risk with their lender in exchange for lower monthly payments over the mortgage's first few years. ARMs don't always adjust higher, either. Between 2008 and 2021, ARMs adjusted lower for a lot of U.S. homeowners."

Principal Writer, Home Lending

"Simple question, complicated answer. Rates on fixed-rate mortgages have soared since 2022, so adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) have regained popularity — as of Jan. 15, 2025, 5 percent of new mortgages were ARMs, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. However, I’d say most buyers — and especially first-time buyers — should opt for a fixed-rate mortgage over an ARM. That’s partly because the savings just aren’t that great. The other reason: ARMs are more complicated. Most borrowers don’t relish keeping track of when their rates will adjust and by how much. That said, there's no right or wrong answer. I would recommend an ARM if you know you’ll sell the home in a few years and/or you work in finance or mortgage lending. In my experience, ARM borrowers skew towards industry insiders."

ARM loan FAQ