Overview of Massachusetts Mortgages
Massachusetts is home to some very expensive housing markets. Seven out of 14 Massachusetts counties have conforming loan limits above the baseline $726,200 limit. Massachusetts homeowners generally have above average monthly mortgage payments due to the high cost of real estate.
| Product | Today | Last Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 year fixed | 7.63% | 7.75% | -0.13 |
| 15 year fixed | 7.38% | 7.50% | -0.13 |
| 5/1 ARM | 6.00% | 6.00% | 0.00 |
| 30 yr fixed mtg refi | 7.88% | 7.99% | -0.12 |
| 15 yr fixed mtg refi | 7.38% | 7.50% | -0.13 |
| 7/1 ARM refi | 6.88% | 6.13% | +0.75 |
| 15 yr jumbo fixed mtg refi | 3.11% | 3.15% | -0.04 |
National Mortgage Rates
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Historical Mortgage Rates in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Mortgage Rates Quick Facts
- Median Home Value: $480,600 (U.S. Census Bureau)
- Loan Funding Rate: 61.64% (CFPB)
- Homeownership Rate: 62% (St. Louis Fed)
- Median Monthly Homeownership Costs: $2,365 (U.S. Census Bureau)
Massachusetts mortgage rates are generally lower than the national average.
A financial advisor in Massachusetts can help you plan for the homebuying process. Financial advisors can also help with investing and financial plans, including tax, retirement and estate planning, to make sure you are preparing for the future.
*The FHFA stopped reporting new data in 2018.
Massachusetts Mortgages Overview
Many people choose to make their home in Massachusetts, drawn by the jobs, the excellent public schools and other Bay State attractions. If you decide to buy a home in one of the more expensive housing markets in the state you’ll have a hefty mortgage on your hands.
Half of all Massachusetts counties have conforming loan limits above the standard $726,200 cut-off. Those counties are: Dukes, Essex, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth and Suffolk. If you buy a home in one of these counties, you won’t hit the jumbo loan mark at the aforementioned standard mark. In other words, you’ll have more wiggle room to borrow more and still have a normal interest rate, whereas the transition to jumbo loan territory usually comes with a higher interest rate.
When it comes to housing, Massachusetts has some pretty consumer-friendly laws in place. The foreclosure process in the Bay State gives homeowners a long time to get current on their mortgage payments and protects borrowers from the kinds of swift foreclosures that can happen in some other states.
For example, a homeowner who falls behind on mortgage payments in Massachusetts has what’s called a right to cure. If your lender sends you a right to cure notice you have 150 days to get current on your mortgage payment. During this time, your lender can’t charge you excessive fees and penalties, according to state law.
If you miss that 150-day deadline your lender must send you an acceleration notice giving you 21 days to pay the entire loan balance. Only after that 21-day period can the lender hold a foreclosure sale. If the lender plans to sue you for deficiency (the difference between the home’s selling price and what you still owe on the mortgage) you must also get 21 days’ notice. Lenders are required to send a notice of foreclosure sale 14 days before the sale.
After the foreclosure, any excess proceeds from the sale must be paid to the homeowner. And if your home is foreclosed and sold, you’re still not required to move on the sale day. The new owner must bring an eviction action against you in court, where you can make a case for why you need more time before moving. Of course, no one buys a home anticipating foreclosure, but it’s nice to know that Massachusetts has homeowner protections in place.
30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates in Massachusetts
Most homebuyers opt for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage when they cross over from renting to buying. You have 30 years to pay back the mortgage (unless you refinance or make mortgage prepayments) and your interest rate won’t change.
There are fixed-rate mortgages with shorter terms, but they come with higher monthly payments because you’re paying back the same loan in fewer months. There are also 40-year mortgages but most people feel that’s too long and involves paying too much interest.
The average Massachusetts rate for a fixed 30-year mortgage is 5.75% (Zillow, Jan. 2023).
Massachusetts Jumbo Loan Rates
In most U.S. counties, any loan that’s $726,200 or less is a conforming loan. That means the loan can be sold on the secondary mortgage market. Any loan that exceeds the conforming loan limit is considered a jumbo loan and is typically accompanied by higher interest. In Massachusetts 50% of counties have conforming loan limits that are higher than $726,200, in recognition of the high housing prices in those counties. Interestingly enough, jumbo loan rates are currently lower than normal mortgage rates.
The average Massachusetts 30-year fixed jumbo loan rate is 6.04% (Zillow, Jan. 2023).
Massachusetts ARM Loan Rates
An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is a loan that usually comes with a low introductory rate that, after a period of between one and 10 years, can adjust upwards or downwards. In Massachusetts, ARM rates are higher than their counterparts. Generally, mortgage rates on ARMs increase after the introductory period ends, and can keep increasing up to the cap set in the mortgage documents. It’s easy to see how a person with an ARM could fall behind on mortgage payments after one or more rate increases.
The average rate for a 5/1 ARM in Massachusetts is 5.30% (Zillow, Jan. 2023).
Massachusetts Mortgage Resources
Massachusetts offers resources for people who want to buy or keep a home. If you qualify, you can get a “MassHousing Mortgage with No MI” – a mortgage that has zero mortgage insurance, even if you can’t make a 20% down payment. If you meet the income, credit and loan size requirements for your county, you’ll be able to put as little as 3-5% down. You’ll have a fixed, low interest rate and a 30-year repayment term. You will have to complete a homebuyer education course before you can secure your MassHousing Mortgage with No MI.
There’s also a plain old MassHousing Loan. It comes with a fixed, affordable interest rate and a 30-year loan term. There’s mortgage payment protection that will help you make your payments if you lose your job. There are low down payment options but you will have to pay mortgage insurance, unlike in the MassHousing Mortgage with No MI program. Income and mortgage size limits vary.
If you’re buying a fixer-upper you may qualify for a Purchase & Rehab Loan from MassHousing. If you meet the requirements, are creditworthy and have a signed purchase and sales agreement for a one- to four-family home, you could get a Purchase and Rehab mortgage of up to 97% of the purchase price plus rehabilitation costs of the home (or the estimated valuable of the home after rehabilitation, whichever is less). You must have housing debt of less than 33% of your income and total monthly debt of less than 41% of your income.
If you’re a veteran, active-duty military personnel or the spouse of a soldier, sailor or marine killed on active duty you may qualify for the MassHome program “A Home for the Brave.” If eligible you would receive up to 97% financing on single-family homes and condos, or up to 95% financing on two-, three- and four-family homes. These loans come with MI Plus, which covers principal and interest for up to six months in case of unemployment or deployment. You may also qualify for a MassHousing grant to help with closing costs. Income limits apply.
If you want to buy a home in Attleboro, Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, North Quabbin, Quincy, Southbridge, Springfield, Taunton or Worcester you may qualify for a special Buy Cities mortgage through MassHousing. The Buy Cities mortgages are 30-year fixed-rate mortgages that may be used to finance up to 100% of the purchase price for the home. Rates and terms are competitive with regular mortgages but you’ll get the bonus of MI Plus, which covers principal and interest payments for up to six months and may be used for any six months during the first 10 years of the loan.
There’s another program, called ONE Mortgage, that’s offered by the Massachusetts Housing Partnership. It’s designed for low- and middle-income first-time homebuyers and offers a discounted 30-year loan with a fixed interest rate. You can put as little as 3% down for a single-family home, a condo or a two-family home. If you’re buying a three-family property you must put 5% down. No Private Mortgage Insurance is required with the ONE Mortgage. Some buyers may qualify for an interest subsidy to help with payments in the early years of their ONE mortgage.
Of course, you don’t have to use a Massachusetts-specific form of mortgage help. You can also apply for a VA loan, a USDA Rural Development Loan or an FHA loan. Talking to a lender who participates in a range of programs aimed at helping first-time buyers, and to a HUD-approved housing counselor, can help you decide which option is best for you.
Massachusetts Mortgage Taxes
Massachusetts has a flat income tax rate of 5.00%. You cannot deduct your mortgage interest on your Massachusetts state income tax return like you can on your federal income tax return.
Massachusetts residents who sell their homes will pay a real estate transfer tax of $2.28 per $500 of value. In Barnstable County, the figure is a bit higher at $2.85 per $500 of value. There is also a document fee in Massachusetts for real estate transfers. The fee ranges from $10 to $20.
Massachusetts Mortgage Refinance
When it’s time to refinance your Massachusetts mortgage, you may consider a refinancing option from Fannie Mae, which has emerged as an alternative to the now-defunct Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). It’s also worth remembering that you don’t have to refinance with the same lender that gave you your initial home loan. You can shop around for the most favorable interest rate and loan terms.
