Oregon Mortgage Rates

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Oregon Mortgage Rates Quick Facts Median Home Value: $334,600 (Zillow) Loan Funding Rate: 61.2% (CFPB) Average Mortgage Rate: 4.06% (Freddie Mac) Homeownership Rate: 60.4% (St. Louis Fed) Median Monthly Homeownership Costs: $1,563 (U.S. Census Bureau)

Historical Mortgage Rates in Oregon

From its coastlines to its coffee, Oregon is a blend of natural beauty and avant-garde culture. From Portland to Salem to Crater Lake National Park, Oregon can be a beautiful place to live.

Oregon mortgage rates are typically lower than the national average.

Oregon Mortgages Overview

The median price of a sold home in Oregon is $322,000, while the U.S. median sold home price is $228,000 according to Zillow.

The conforming limit for every Oregon county is the standard $453,100. The FHA loan limits see a lot of variation, ranging from the average $294,515 all the way up to $448,500.

One important thing for Oregon homebuyers to note is that the state does not require lenders to get a court order to foreclose on a home. This is because buyers in the state are typically given a deed of trust instead of a mortgage. Deeds of trust generally have what is called a “power of sale” clause. This means that if you were to fall behind on your mortgage payments and your lender wants to foreclose on your home, they can simply hire a third party to auction the property.

However Oregon is a non-recourse state. This means that if your home is sold in foreclosure and there is a difference between how much your home is worth or sells for and the amount still owed on your mortgage, you are usually not liable for that monetary difference.

Oregon sellers must provide buyers with property disclosure statements. These statements would include information on sewage disposal, insulation, the quality of the home structure and common interests like homeowners’ association fees. Though it is not mandatory, you should still have a home inspection before you close on a property.

30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates in Oregon

A reliable home loan option is a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. This is especially common for buyers who expect to stay in their digs for the long haul. With a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, you have 30 years to pay off the loan, unless you make prepayments or refinance. The interest rate remains the same for the duration of the loan which makes it a bit easier for homeowners to budget their monthly payments as they always stay the same.

The average Oregon 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.05%.

Oregon Jumbo Loan Rates

Oregon county conforming loan limits are all steady at $453,100. If you take out a home loan in Oregon for that amount or less, it’s considered a conforming loan and is eligible for normal interest rates. If you take out a loan that is greater than $453,100 to pay for a home anywhere in the state, your loan will be considered a jumbo loan and will come with a higher interest rate.

The average jumbo loan rate in Oregon is 4.65%.

Oregon ARM Loan Rates

Another home loan option is an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). An ARM usually comes with a lower interest rate at the beginning when compared to a fixed-rate mortgage. That rate lasts for an introductory period somewhere between one and 10 years. At the end of that time, the interest rate can go up or down once a year, but it usually goes up. How many times an interest rate can change, as well as the highest possible rate it can reach, is laid out in the loan’s terms. It’s important to check that interest rate cap before deciding on an ARM, so you can determine if it is something you can afford.

The average rate for an ARM in Oregon is 3.54%.

Oregon Mortgage Resources

State financial assistance is available for homebuyers in the Beaver State.

Oregon Housing and Community Services provides down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Homebuyers who have completed an education course can qualify for up to $15,000 for closing costs and down payment assistance.

Loans and grants are also available from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development for qualifying homebuyers in rural Oregon. You can check during your home search to see if you qualify for one of these offers.

Oregon Mortgage Taxes

Oregon homeowners who itemize deductions on their taxes can deduct the mortgage interest they pay throughout the year from their taxable income when filing both federal and state income taxes.

A bit of good news for Oregonians: you don’t have to pay transfer taxes on real estate when you buy or sell a home.

Oregon Mortgage Refinance

Oregon homeowners who want to refinance can consider the Home Affordable Refinance Program. Qualifying owners in single-family homes or condos can access interest and principal payment reductions and low closing costs as long as the loan is from 2009 or earlier.