VA loan rates today: October 22, 2026
The number below is the average of VA 30-year rates actually locked across the market on that day, published by Optimal Blue through the Federal Reserve's FRED database. It is a benchmark, not a quote. Lenders set VA loan pricing; your rate depends on the lender, the points, and your file.
How it moved
| Compared with | Index then | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Prior reading (October 21, 2026) | 6.96% | down 4 basis points |
| One week earlier (October 15, 2026) | 6.90% | up 1 basis point |
| Four weeks earlier (September 24, 2026) | 6.93% | down 1 basis point |
| One year earlier (October 22, 2025) | 5.79% | up 113 basis points |
| Twelve-month low | 5.53% | February 27, 2026 |
| Twelve-month high | 7.13% | October 7, 2026 |
Source: Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Index, VA 30-year fixed, via FRED series OBMMIVA30YF; Freddie Mac PMMS via FRED series MORTGAGE30US. Business days only; the index is published with a lag of a few days. Rebuilt October 25, 2026.
The last twelve readings
| Date | Index | Day change |
|---|---|---|
| October 22, 2026 | 6.92% | down 4 basis points |
| October 21, 2026 | 6.96% | unchanged, 0 |
| October 20, 2026 | 6.95% | up 1 basis point |
| October 19, 2026 | 6.94% | up 1 basis point |
| October 16, 2026 | 6.93% | up 3 basis points |
| October 15, 2026 | 6.90% | down 13 basis points |
| October 14, 2026 | 7.04% | down 8 basis points |
| October 13, 2026 | 7.11% | down 2 basis points |
| October 9, 2026 | 7.13% | up 4 basis points |
| October 8, 2026 | 7.09% | down 4 basis points |
| October 7, 2026 | 7.13% | up 5 basis points |
| October 6, 2026 | 7.08% | down 2 basis points |
How to read a quote against the index
- Same day, same loan. Get Loan Estimates from three or more VA-approved lenders on the same day for the same loan amount and term. Rates move daily; a Monday quote and a Thursday quote are not comparable.
- Points change the rate. A rate below the index usually means the lender is charging discount points (Section A of the Loan Estimate). Compare the APR, which blends the rate with most lender fees.
- The VA caps the flat origination fee at 1%. A lender charging the full 1% generally cannot also itemize processing, underwriting, document, or rate-lock fees.
- Your file moves the number. Credit score, loan size, occupancy, and whether it is a purchase, an IRRRL, or a cash-out refinance all price differently. The index is an average across all of them.
VA fee rules: VA home loan program. Loan Estimate: CFPB.
Quick answers
Is 6.92% a good VA rate?
It is the market average of locked VA 30-year rates as of October 22, 2026. Whether a quote is good depends on the points and fees attached to it and on your file. Compare three Loan Estimates from the same day; the one with the lowest APR for the structure you want wins on cost.
Why is the VA rate different from the conventional rate?
VA loans carry a federal guaranty and no mortgage insurance, so lenders usually price them below conventional loans. Today the Freddie Mac 30-year conventional average was 7.32% for the week of October 22, 2026, so the VA index is running 0.41 points below conventional.
How often does this page update?
Every business day, from the same job that updates the Watch Board, usually within a day of FRED publishing the index. The as-of date in the headline is the index's date, not the rebuild date.
Can I get this number as an alert?
Yes. Rate Watch sends an email when the index reaches a target you set. Free, and it never contacts a lender for you.
