Mortgage charges have fallen barely from earlier this week

Mortgage rates are on the rise, and many pros expect that trend to continue.

Getty Images

Overall, mortgage rates continue their upward climb this year—a trend some pros expect to continue—though rates are down slightly from earlier in the week. The national average mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans went down slightly from 5.44% on Monday to 5.35% on May 26, according to data from Bankrate released today. Meanwhile average rates for 15-year fixed mortgages decreased from 4.73% on Monday to 4.67%. You can see the lowest rates you may qualify for here.

Mortgage rates have been steadily increasing for the last few months, and many economists and real estate experts predict that trend will continue. Steve Reich, chief operations officer at Finance of America Mortgage, recently told MarketWatch Picks: “It’s possible we may see another increase soon — only time will tell.” Though others say a rates ceiling may be near: “It’s even possible that rates could hit a ceiling over the next few weeks or months and then remain steady or even come back down from there,” Robert Heck, vice president of mortgage at Morty, recently told MarketWatch Picks.

Though these day-to-day fluctuations in rates are small, even small movements can equal thousands of dollars over the life of a loan. That’s why pros encourage home buyers to lock in the lowest rate available to them. (You can see the lowest rates you may qualify for here.) But even if you’re unable to tap a rate as low as you’d hoped, experts say if you’ve found a house you love and afford, it’s not worth holding out until rates drop (after all, they may not for a while) and potentially missing out on a home.

To make sure you’re getting the best rate and terms, get quotes from 3 to 5 lenders. Make sure your credit score is high, your finances are in order and that your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is at or below 36%. To calculate your DTI, divide your monthly debt payments (mortgage; credit card payments; auto, student or personal loans; child support) by your gross monthly income. Here are eight tips to get the lowest mortgage rates.