Mortgage Rates NC SC: What 6.52% Costs You in 2026

As of June 11, 2026, Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey puts the 30-year fixed rate at 6.52% (the 15-year at 5.84%), down from 6.84% a year earlier, with existing home sales at a five-month high. At $250,000 with $50,000 down, a 6.52% rate runs $1,414 a month versus $1,349 at 6.00%, a $65 monthly difference. At $400,000 with $80,000 down, it's $2,173 versus $2,069, a $104 difference. At $550,000 with $110,000 down, it's $2,931 versus $2,788, a $143 difference. For context, the 50-year median mortgage rate is right around 7.24%, so today's rate is better than average, and a home appreciating even 3% in a year on a $550,000 purchase gains $16,500 in value, well past the rate gap.

Buying discount points upfront makes sense if you'll stay in the home long enough to recoup the cost. Improving your credit score, even moving from 720 to 760, can get a meaningfully better rate. A larger down payment lowers your loan-to-value ratio and can unlock better pricing, and shopping multiple lenders for at least three quotes is a basic step most buyers skip. A 15-year loan at 5.84% is nearly a full point lower than the 30-year, higher payment but dramatically less interest cost.

South Carolina's legal residence exemption significantly reduces the assessed value on a primary home, while North Carolina's property taxes vary widely by county, generally lower in coastal counties like Brunswick and New Hanover than inland metros. Coastal properties in both states may require flood insurance and wind/hail coverage that can add $200 to $600 or more per month, so factor total housing cost, not just the mortgage payment, into your budget. If you're weighing where on the NC/SC line makes sense for your numbers, get in touch and we'll run it together.