We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. May 1, 2026 / 8:03 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Homebuyers and owners looking to refinance should begin by familiarizing themselves with today's average mortgage interest rates. Xacto/Getty Images A new month could offer many borrowers a fresh start. And that's exactly what borrowers need this May, especially homebuyers and owners looking to refinance their loans. Mortgage interest rates were volatile in April. They started the month high, briefly dropped below 6% and then surged again after the Federal Reserve elected to keep interest rates paused this week. At the same time, there is no Fed meeting on the calendar for May, removing a potent driver behind mortgage interest rates . And, depending on the results of this month's unemployment and inflation reports, there could even be reasons for rates here to decline again.…