What Affects Mortgage Interest Rates in Washington, DC
Washington, DC mortgage interest rates are set by national lending markets rather than by the District itself. Your credit profile, loan structure, property details and other application factors can affect the pricing offered to you.
DC residents comparing lenders should look at both the interest rate and the annual percentage rate, or APR. The interest rate is the percentage charged for borrowing the principal. APR is a broader annualized measure that includes the interest rate plus certain loan costs.
Those figures serve different purposes when you compare mortgage offers, so review both rather than treating them as interchangeable.
DC homeowners considering a replacement mortgage can compare Washington, DC refinance rates with the rate and terms of their existing loan.
Types of Mortgages Available in Washington, DC
Washington, DC buyers can choose among several mortgage structures, while the District's single $1,249,125 conforming threshold affects when a conventional one-unit mortgage moves into the jumbo category.
-
A conventional fixed-rate mortgage keeps the same interest rate for the full loan term.
-
FHA loans in Washington, DC follow separate borrower and property requirements. FHA limits are set separately from conforming limits and are published for the District as a whole.
-
Eligible borrowers can compare Washington, DC VA loan rates. VA financing follows its own borrower and property requirements.
-
USDA loans combine borrower qualification with property eligibility.
-
An adjustable-rate mortgage can change after its initial rate period according to the loan terms.
-
A jumbo loan finances an amount above the applicable conforming threshold. Washington, DC uses a single one-unit limit across the entire District.
Buyers entering the market for the first time can compare first-time homebuyer loan options in Washington, DC.
Mortgage insurance treatment varies by loan program, so include mortgage insurance requirements by loan type when estimating the full payment.
2026 Conforming and Jumbo Loan Limits in Washington, DC
Washington, DC has one 2026 one-unit conforming loan limit: $1,249,125. The District is a single county-equivalent, and the same limit applies everywhere in Washington, DC.
The $1,249,125 limit is the national high-cost ceiling, equal to 150% of the $832,750 national baseline. A one-unit mortgage above $1,249,125 falls into the jumbo category in Washington, DC.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, sets conforming loan limits annually. Buyers financing above the District's threshold can compare Washington, DC jumbo loan rates.
These are 2026 limits for one-unit properties. Limits for two-, three- and four-unit properties are higher. The FHFA publishes annual conforming loan limit values by area and property size.
FHA financing uses a separate limit system. The VA does not impose a loan limit for eligible borrowers with full entitlement. Lenders may still apply their own underwriting and loan-size requirements.
Mortgage rate pages are also available for areas around the DMV, including:
Washington, DC Mortgage Payment Examples By Rate
Washington, DC's payment examples extend to a $1,200,000 mortgage, which remains below the District's single $1,249,125 one-unit conforming limit for 2026. The table shows principal-and-interest payments across the supplied loan amounts and rates. Use the Washington, DC mortgage payment calculator to test a different loan amount or other mortgage details.
| Loan Amount |
5.50% |
5.75% |
6.00% |
6.25% |
6.50% |
| $1,200,000 |
$6,813 |
$7,003 |
$7,195 |
$7,389 |
$7,585 |
| $1,100,000 |
$6,246 |
$6,419 |
$6,595 |
$6,773 |
$6,953 |
| $1,000,000 |
$5,678 |
$5,836 |
$5,996 |
$6,157 |
$6,321 |
| $900,000 |
$5,110 |
$5,252 |
$5,396 |
$5,541 |
$5,689 |
| $800,000 |
$4,542 |
$4,669 |
$4,796 |
$4,926 |
$5,057 |
| $700,000 |
$3,975 |
$4,085 |
$4,197 |
$4,310 |
$4,424 |
| $600,000 |
$3,407 |
$3,501 |
$3,597 |
$3,694 |
$3,792 |
| $500,000 |
$2,839 |
$2,918 |
$2,998 |
$3,079 |
$3,160 |
| $400,000 |
$2,271 |
$2,334 |
$2,398 |
$2,463 |
$2,528 |
| $300,000 |
$1,703 |
$1,751 |
$1,799 |
$1,847 |
$1,896 |
The figures cover principal and interest only. Property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, association fees and other costs are not included.
Verified Customer
50,000+ 5-star reviews