🏡 Idaho Mortgage Market Update - October, 17 2025: Rates Hover Near 3-Year Lows

If you've been keeping one eye on mortgage rates and the other on the Boise housing market, you may have noticed something interesting this week - rates are quietly hanging around their lowest levels in nearly three years.

After a calm start to the week, things got lively when a few regional banks (Zions Bancorp and Western Alliance) surprised Wall Street with some hefty write-downs. That news rattled short-term funding markets for a day, sending bond yields - and mortgage rates - bouncing around like a Bronco on the blue turf.

The good news for Idaho buyers and sellers? Once the dust settled, mortgage rates actually dipped, giving home shoppers and refinance candidates a little breathing room.

📉 Where Rates Stand

As of October 17, 2025, national averages looked like this:

• 30-year fixed: 6.23%

• 15-year fixed: 5.81%

• FHA: 5.99%

• VA: 6.01%

• Jumbo: 6.20%

While those are national figures, local Idaho lenders often come in slightly below average, especially for well-qualified buyers in Ada and Canyon Counties. At 1st Choice Mortgage, we've seen borrowers in Boise, Meridian, and Nampa locking rates that start with a "5" again - something we haven't said in a while!

🧭 What's Driving It

Bond yields, which move in the opposite direction of rates, took a sharp turn lower after investors decided the banking scare wasn't the next big crisis. Add in a quiet week for economic data, a federal holiday, and the lingering effects of the Fed's September rate cut, and you get one calm-ish, low-rate week in an otherwise bumpy year.

📅 What's Next

The big headline coming up? The Consumer Price Index (CPI).
This inflation report is one of the few major government data releases still hitting the wires during the current partial shutdown, and markets will be watching it closely.

If CPI shows that inflation is cooling, we could see rates test those 2022-era lows again. If not… well, we might all need an extra cup of coffee next Friday.

🏠 What It Means for Idaho Buyers & Realtors

For buyers: this is a rare window where lower rates and a seasonal slowdown might finally give you negotiating power. A slightly cheaper mortgage could mean the difference between that dream home in Eagle vs. Nampa.

For Realtors: now's the time to remind your clients that pre-approval matters - especially when rates fluctuate week to week. Having a trusted, local mortgage partner can help keep deals alive when surprises hit the market.

💬 Final Thoughts

Idaho's housing market remains resilient, with steady demand and cautious optimism heading into the holidays. Whether you're a buyer, seller, or agent, staying on top of rate trends can make a big difference - and that's exactly what we do at 1st Choice Mortgage.

Ready to see what today's rates could mean for you?
👉 Contact 1st Choice Mortgage for a personalized quote and local advice.