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ARM to Fixed-Rate Refinance Calculator
30-yr fixed avg 7.11% as of November 12, 2026
Source: Freddie Mac PMMS
The fixed loan is $212 a month below the adjusted ARM payment, and it can't change later.
No credit check to see options. Estimates use principal and interest only.
How this calculator works
An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) starts with a fixed rate for a set period — often five, seven or ten years — then adjusts periodically based on an index plus a margin, within caps set in your loan documents. When the fixed period ends, your payment can rise, sometimes sharply.
This calculator shows three payments side by side: your ARM payment today, your payment if the rate adjusts to the level you enter, and the payment on a new fixed-rate loan. Your loan documents and your servicer's adjustment notice tell you the index, margin and caps, which together determine the most your rate can rise at the first adjustment and over the life of the loan. Enter that figure, or the rate your notice shows, as the adjusted rate.
If the fixed payment is below the adjusted ARM payment, refinancing protects you from the increase and from any future adjustments. If the fixed payment is higher, you're paying for certainty; that can still be worthwhile if you plan to stay a long time and want a payment that can't change. Closing costs are estimated at 2% of the balance.
Timing matters. Refinancing before the first adjustment avoids paying the higher rate at all, but compare today's fixed rates with what your ARM is likely to do. The default fixed rate here is this week's Freddie Mac PMMS 30-year average; the default ARM and adjusted rates are example inputs you should replace with your own.
Worked example at this week's rates
With $320,000 left and 25 years remaining, a 5.5% ARM costs $1,965 a month. If it adjusts to 7.5%, the payment becomes $2,365. A new 30-year fixed loan at this week's 7.11% average would be $2,153 — $212 below the adjusted ARM.
The 5.5% and 7.5% ARM rates are example inputs, not market data.
PMMS is a national purchase-mortgage benchmark, not a refinance quote, so your own offer may be higher or lower.
Estimates only. Default rates are Freddie Mac PMMS weekly averages — a national purchase-mortgage benchmark, not a local refinance quote. Payments are principal and interest only. reficalculator.com is not a lender or broker; see how we calculate.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I refinance an ARM to a fixed rate?
- Many homeowners review their options several months before the first adjustment. If fixed rates are at or below your expected adjusted rate, refinancing can lock in a stable payment.
- How much can my ARM rate go up?
- Your loan documents set caps for the first adjustment, each later adjustment and the lifetime of the loan. Your servicer must notify you before the rate changes.
- Is it bad to refinance before the ARM adjusts?
- No. Refinancing before the adjustment avoids paying the higher rate, but compare closing costs with the expected savings.
- Can my ARM rate go down?
- Yes, if the index falls. That is why comparing the likely adjusted rate with today's fixed rates matters.
- Do I need equity to refinance an ARM?
- Lenders require you to qualify for the new loan, including loan-to-value limits. Higher equity can mean better pricing and no mortgage insurance.
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