Mortgage rates play a central role in the U.S. housing market, directly influencing affordability, buyer activity and long-term investment decisions. In this section, we track weekly rate movements, explain broader trends and break down what changes in borrowing costs mean for homeowners, first-time buyers and real estate investors.
A Redfin analysis of five decades of mortgage data finds that adjustable-rate mortgages have given most borrowers a window to refinance into a lower fixed rate before their introductory period even ends.
Fresh inventory is flooding the U.S. housing market at its fastest pace in four years, but sluggish demand and elevated mortgage rates are keeping many buyers on the sidelines.
Fed Chair Warsh's hawkish Jackson Hole speech has put a rate hike back on the table, shifting expectations ahead of the September 16th FOMC decision and leaving mortgage borrowers in a two-week holding pattern.
Supply is climbing while pending sales hit a six-month low, shifting leverage toward buyers in cities like Miami, Nashville and across Texas—especially for homes that have sat on the market for weeks.
Markets are watching Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's Jackson Hole speech Friday and Wednesday's core PCE release closely, but analysts expect neither Canadian tariff talks nor inflation data to significantly shift mortgage rates.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dipped to 6.65% this week, continuing a short-lived retreat — yet rates remain higher than a year ago as bond market pressures and inflation concerns keep borrowing costs elevated.
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate edged down to 6.67% this week, breaking a six-week streak of increases, though rates remain higher than a year ago as inflation and geopolitical pressures linger.
Pending home sales rose a modest 0.4% week over week through early August, while new listings jumped 1.7%—the largest weekly gain in five months—giving buyers slightly more room to negotiate in a market still weighed down by elevated mortgage rates.
July home sales fell 4.1% month-over-month to their lowest seasonally adjusted level in nearly two years, with mortgage rates at a one-year high and record home prices squeezing buyers across the country.
Wednesday's CPI report is shaping up to be the most consequential economic release of the week, with a potential September Fed rate hike hanging near 50/50 odds.
July's surprising job loss of 23,000 positions—far below the 80,000 gain economists expected—could push the Federal Reserve to hold off on rate hikes, offering modest relief to borrowers watching mortgage costs.
The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 6.69% this week—its highest point in over a year—as five straight weeks of increases continue to erode homebuyer purchasing power across the U.S.
The income required to afford a typical U.S. starter home has dropped 1.5% year over year, outpacing the broader market's modest gains, as wage growth and slower price appreciation widen the cushion for entry-level buyers.
August looks increasingly unfavorable for mortgage borrowers as Middle East conflict, above-target inflation, and an ambiguous Federal Reserve posture all push Treasury yields — and home loan rates — higher.
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate unchanged for a fifth straight meeting, yet three regional presidents pushed for a hike. Analysts warn mortgage rates and consumer borrowing costs could stay elevated far longer than most buyers anticipate.
Pending home sales have dropped to their lowest level since April, with the daily average mortgage rate climbing to 6.85%. Yet buyers still hold negotiating power as sellers continue to outnumber active purchasers across most of the country.
As Kevin Warsh chairs his second FOMC meeting, mortgage borrowers should brace for continued rate volatility driven by geopolitical energy risks, AI-fueled economic strength, and a Federal Reserve that increasingly favors surprises over predictability.
U.S. pending home sales slipped 1.3% week over week through July 19, pressured by elevated mortgage rates and near-record home prices, even as inventory gives buyers more room to negotiate.
The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate climbed to 6.58% this week, its highest point in roughly 12 months, as rising oil prices and inflation fears push bond yields upward and squeeze homebuyer purchasing power.
Second-home mortgage originations climbed 4.1% in 2025, snapping a four-year losing streak. High earners with median incomes near $300,000 are driving the rebound, while most Americans remain priced out.
A surprisingly soft June CPI reading pushed inflation forecasts well below expectations, making a July 29th Federal Reserve rate hike unlikely and setting the stage for mortgage rates to ease.
A surge in mortgage rates to their highest level since last July has interrupted several weeks of improving homebuying demand, pushing pending sales lower and cooling purchase applications.
April's inflation data came in slightly above forecasts, reinforcing the Federal Reserve's case to keep rates unchanged. In the near term, mortgage rates are expected to follow oil prices and progress in Middle East peace negotiations more closely than any single economic release.
Markets will parse April inflation data and any developments in Iran’s talks, keeping mortgage rates volatile. Key economic releases and Fed commentary add to the uncertainty.
