While mortgage rates hit a high for the year so far, reflecting escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, analysts point to average rates still remaining below year-ago levels and offering some improvement to buyers purchasing power. The average mortgage rate ticked up 11 basis points to 6.22% this week, up from 6.11% last week,…
New data from the Mortgage Bankers Association shows applications for both home purchases and refinances fell significantly this week following increased mortgage rates and other market volatility in the wake of the conflict in the Middle East, economists said. According to the latest Market Composite Index from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)—its measure of mortgage…
Consumer sentiment toward the economy, a vital metric for gauging whether consumers are feeling comfortable enough to make major purchases, showed positive signs at the outset of 2026. However, per the latest findings from the University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers, sentiment has started to dip. The index of Consumer Sentiment fell from 56.6 in…
Despite some reports showing lower trends in inflation, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure continues to remain elevated ahead of possible complications from geopolitical tension, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index grew 0.3% in January, with annual inflation at 2.8%. This is a…
The average mortgage rate remaining at or around the low 6% range continues to spur buyer activity, but economists warn it may not be enough to create a much-needed market shift in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty and wartime market volatility. The average mortgage rate ticked up 11 basis points to 6.11% this week,…
With the war in Iran causing market volatility this past week including an average mortgage rate increase from below and back up over 6%, home purchase application activity increased for the fourth straight week. According to the latest Market Composite Index from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)—its measure of mortgage loan activity volume and includes…
Inflation appeared to once again be on the right track for the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, economists are feeling uncertain about whether the trend will continue as the economy faces potential fallout from geopolitical issues—most notably, the war in Iran. The BLS’s…
After a brief dip into the fives, mortgage rates ticked back up this week and will likely continue to rise if the conflict with Iran escalates into a prolonged war, economists cautioned this week. “The launch of the conflict in Iran over the weekend and its subsequent escalation has stoked fears of wartime inflation that…
Just in time for the spring buying season, average mortgage rates crossed “into the fives,” this past week, their lowest level in years, and one economists describe as a “psychological barrier and numeric threshold” that could bring more buyers into the market despite concerns over the economy. The latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), released…
Home loan application activity increased this past week, up slightly from the previous week and following the trend of steady average mortgage rates hovering around 6%, even dipping below for a few days this past week. According to the latest Market Composite Index from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)—its measure of mortgage loan activity volume…
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