Mortgage rates zoomed up 11 basis points this week as the Iran war wreaked havoc on oil prices, putting both the bond and equity markets in turmoil. Processing Content The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.11% on March 12, the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey reported. This compared with last week’s 6% and a year […]
Iran war pushes mortgage rates near yearly high Read More »
Mortgage applications increased 3.2% from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending March 6, 2026. On an unadjusted basis, the index increased 4.1% compared with the previous week. The refinance index 0.5% from the previous week and was 81% higher than the
Mortgage applications increase 3.2% amid market volatility Read More »
US mortgage rates increased last week by the most since September, a setback for a housing market that had been enjoying easing financing costs this year. Processing Content The contract rate on a 30-year mortgage rose 10 basis points to 6.19% in the week ended March 6, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday.
Mortgage rates climb to 6.19% in biggest gain since September Read More »
After spiking last week, mortgage rates remained relatively stable this week. But the question for housing market professionals is whether the brisk spring homebuying season that was anticipated at the start of 2026 will actually materialize due to rising headwinds. Mortgage News Daily reported Monday that 30-year fixed rates averaged 6.14%, their highest level in
Mortgage rates steady near 6.15% as oil and jobs data pose risks Read More »
U.S. existing-home sales rose slightly in February, increasing 1.7% from the previous month, though activity remained lower than a year earlier, according to new data released Tuesday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The organization reported sales reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.09 million in February. Compared with the same month last
Existing-home sales up in February, market faces spring challenges Read More »
Newrez, Pennymac and Rate are rolling out new products that signal a flurry of activity across the mortgage market. Processing Content The timing might be coincidental for most of these announcements, but loanDepot’s announcement it was restarting wholesale production has changed the competitive landscape for the wholesale sector in particular. Newrez has title insurance alternative
Newrez, Pennymac, Rate roll out fresh offerings Read More »
Mortgage rates dropping to a three-year low last month drove up lock activity, specifically among purchase borrowers. Processing Content Total rate-lock volume increased 9% month over month and nearly 40% on an annual basis, according to Optimal Blue’s latest Market Advantage report. Purchase lock activity rose more than 14% from January and 5% compared with
Purchase locks jump as rates dip in February Read More »
As we enter another week of the Iran conflict, the question now is what will this do to the economy, but for this article, we want to focus specifically on what this conflict means for the U.S. housing market. There are currently two sides to this discussion. One camp believes the economy is still expanding
How will rising oil prices impact the U.S. housing market? Read More »
Mortgage originations hit a three-and-a-half-year high in the fourth quarter of last year, as year-low mortgage rates boosted refinance activity, new industry data found. Processing Content An estimated 565,000 first-lien refinances closed in the fourth quarter, up about 50% from a year prior and the most since the second quarter of 2022. This pushed total
Originations hit 3.5-year high in Q4 boosted by refinancing Read More »
Mortgage rates have already dropped into the upper 5s twice this year. But after just a few days, they ticked back up into the low 6% range. If you saw that and thought, “Great. I missed it,” you’re not the only one. A lot of buyers are treating the 5s like some kind of magic
Should You Wait for Lower Rates? Read More »