High Inflation Drives Mortgage Rates Above 7%

This week saw a significant increase in mortgage rates, pushing past the 7% threshold and dampening the enthusiasm of potential homebuyers. The rise in rates comes amid persistent high inflation, challenging the previously held optimism for a Federal Reserve rate cut in time for the spring buying season. Specifically, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage climbed from 6.97% to a peak of 7.13% on February 13, as per Mortgage News Daily, before settling at 7.03%. This upward trend in mortgage rates is making entering the housing market harder than ever.