Trending Now - Mortgage Rates Hit Three-month High, Squeezing New Buyers

WHO:

Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com

Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon

Jerome Powell, Fed Chair

Freddie Mac, mortgage buyer

WHAT:

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose to 6.22% on March 19th, 2026, up from 6.11% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.27% at midday on March 19th, 2026, up from around 4.13% a week prior.

Mortgage applications fell nearly 11% in the week ending March 19th, 2026, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Sales of new single-family homes dropped nearly 18% in January 2026 from December 2025 and are down 11.3% from January 2025, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose to 6.22% on March 19th, 2026, marking the highest level since early December 2025.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.67% one year ago.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at approximately 4.28% on March 19th, 2026, up from 3.96% before the war started.

Mortgage applications fell nearly 11% in the week ending March 19th, 2026, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Sales of new single-family homes dropped nearly 18% in January 2026 from December 2025 and are down 11.3% from January 2025.

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose to 6.22% on March 19th, 2026, up from 6.11% the previous week.

The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.54% from 5.5% last week; it was 5.83% one year ago.

Mortgage applications fell nearly 11% in the week ending March 19th, 2026, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.26% on March 19th, 2026, up from 3.96% before the war started.

Sales of new single-family homes dropped nearly 18% in January 2026 from December 2025 and are down 11.3% from January 2025.

Mortgage applications fell nearly 11% in the week ending March 19th, 2026, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Sales of new single-family homes dropped nearly 18% in January 2026 from December 2025 and are down 11.3% from January 2025.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at approximately 4.28% on March 19th, 2026, up from 3.96% before the war started.

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose to 6.22% from 6.11% in the previous week.

The rate was 6.67% one year ago.

The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 5.54% from 5.5% last week.

The 10-year Treasury yield was at 4.27% at midday on Thursday, up from around 4.13% a week ago.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace since 2023.

WHERE:

United States

WHEN:

The conflict in the Middle East began in late February 2026.

The mortgage rate increase was reported on March 19th, 2026.

The average rate dropped to just under 6% three weeks prior to March 19th, 2026.

The housing market slump began in 2022.

WHY:

The rise in mortgage rates is attributed to wartime inflation fears and increased oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East, according to Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com.

The rise in mortgage rates is attributed to wartime inflation fears and increased oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Rising energy prices and renewed trade uncertainty have lifted inflation expectations, according to Anthony Smith.

Rising oil prices have increased expectations for higher inflation, which has driven up Treasury yields and, consequently, mortgage rates.

The ongoing war with Iran has rattled financial markets.

HOW:

The Federal Reserve decided on March 19th, 2026, to hold rates steady while assessing the impact of the Iran war, signaling potential rate cuts later in the year.

Mortgage rates are influenced by the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions and bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation.

The trajectory of mortgage rates generally follows the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

(UPDATED March 20, 2026 19:15 UTC)

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose to 6.22% on March 19, up from 6.11% the previous week, while the 10-year Treasury yield increased to 4.27%. This rise in mortgage rates has led to a nearly 11% drop in mortgage applications and a significant decline in new single-family home sales. The Federal Reserve decided to hold rates steady on March 19, as they continue to evaluate the effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

(UPDATED March 20, 2026 11:07 UTC)

Mortgage rates in the U.S. have climbed to 6.22% as of March 19, marking the highest level since early December 2025, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage being significantly higher at 6.67% just a year ago. This increase has led to a nearly 11% drop in mortgage applications for the week ending March 19, as well as a nearly 18% decline in new single-family home sales in January compared to December. The Federal Reserve has opted to hold rates steady while evaluating the effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has contributed to inflation fears and rising oil prices.

(UPDATED March 20, 2026 07:18 UTC)

On March 19, 2026, the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed to 6.22%, up from 6.11% the previous week, while the average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages also saw a slight increase to 5.54%. In the week ending March 19th, mortgage applications fell nearly 11%, and sales of new single-family homes dropped nearly 18% in January compared to December, reflecting the impact of rising rates and wartime inflation fears. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve decided to hold rates steady as they assess the ongoing effects of the conflict in the Middle East, leaving the door open for potential rate cuts later this year.

(UPDATED March 19, 2026 23:08 UTC)

Mortgage applications have seen a significant decline, falling nearly 11% in the week ending March 19, 2026, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. New single-family home sales dropped nearly 18% in January compared to December and are down 11.3% from the same time last year, while the 10-year Treasury yield has risen to approximately 4.28% since the conflict in the Middle East began in late February. In response to rising energy prices and renewed trade uncertainty, the Federal Reserve decided to hold interest rates steady today, indicating that potential rate cuts could be on the horizon later this year.

(UPDATED March 19, 2026 19:23 UTC)

Today, Freddie Mac reported that the average long-term mortgage rate in the U.S. has risen to 6.22%, up from 6.11% last week, while the rate was significantly higher at 6.67% a year ago. Additionally, the average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased slightly to 5.54%, and the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.27% as of midday Thursday. This rise in mortgage rates is largely attributed to increasing oil prices and the ongoing war with Iran, which have heightened inflation expectations and rattled financial markets.