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Susanne Diepers

Across the US, most experts expected mortgage rates to hold steady in the current range, with some seeing a modest dip as volatility eased.
Support for a slight decline came from softer 10-yr Treasury yields, lower mortgage risk, and reduced market volatility after recent sharp increases.
Others said lenders likely stayed cautious because inflation remained a concern, the economy still showed strength, and the central bank’s next move was unresolved.
One lender said the 30-yr avg. had eased into the low-7% range after backing off earlier highs, reinforcing expectations for near-term stability.
The outlook stayed limited to a narrow range, and several experts cautioned that short-term stability did not yet signal a longer-term rate trend.

Experts Predict Mortgage Rates Stay Rangebound

In Early-Q4, 30-yr fixed mortgage rates briefly reached the mid-7% range before easing slightly, signaling a more challenging financing backdrop for US buyers.
An economist said affordability would remain challenging as households balanced inflation, energy costs, and persistently high home prices alongside nationwide borrowing costs >7%.
Inventory reached its highest level since 2019, giving buyers more homes to choose from even as higher financing costs limited what many could afford.
Another economist cautioned that the index lagged current conditions, reflecting earlier summer closings while the rate environment had already become more difficult.
The economist said the financing backdrop had become considerably more challenging since the closings captured in the latest release, reinforcing caution around current affordability.