08/25/2026
🏠Mortgage Rates: Where Are They Heading?
If you’ve been waiting for mortgage rates to drop, 2026 has been another reminder of something important:
Mortgage rates don’t simply follow the Fed.
Rates are heavily influenced by the bond market, inflation expectations, economic data and geopolitical events. That’s why we can sometimes see mortgage rates move higher even when everyone is talking about the Fed eventually cutting rates.
So, where do we go from here?
Most forecasts aren’t predicting a dramatic drop in mortgage rates overnight. There are certainly reasons rates could improve—lower inflation, weaker economic data and falling Treasury yields would all help—but I think we’re likely to continue seeing ups and downs rather than a straight move lower.
For buyers, my advice is pretty simple:
Don’t try to perfectly time the mortgage market.
If you find the right house and the payment works at today's rate, it may make sense to move forward. If rates improve significantly later, refinancing could be an option.
And remember, the mortgage rate you see quoted on the news isn't necessarily your mortgage rate. Credit score, down payment, loan program, property type and the lender being used can all make a significant difference.
As an independent mortgage broker, I can shop multiple lenders to find the combination of rate, cost and loan program that makes the most sense for each borrower.
If you're thinking about buying or refinancing—or you're just curious what the numbers would look like—feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to run through the options without any pressure or obligation.
Seth Stefanko | All Home Mortgages, LLC
