03/16/2026
🏡 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟭𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 👎
Mortgage rates rose for a second straight week as oil prices topped $100 a barrel. Volatility also increased, with rates swinging day to day based on market sentiment and headlines surrounding the conflict with Iran.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁: 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 👎
Mortgage rates may continue creeping higher along with oil prices. Expect more volatility and larger-than-normal day-to-day moves. If you're considering refinancing or currently under contract, stay in close contact with your mortgage professional.
📈 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
• The Fed: Normally this week’s Fed meeting would be the main focus, along with the quarterly rate forecasts from Fed officials and Chair Powell’s press conference. However, the Fed is widely expected to leave policy rates unchanged, and markets already anticipate no cuts this year. Because of that, the meeting is unlikely to move mortgage rates much.
• Military action in Iran: The conflict continues to keep oil prices elevated. Higher energy prices raise inflation concerns, which push bond yields higher and put upward pressure on mortgage rates.