Mortgage rates rose this week, with the 30-year fixed rate averaging 6.25%, up from 6.18% last week, according to Bankrate’s latest lender survey. Current mortgage rates Loan type Current 4 weeks ago One year ago 52-week average 52-week low 30-year 6.25% 6.30% 7.06% 6.61% 6.18% 15-year 5.53% 5.57% 6.29% 5.83% 5.49% 30-year jumbo 6.41% 6.49% 7.10% 6.68% 6.31% The 30-year fixed mortgages in this week’s survey had an average total of 0.34 discount and origina ...

Core Viewpoint - Investor Steve Eisman suggests that President Trump's initiative to lower mortgage costs could lead to a short-term rally in U.S. homebuilder stocks, despite not addressing deeper market issues [1]. Group 1: Policy Impact - Trump's proposal includes purchasing $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities to reduce borrowing costs, which Eisman believes could trigger a rally in homebuilder stocks [2]. - The current mortgage rates have decreased to 6%, and if they drop to 5.5%, it is expected that both existing and new home sales will improve [3]. Group 2: Stock Performance - Two key homebuilder stocks, Lennar Corp. and D.R. Horton Inc., are highlighted as having potential for upward movement due to falling mortgage rates and their low valuations [3]. - D.R. Horton has a market capitalization of $45 billion, and Eisman anticipates that these stocks will rise more rapidly than expected [3]. Group 3: Market Context - The homebuilding sector had a challenging year in 2025, impacted by high rates, tariffs, and immigration policies, but is showing positive momentum at the start of 2026 [4]. - Year-to-date performance for Lennar Corp. is +13.79% and for D.R. Horton Inc. is +7.03%, indicating a recovery trend [5].

Core Insights - Mortgage rates have increased for the second consecutive week, reaching an average of 6.34% for the 30-year fixed mortgage, up from 6.3% the previous week, and higher than the 6.12% average a year ago [1][2][5] Market Influences - Lenders set mortgage rates based on broader market forces, including the 10-year Treasury yield and the price of mortgage-backed securities [2][5] - The 10-year Treasury yields are closely linked to mortgage rates and fluctuate with new economic data and market expectations [4][5] Federal Reserve Actions - The Federal Open Market Committee cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points on September 17, marking its first reduction since December 2024, but did not provide strong guidance for future cuts, leading to increased mortgage rates [7][8][10] - Prior to the Fed's announcement, markets anticipated a rate cut, which caused Treasury yields and mortgage rates to dip temporarily [8][10] Economic Context - Mortgage rates are influenced by various factors, including the economy, inflation, government policies, and global events, as well as individual borrower characteristics such as credit score and debt-to-income ratio [5][11] - Current rates are expected to remain stable as markets assess the implications of a potential government shutdown [11][12]