Will war with Iran send mortgage rates higher or lower?
Mortgage rates ended last week at 5.99% as the 10-year hit a 2026 low, but now we have a new variable: war with Iran.
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Weekly pending home sales back to year-over-year growth as we head into spring
Last week, pending home sales rose 4.6% year over year, inventory reached 700,259 and mortgage rates held near 6%.
Housing demand snaps back as mortgage rates near 6%
Housing demand rebounded as snow effects faded, pending sales and new listings rose, and price cuts fell 1% with rates at 6.04%.
Housing inventory and new listings show impact of winter weather
Severe winter weather led to a week-over-week decline in housing inventory and new listings, with purchase applications also down.
Housing demand is still positive even with epic snowstorm
Despite a major snowstorm and Fed news, housing data stayed positive as mortgage rates held near 6% and purchase apps rose 18% year over year.
Lower mortgage rates boosting demand early in 2026
Mortgage rates near 6% are driving higher home sales and applications, with inventory and new listings also rising in 2026.
Housing demand is off to a solid start in 2026
Mortgage rates and spreads stabilize, driving growth in home sales and inventory for the 2026 housing market.
The impact of lower mortgage rates on housing inventory
U.S. housing inventory growth slowed to 9.99% year-over-year last week as mortgage rates near 6% and price cuts reach 34.7%.
Why didn’t double-digit growth in purchase apps lead to more home sales in 2025?
Despite double-digit growth in purchase applications for much of 2025, existing home sales increased only modestly from 2024.
Mortgage applications fall 5% despite rate decline
Despite steady mortgage rates, market trends like a softening job market and elevated inventories continue to impact application volumes.