Mortgage Market Insights
Rate updates, housing market analysis, and policy changes that affect borrowers.
Why Mortgage Rates Don't Fall When the Fed Cuts Rates
The Fed has cut 175 bps since September 2024, but the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has barely moved. The disconnect comes from two different benchmarks, and an elevated mortgage-Treasury spread that adds cost beyond what yields alone dictate.
How Much Income You Need to Buy a Home in 2026
A household needs $107,002 in annual income to afford the national median-priced home at current mortgage rates, roughly $32,000 more than the U.S. median household income. This analysis ranks 20 major metros by income required and shows how rate changes shift the affordability threshold.
Mortgage Rates Climb to 6.22% as Fed Holds, Projects Single Cut in 2026
The 30-year fixed rate climbed to 6.22% for the week ending March 19, 2026, up 24 basis points from the February low. The Fed held rates at 3.50%-3.75% and projects just one cut this year. Mortgage-Treasury spread widened to 202 bps.