Mortgage rates went up again this week, and buyers showed up anyway. That mix isn't supposed to happen.
Higher rates usually scare buyers off. This time, more of them are jumping in.
Two hot inflation reports landed back to back. That kind of news keeps the Federal Reserve from cutting rates.
The Fed is the group that steers interest rates in the U.S. When inflation runs hot, it tends to hold rates higher for longer.
So the 30-year fixed rate ticked up to 6.52%, its highest in two weeks. The 15-year loan, which many people use to refinance, rose to 5.84%.
Neither jump is huge on its own. But the direction is the story buyers care about.
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Here is the part that gets lost in the headline. A year ago, that same 30-year loan averaged 6.84%.
So today's 6.52% is actually a step down from last June. That makes the recent rise more of a bump than a breakout.
One more catch is worth knowing. These figures are for buyers with great credit who put 20% down, so many shoppers will see a higher number.
High rates don't only hit home buyers. They also lift what savers can earn.
A high-yield savings account pays more when the Fed holds rates up. The same goes for Treasury bonds, which pay more interest when rates stay high.
So the rate that makes a home pricier can quietly help the cash you already have.
Even with rates near their high for the year, more people are buying. Sales of existing homes just hit a five-month high.
Those are houses that someone has lived in before. A jump like that points to real demand, not just window shopping.
The five-month high covers the whole resale market, not just one corner of it. That breadth makes the rebound look real.
Freddie Mac tied the move to a stronger job market. Steady paychecks are giving buyers the nerve to stop waiting for a perfect rate.
Waiting for the ideal rate has been like waiting for a sale that never comes. At some point, you either need the house or you don't.
The Fed meets next week. After two hot inflation reports, almost no one expects a rate cut.
Rates near 6.5% have basically become the normal for 2026. Buyers who keep holding out for a 5% deal may be holding out a while.
If prices stay high, mortgage rates likely stay high too. For now, buyers have made their peace with that.
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