Mortgage Interest Rates Forecast

Mortgage rates climbed to 6.34% as inflation fears and global tensions rise, but increased inventory may create new opportunities for spring home buyers.

Kate Wood
Johanna Arnone
Updated
SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED

This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.

Mortgage rates are on the move again, and not in a good way. As inflation worries heat up—fueled in part by the ongoing war in Iran and rising oil prices—markets are reacting, and borrowers are feeling it.
The average 30-year fixed rate jumped to 6.34% APR in the week ending March 26, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. When energy costs climb, inflation tends to stick around longer, which pushes Treasury yields higher and drags mortgage rates up with them. It also dampens expectations that the Fed will be able to cut rates as much as hoped this year.
What happens next really hinges on how things play out globally. If oil prices cool, mortgage rates could ease, but if the conflict drags on, borrowing costs may stay high. In the meantime, buyers are already feeling the squeeze with rising everyday costs. The silver lining? More homes could hit the market, giving ready-to-go buyers a little more room to breathe.

Spring mortgage rates forecast

Rates are likely to remain close to current levels in the near term. Still, with markets reacting quickly to global and economic headlines, some modest swings wouldn’t be surprising.

Mortgage loans from our partners

on NBKC

NBKC

4.5

NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

on New American Funding

New American Funding

4.0

NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

N/A

Min. down payment

0%

on GO Mortgage

GO Mortgage

4.0

NerdWallet rating
Min. credit score

620

Min. down payment

3%

Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.