U.S. mortgage rates rise to the highest level since August last year

According to Odaily, this week US mortgage rates climbed to their highest level since August last year, which is undoubtedly more bad news for homebuyers during what is typically the busiest season for real estate sales. Freddie Mac said on Thursday that the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.51% this week, up from 6.36% last week.

In addition, rising home insurance and property tax costs in many regions are also deterring buyers. This year's increase in mortgage rates has reversed the downward trend seen since the second half of 2025. Nevertheless, current mortgage rates are still lower than they were a year ago, and some buyers are entering the market during its current lull. According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, the number of mortgage applications for home purchases fell last week compared to the previous week, but was up 8% year-on-year. (Golden Ten Data)