As we step into the new year, with the presidential inauguration on the horizon, many are wondering about the direction of interest rates.

What’s often forgotten is that low mortgage rates frequently parallel higher joblessness. Remember, you need a solid paycheck to buy a home. US unemployment averaged 6.4% in the years when mortgage rates fell, but it averaged 5.5% when mortgages became more expensive.

Furthermore, mortgage rates have reached their highest levels in weeks. Following the Federal Reserve's third interest rate cut at its December policy meeting, the average 30-year

The new year has started with rising mortgage rates. Freddie Mac reports its Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate (FRM) averaged 6.9

There aren't likely to be any dramatic dips in mortgage rates in the near future. New year, new housing market? Not exactly. In early 2025, affordability remains a major challenge for prospective homebuyers,