Jul 7, 2022 - Economy
Mortgage rates suddenly declining: 30-year fixed rate averaging 5.3%
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Mortgage rates are suddenly kicking it into reverse gear.
Driving the news: The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate experienced its biggest week-to-week drop since 2008, falling from 5.7% to 5.3%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday.
Why it matters: Mortgage rates had jumped every month this year, making it much more expensive to borrow to buy a home.
- 30-year fixed mortgage rates were averaging 2.9% a year ago.
The big picture: Concerns about a possible recession are fueling the about-face in rates.
What we're watching: Whether housing price growth eases up.
- "Purchase activity is hamstrung by ongoing affordability challenges and low inventory, and homeowners still have reduced incentive to apply for a refinance," Joel Kan, an economist with the Mortgage Bankers Association, said in a statement.
