Particle.news
Download on the App Store
28 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

U.S. Mortgage Rates Drop to 6.06%, Lowest Since 2022, as Activity Jumps

Analysts cite lower Treasury yields with a short-term lift from new MBS purchases, cautioning the relief may be temporary.

Housing activity is starting to pick up after years of stalling.
white house
FILE - A "For Sale" sign is displayed in front of a home in Morton Grove, Ill., Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Image

Overview

  • Freddie Mac reports the 30-year fixed rate at 6.06% for the week ending January 15, with the 15-year at 5.38%, both the lowest in more than three years.
  • Mortgage Bankers Association data show refinance applications surging roughly 40% week over week and purchase applications rising about 16%.
  • President Trump directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy $200 billion in mortgage‑backed securities, with FHFA saying an initial round of roughly $3 billion has begun.
  • Some rate trackers briefly dipped below 6% as MBS prices climbed and spreads tightened, though mortgage pricing remains anchored to the 10-year Treasury market.
  • Existing-home sales posted a 5.1% monthly gain in December, but affordability remains strained and prices elevated, even as the lock-in effect shows early signs of easing.