“The combination of upbeat economic data and the U.S. government credit rating downgrade caused mortgage rates to rise this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “This development, along with upcoming employment and inflation data, will determine how much mortgage rates may rise in the short term.”Should employment and inflation pick up steam, she said, mortgage rates are likely to continue climbing as markets anticipate further monetary tightening. Mortgage rates tend to track the yield on 10-year US Treasuries, which move based on a combination of anticipation about the Fed’s actions, what the Fed actually does and investors’ reactions. When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow. Many homeowners held off on listing their home for sale, largely in response to today’s high mortgage rates, Jones said.

Source: CNN August 03, 2023 17:15 UTC