New York, Feb 24, 2026, 13:10 EST — Regular session
Mortgage rates stuck close to 6% on Tuesday, barely budging as traders eyed the next data on inflation and economic growth. According to the Mortgage Reports, the 30-year fixed rate sat at 6.07%, right around its lowest point in three years.
That’s key, since financing costs remain the dominant force in a housing market where prices show little movement. Heading into spring, even a modest shift can push affordability and loan approvals one way or the other in a hurry for buyers and sellers.
Early Tuesday, Bankrate listed the 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.07%, down 9 basis points from last week. The average for a 15-year fixed landed at 5.45%, while a 5/1 ARM showed up at 5.48%. “The Federal Reserve is indicating a cautious approach to reducing rates in 2026, with the FOMC minutes not discounting the possibility of a rate hike,” noted Selma Hepp, chief economist at Cotality. Bankrate
The average 30-year mortgage rate sits at 5.97%, with the APR—factoring in fees—at 5.99%, according to Mortgage Research Center figures reported by Forbes Advisor. The 15-year fixed stands at 5.28%.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury hovered near 4.04% Tuesday, according to Trading Economics. That’s down about 18 basis points over the past month.
Late morning in New York, U.S. stocks were on the rise: the S&P 500 gained 0.57%, Nasdaq tacked on 0.87%. Investors, fresh off Monday’s rout, were looking to recover some ground. “Yesterday’s reaction was so overdone that it can’t help but bounce a little bit,” said Ken Polcari, partner and chief market strategist at Slatestone Wealth. Reuters
Consumer confidence surprised to the upside, adding fuel to the argument that the economy isn’t losing steam as rapidly as some feared—helping to keep yields from sliding in a straight drop. The Conference Board’s gauge hit 91.2 in February, up from a downwardly revised 89.0 in January, according to Reuters. “Confidence ticked up as consumers’ pessimistic expectations for the future eased somewhat,” said Dana Peterson, chief economist at the board. Reuters
Home prices keep climbing, though gains have cooled. The FHFA’s seasonally adjusted index ticked up 0.1% in December from the previous month. Over the fourth quarter, prices came in 1.8% higher than a year ago.
Housing-related stocks haven’t followed mortgage rates lower in lockstep. The iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF dropped close to 2% on Monday, despite 30-year mortgage rates easing to 5.99%, according to Barron’s. Rocket and Zillow shares also felt the squeeze.
But for borrowers, the drop could run out of steam. Some economists flagged concerns about federal debt pressures, telling Reuters that persistent Treasury yields might cap the decline in mortgage rates.
All eyes now turn to Friday, when January’s producer price index drops at 8:30 a.m. ET, per the Labor Department calendar. It’s the next major inflation read before the Federal Reserve meets on March 17-18 to set rates.
