New York, Feb 24, 2026, 13:10 EST — Regular session
Mortgage rates today held around 6% on Tuesday, with daily quotes showing little change as markets waited for the next big read on inflation and growth. The 30-year fixed rate was 6.07%, hovering near three-year lows, the Mortgage Reports said. (The Mortgage Reports)
That matters because financing costs are still doing most of the work in a housing market where prices have not fallen much. For buyers and sellers heading into spring, a small move can flip affordability and loan approvals fast.
Bankrate pegged the average 30-year fixed at 6.07% early Tuesday, about 9 basis points lower than a week ago; a basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point. It put the 15-year fixed at 5.45% and a 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage 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,” said Selma Hepp, chief economist at Cotality. (Bankrate)
Forbes Advisor, citing Mortgage Research Center data, put the 30-year average at 5.97% with an annual percentage rate (APR) of 5.99% — a broader measure that includes fees. It pegged the 15-year fixed at 5.28%. (Forbes)
In the bond market, the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was around 4.04% on Tuesday, after sliding roughly 0.18 percentage point over the past month, Trading Economics data showed. (Trading Economics)
U.S. stocks were higher in late-morning New York trade, with the S&P 500 up 0.57% and the Nasdaq up 0.87%, as investors tried to claw back losses after Monday’s selloff. “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)
A stronger-than-expected consumer confidence reading also leaned against the view that the economy is cooling quickly, a mix that can keep yields from falling in a straight line. The Conference Board’s index rose to 91.2 in February from a revised 89.0 in January, Reuters reported. “Confidence ticked up as consumers’ pessimistic expectations for the future eased somewhat,” said Dana Peterson, the group’s chief economist. (Reuters)
Home prices are still rising, even if the pace is slower. FHFA said its seasonally adjusted monthly index rose 0.1% in December from November, and prices were up 1.8% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier. (Fhfa)
Housing-linked stocks have not tracked the drop in mortgage rates cleanly. On Monday, the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF slid nearly 2% even as 30-year mortgage rates dipped to 5.99%, Barron’s wrote, with names such as Rocket and Zillow also under pressure. (Barron’s)
The downside for borrowers is that the glide path lower may stall. Economists cited worries over federal government debt keeping Treasury yields elevated and limiting how far mortgage rates can fall, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
Next up for markets is Friday’s producer price index for January — a pipeline inflation gauge — due at 8:30 a.m. ET, according to the Labor Department’s schedule. The Federal Reserve’s next rate decision comes at its March 17-18 meeting. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
