Washington, DC CNN —Mortgage rates fell slightly this week, as a smaller rate hike by the Federal Reserve signaled promising improvement on inflation.
Mortgage rates have not been this low since September and are now nearly a full point below last year’s peak of 7.08%, last reached in early November.
When Treasury yields go up, so do mortgage rates; when they go down, mortgage rates tend to follow.
“The Federal Reserve controls short-term rates, but long-term rates, including 30-year mortgage rates, are a function of market expectations for the path of the economy,” said Mike Fratantoni, senior vice president and chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Even with lower rates in recent weeks, mortgage applications dropped 9% last week from the week before, according to MBA.