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Demand for mortgages fell last week as rising borrowing costs continued to weigh on buyers, with applications falling 10.4% overall, according to data released Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Comes like recession RH CEO Gary Friedman It warned of “the scariest housing market in decades,” citing global tensions, tariffs and economic uncertainty, underscoring the growing strain on U.S. homebuyers and the broader housing sector.
Refinance applications led the decline, down 17% week-over-week and more than 40% from last month. Purchase applications fell 3%.
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The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.57%, the highest level since August, he said. Mike FratantoniEconomist majoring in MBA. He noted that while higher borrowing costs are weighing on demand, an increase in housing supply is providing some offset. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) loan applications continue to hold up better than conventional loans.
The rise in borrowing costs comes amid broader macro pressures. Escalating the ongoing US-Iran conflict has pushed energy prices higher, pushing up Treasury yields and holding up mortgage rates. Rising yields are under pressure amid global uncertainty and recent volatility in bond markets.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development now projects US inflation to fall from 2.6% in 2025 to 4.2% in 2026. The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady through 2026 and 2027, limiting near-term relief for borrowers.
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Shares in luxury home furnishings brand RH fell as earnings highlighted housing market stress. Adjusted EPS came in at $1.53, missing consensus by $2.22, while revenue of $842.6M fell short of the $873.3M forecast. The company sees FY2026 revenue of $3.57–3.71B and Q1 of $781–798M, both below estimates.
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Broader concerns around affordability are also growing. Former White House official Anthony Scaramucci The American Dream, which warned of a 27 percent decline in middle-class purchasing power since the 1970s, was “disabled.”
Personal Finance Expert Dave Ramsey warned that mistakes in today’s housing market could cost buyers “thousands of dollars”.
Meanwhile, Zillow Group Inc. House prices are expected to grow by just 0.7% by the end of 2026, reflecting a subdued outlook.
Image via Shutterstock
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