Are Mortgage Rates Going Up or Down? Here’s the Truth You Actually Need to Know

One of the most common questions people ask right now is simple on the surface but misleading in practice:

“Are mortgage rates going up or down?”

The honest answer is this: they will do both.
Mortgage rates move constantly based on how the market reacts to economic news — inflation reports, jobs data, global events, and investor sentiment. That’s normal.

What matters more than predicting the next move is understanding how to prepare for it.

Where Mortgage Rates Are Right Now

Over the past several months, mortgage rates have settled into a relatively stable range:

• Conventional loans have generally been in the mid-6% range
• FHA and VA rates are often lower than conventional

While these rates feel high to people comparing them to the ultra-low rates of 2020–2021, it’s important to understand context. Those rates were historically abnormal. Over long stretches of time, mortgage rates have typically lived in a moderate, middle range — and that’s where we are again today.

The Mistake Most Buyers and Homeowners Make

Most people focus on the wrong question:

“Should I wait for rates to drop?”

The better question is:

“Am I ready to act if the market gives me an opportunity?”

Waiting without preparation often costs more than it saves. Rent payments continue, home prices change, and opportunities pass quickly when rates improve — sometimes for only a short window.

Why Preparation Beats Prediction

You can’t control interest rates.
You can control your readiness.

Being prepared means more than asking:

• “What’s today’s rate?”
• “How much do you think I can borrow?”

Real preparation means:

• Running credit
• Reviewing income and assets
• Submitting the file through automated underwriting
• Understanding exactly what you qualify for and under what scenarios

When that work is done, you’re positioned to move confidently — whether rates drift lower, move sideways, or rise again.

The Bottom Line

Mortgage rates will always move up and down. That’s how markets work.

The people who benefit are not the ones who guess right — they’re the ones who are prepared before the market moves.

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Author Attribution

Clay is the Corporate Educator and Senior Loan Officer for Complete Mortgage LLC in Hollywood, Florida. He created MortgageSimplified.net and serves as its chief content creator with the purpose of simplifying the mortgage financing process for consumers.

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VIDEO SCRIPT (60–90 SECONDS)

HOOK (first 5 seconds)
“People ask me all the time, ‘Are mortgage rates going up or down?’ And honestly, that’s not the most important question.”

BODY
“The truth is, mortgage rates always move up and down. They change based on how the market reacts to economic news, and that can shift quickly.”

“Right now, rates have been relatively stable — generally in the mid-6% range for conventional loans, with FHA and VA often a bit lower. And while that feels high compared to a few years ago, it’s actually a historically normal range.”

“The bigger issue isn’t where rates go next — it’s whether you’re prepared.”

“If you’re thinking about buying or refinancing, preparation means more than asking what today’s rate is. It means getting properly pre-approved — running credit, reviewing income and assets, and running your file through underwriting — so you know exactly where you stand.”

CLOSE
“Rates will change. The people who benefit are the ones who are ready before they do.”

Clay is the Corporate Educator and Senior Loan Officer for Complete Mortgage LLC in Hollywood, Florida. He created MortgageSimplified.net and serves as its chief content creator with the purpose of simplifying the mortgage financing process for consumers.