Key Takeaways What the Latest Forecasts Say About Mortgage Rates in 2026 Deciding when to buy a home is never easy—and heading into 2026, the question is as pressing as ever. Buyers weighing their options may be wondering whether this is finally the year mortgage rates will start to ease meaningfully. Part of the challenge is how unpredictable mortgage rates can be. They're shaped by a wide range of forces, from inflation trends and housing data to movements in the bond market. And while the Federal Reserve ...