In the first week of January, mortgage rates averaged around 6.62%, already elevated compared to historical norms. By late March, they had surged to 6.94%, and by the first week of May, they had reached their peak for the year at 7.22% — up by about 0.6% from the start of 2024.

Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in two years a day after the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.09% as of Sept. 19, according to data released by Freddie Mac on Thursday.

Borrowers are finally starting to see signs of hope. Mortgage rates are at their lowest point in 18 months—and expected to fall further—after the Federal Reserve cut short-term interest rates by 0.50% or 50 basis points for the first time since the onset of the pandemic.