Skip to Main Content

Expert poll: Mortgage rate trend predictions for March 6 - 12, 2025

March 5, 2025
Image of houses on a sunny day
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here’s an explanation for how we make money.

Rates are expected to drop this coming week, say the majority of rate watchers polled by Bankrate.

Of those polled, 53 percent of respondents predict rates will drop, 27 percent expect rates to climb, and 20 percent say rates will stay flat or that they're undecided on the movement.

The average 30-year fixed rate was 6.72 percent as of March 5, according to Bankrate’s national survey of large lenders, down from 6.84 the previous week.

Estimate your monthly mortgage payment based on current rates using this calculator.

Rate Trend Index

Experts predict where mortgage rates are headed

Week of March 6 - 12, 2025

Experts say rates will...

Go up 20%
Stay the same 27%
Go down 53%
Percentages might not equal 100 due to rounding.

If the employment report comes in on the weaker side, this will stoke fears of an economic slowdown and drive both bond yields and mortgage rates lower.

—Greg McBride, CFA Bankrate

20% say rates will go up


Dan Green photo

Dan Green

Mortgage originator at Homebuyer.com, Homebuyer.com , Cincinnati , OH

Up. The only thing mortgage markets hate more than inflation is uncertainty— and there's a lot of uncertainty right now.

Nicole Rueth photo

Nicole Rueth

Branch Manager and Senior Vice President, The Rueth Team

Given the uncertainty of the BLS Jobs Report but the expectation of a flat 4 percent unemployment, I expect rates will move back up from their current 6.7 percent to 6.875 percent by the end of the week. I could be completely wrong if jobs plummet and/or unemployment increases.

Sean P. Salter, Ph.D. photo

Sean P. Salter, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Finance and Dale Carnegie Trainer, Middle Tennessee State University , Murfreesboro , TN

Higher. Recent rate declines have led to increased mortgage activity, but the 10-year Treasury has ticked up slightly, and I expect mortgage rates to follow.

53% say rates will go down


Michael Becker photo

Michael Becker

Branch Manager, Sierra Pacific Mortgage , White Marsh , MD

The decline in rates has stalled as a result of stronger-than-expected ISM Non-manufacturing PMI. However, the ADP [jobs report] shows weakness in the labor market with only 77,000 private sector jobs created. Labor weakness can help mortgage rates drop. The future of mortgage rates will depend heavily on this Friday’s non-payroll report. I expect it to show a similar weakness to the ADP, therefore mortgage rates will drop in the coming week.

Melissa Cohn photo

Melissa Cohn

Regional Vice President, William Raveis Mortgage

Mortgage rates look to be on a bit of a see-saw as inflationary tariffs are put into effect. I think the general trend at the moment is downward but not by much as we already had a nice drop in rates last week.

Ken Johnson photo

Ken Johnson

Walker Family Chair of Real Estate, University of Mississippi

Long-term mortgage rates closely follow the yield on 10-year Treasurys, at least in a directional sense. In the last three weeks, the yield on 10-year Treasurys is down almost 50 basis points. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that mortgage rates will fall, if only slightly, this week.

Jeff Lazerson photo

Jeff Lazerson

President, MortgageGrader

Down. Consumer confidence is in meltdown. When folks are uncertain, they stop spending.

Dick Lepre photo

Dick Lepre

Senior Loan Officer, Realfinity , Alamo , CA

Trend: Lower. The general trend for mortgage rates is lower. The BLS Employment Situation report, always a market mover, will be released on March 7.

Greg McBride, CFA photo

Greg McBride, CFA

Chief Financial Analyst, Bankrate , North Palm Beach , FL

If the employment report comes in on the weaker side, this will stoke fears of an economic slowdown and drive both bond yields and mortgage rates lower.

Denise McManus photo

Denise McManus

Global Real Estate Advisor, Engel & Voelkers & Senior Lender, Xpert Home Lending, Engel & Voelkers

Over the past week, U.S. mortgage rates have experienced a significant decline, reaching their lowest levels in several months. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage stands at approximately 6.70 percent, down from around 7 percent in February. This downward trend is largely attributed to growing economic uncertainties, particularly concerns over the potential impact of newly imposed tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China. These trade tensions have led to a decrease in bond yields, which mortgage rates typically follow. Remember, if we have bad news, rates are usually better! For the week ahead, I see the rates continuing to fall, ever so slightly.

James Sahnger photo

James Sahnger

Mortgage Planner, C2 Financial Corporation , Jupiter , FL

Employment numbers play a significant role in the direction of interest rates. ADP released their employment report today and the 77,000 jobs reported came in much lower than the expected 140,000. I expect that the BLS numbers on Friday will continue to show weakness.

27% say unchanged


Dr. Anthony O. Kellum photo

Dr. Anthony O. Kellum

President & CEO, Kellum Mortgage , Roseville , MI

I believe mortgage rates will remain unchanged. Given the current economic indicators and the Federal Reserve’s cautious stance, I don't anticipate any significant movement in rates at this time.

Joel Naroff photo

Joel Naroff

President and Chief Economist, Naroff Economic Advisors , Holland , PA

No idea [where rates are headed]. Tell me what is happening with tariffs and I will guess the direction of rates. Without that knowledge, just throw a dart.

Robert J. Smith photo

Robert J. Smith

Chief Economist, GetWYZ Mortgage

Rates should remain about the same over the next week, barring any surprises from the employment data on Friday and inflation data next week.

Nancy Vanden Houton, CFA photo

Nancy Vanden Houton, CFA

Senior Research Analyst, Stone & McCarthy Research Associates , New York , NY

 Unchanged.