With the Federal Reserve's recent announcement, rates are likely to drop in the coming week, say the majority of rate watchers polled by Bankrate.
Of those polled, 54 percent of respondents predict rates will drop, 31 percent expect rates to stay flat and 15 percent say rates will rise.
The average 30-year fixed rate was 6.76 percent as of March 19, according to Bankrate’s national survey of large lenders, down 1 basis point from the previous week.
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Rate Trend Index
Experts predict where mortgage rates are headed
Week of March 20 - 26, 2025
| Go up | 15% |
|---|---|
| Stay the same | 31% |
| Go down | 54% |
The important change in the Fed’s new announcement today was ‘Uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased.’ This has bonds rallying and should help mortgage rates improve or move lower in the coming week.
— Michael Becker, Sierra Pacific Mortgage
15% say rates will go up
Ken Johnson
Walker Family Chair of Real Estate, University of Mississippi
In the last two weeks, there has been very little movement in the yield on 10-year Treasurys, trading within a 10 basis point range. This should lead to very little movement in long-term mortgage rates. However, since the recent movements in the 10-year are more up than down, let’s follow the trend for the prediction. Next week, 30-year mortgage rates should be higher.
Joel Naroff
President and Chief Economist, Naroff Economic Advisors , Holland , PA
Up. The economy is not going away, at least not right away, and neither are tariffs.
54% say rates will go down
Michael Becker
Branch Manager, Sierra Pacific Mortgage , White Marsh , MD
The important change in the Fed’s new announcement today was “Uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased.” This has bonds rallying and should help mortgage rates improve or move lower in the coming week.
Heather Devoto
Vice President, Branch Manager, First Home Mortgage , McLean , VA
I’m anticipating rates to decline in the week ahead, following reaction to the most recent FOMC meeting.
Richard Martin
Director of Home Lending, Curinos
I think rates will end the week lower based off indications from the Fed that [the] economy is softening, and [it is] more likely that rate cuts will happen sooner than previously expected.
Greg McBride, CFA
Chief Financial Analyst, Bankrate , North Palm Beach , FL
The Fed expects weaker economic growth and now bond investors will too. In lieu of hard economic data, bond yields and mortgage rates should move lower in response.
Les Parker, CMB
Managing Director, Transformational Mortgage Solutions , Jacksonville , FL
Mortgage rates will go down. Here’s a parody of “Gold Rush,” from Taylor Swift’s Evermore album in 2020. “'Cause oil don't like a gold rush, gold rush. Stocks don't like anticipating risk-off in a red flush.” Expect the move from U.S. stocks to treasuries to cause mortgage rates to dip.
Nicole Rueth
Market Leader, The Rueth Team of Movement Mortgage , Denver , CO
I am watching as rates are moving lower post Fed meeting minutes. While the dot plot showed the Fed’s acknowledgment of sticky inflation, it also lowered their expectation for GDP. They are anticipating 50 bps in rate cuts in 2025, while the market is still expecting 75 bps in rate cuts or more. However, the biggest mover was not the dot plot map but the slowing of the pace of Treasury tightening. This will have a longer impact on lowering mortgage rates.
Sean P. Salter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Finance and Dale Carnegie Trainer, Middle Tennessee State University , Murfreesboro , TN
Lower. The Fed held its rates unchanged at this week’s meeting, but Fed Chairman Powell’s comments indicated that the central bank is expecting slower growth and higher-than-target inflation rates. With the 10-year Treasury yield dropping precipitously following the Fed’s announcement, I expect mortgage rates to follow.
31% say unchanged–
Derek Egeberg
Branch Manager, MortgageOne , Yuma , AZ
As the markets start digesting economic news, government spending and cuts, along with tariff talks, look for the mortgage and bond market to remain relatively flat. The market will shift quickly when the above items start to gain momentum in one direction or another, so be ready to move quickly when they do.
Dr. Anthony O. Kellum
President & CEO, Kellum Mortgage , Roseville , MI
I think rates will remain unchanged in the coming week. With the upcoming Fed meeting, the market will likely hold steady as investors wait for any signals on future policy adjustments. Unless there’s an unexpected shift in economic data or Fed rhetoric, I anticipate minimal movement in mortgage rates for now.
Dick Lepre
Senior Loan Officer, Realfinity , Alamo , CA
Trend: Flat. The Fed held the overnight rate at 4.5 percent. The Fed funds rate is higher than it should be. This policy is aimed at containing inflation. Markets are justifiably concerned that the Trump tariffs and threats thereof would be inflationary. Rates will be nervously flat.
Robert J. Smith
Chief Economist, GetWYZ Mortgage
Rates should continue to be rangebound and relatively flat week over week, provided that there are no surprises coming out of the Fed meeting today.