US Mortgage Rate Dip Below 6% Reflects Fed Policy Impact in Housing and MBS Sectors
US Mortgage Rate Decline Below 6% Signals Policy Impact and Market Adjustment in Housing and MBS Sectors
Over the past 72 hours, US mortgage rates have fallen below 6% for the first time since early 2023, driven by policy signals and macroeconomic data indicating a potential pause or easing bias from the Federal Reserve. This shift influences housing affordability, MBS spreads, and related capital flows within the real estate and financial markets.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased to 5.91% on January 10, 2026, reaching its lowest point in an extended period, according to Norada Real Estate citing Zillow. Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate also declined to 5.36%, more than 150 basis points below peak 2023 levels, incentivizing faster amortization for qualified borrowers.
Recent December 2025 jobs data showed signs of labor market cooling, reinforcing expectations of a pause or easing stance from the Federal Reserve, which has helped anchor Treasury yields and mortgage-backed securities spreads near the current sub-6% mortgage rates. Additionally, lenders have updated their posted rate sheets for early January, reflecting visibly lower APRs for 30-year products and prompting increased comparison-shopping and refinance inquiries.
Coverage of President Trump’s new housing proposals, including restrictions on institutional single-family buyers and directives for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to increase MBS purchases, has been explicitly linked to the decline in mortgage rates, influencing retail search interest and market sentiment.
Collectively, these signals indicate a confluence of policy influences, macroeconomic data, and lender behavior contributing to the recent decline in mortgage rates, with implications for housing affordability and MBS market dynamics.
The dataset does not specify margin levels or liquidity breakdowns for mortgage products, nor does it include forward guidance beyond the recent rate movements and policy chatter.
SEOTAGS: mortgage rates, housing market, MBS spreads, Fed policy, real estate finance, mortgage refinancing, macroeconomic data
