Inflation is a major factor driving up mortgage rates. The cost of living is rising and the federal reserve has been slowly increasing interest rates to keep inflation in check. This has caused a domino effect, with banks increasing their lending rates and subsequently, mortgage rates.

The rise in mortgage rates will have different effects on home buyers depending on their financial situation. For some, it may mean that they have to make a larger down payment or agree to a shorter loan term. For others, it may prevent them from buying a home altogether as the increased costs could be too much for their budget.

For existing homeowners, higher mortgage rates will probably mean higher monthly payments, although this depends on the terms of their loan. If their mortgage is adjustable rate, then they are more likely to be affected as the interest rate will change when banks adjust theirs.

The recent uptick in rates has been driven by what’s happening with inflation. Joel Kan, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), explains:

“Mortgage rates increased across the board last week, pushed higher by market expectations that inflation will persist, thus requiring the Federal Reserve to keep monetary policy restrictive for a longer time.”