https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/mortgage-rates-hit-the-brakesContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/mortgage-rates-hit-the-brakeshttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/mortgage-rates-hit-the-brakes#u135099Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:05:31 +0000Mortgage rates held steady at 7.4 percent, hitting the brakes after weeks of upward movement. The stabilization offers a brief pause for prospective home buyers, though broader affordability challenges persist across the housing market. High borrowing costs continue to push homeownership further out of reach, deepening a divided market where access depends heavily on individual financial standing. Meanwhile, industry forecasters are adjusting their long-term expectations, with Fannie Mae sharply raising its mortgage rate forecast for 2027.Why it mattersPersistently high interest rates have str