Rate Trend Index

Each week, Bankrate surveys experts in the mortgage field to see where they believe mortgage interest rates are headed.

This week (April 18-24), 54 percent of the panelists believe mortgage rates will rise over the next week or so; 8 percent think rates will fall; and 38 percent believe rates will remain relatively unchanged (plus or minus 2 basis points).

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This week, will rates go up, down or remain unchanged?
Up Down Unchanged
54% 8% 38%

Read the comments and rate predictions of mortgage experts and Bankrate analysts below.

54% say rates will go up

  • Michael Becker

    Michael Becker

    Branch manager, Sierra Pacific Mortgage, White Marsh, Maryland

    As earnings season begins, a familiar pattern of the last few years is re-emerging. It’s one where earnings beat expectations and stocks rally as a result. As often happens when stocks rally, bonds sell off and yields or rates rise. Because of this, I expect rates to rise in the coming week.

  • Robert A. Brusca

    Robert A. Brusca

    Chief Economist,
    Fact and Opinion Economics, New York

    Mortgage rates will be higher this week.

  • Michael Cox

    Michael Cox

    Founding director and executive-in-residence of the O’Neil Center for Global Markets & Freedom SMU Cox School of Business & former chief economist, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas

    Mortgage rates will be up slightly this week.

  • Shaun Guerrero

    Shaun Guerrero

    Branch manager, New American Funding, Silverdale, Washington

    Rates are not reacting in a favorable manner to the markets. Housing remains strong with record low inventory. My advice would be to lock your loans at this time to protect yourself from what I foresee to be rising interest rates in the near future.

  • Greg McBride

    Greg McBride, CFA

    Senior vice president and chief financial analyst, Bankrate.com

    A little bit of upward pressure on rates as economic data improves and trade tensions ease.

  • Joel Naroff

    Joel Naroff

    President and Chief Economist, Naroff Economics, Holland, Pennsylvania

    Mortgage rates will be up this week.

  • Nancy Vanden Houton

    Nancy Vanden Houten, CFA

    Senior research analyst,
    Stone & McCarthy Research Associates, New York

    Mortgage rates will be higher this week.

8% say rates will go down

  • Les Parker

    Les Parker

    Senior vice president of LoanLogics, Trevose, Pennsylvania

    Song parody: “They strip away the old dot plot; That hides a rising star; A brilliant red Barchetta; From a better bullish time.” Investors try to push the accelerator (gun it) to get the S&P out of its rut. Overall equities in advanced economies are not in good technical shape. Add the trouble in numerous emerging markets and the market is ready for some flight to liquidity (quality) within the next two weeks. Song: “Red Barchetta” by Rush (1981)

38% say rates will remain unchanged

  • Michael Becker

    Jim Burrington

    Mortgage loan officer,
    Grande Financial, Maumee, Ohio

    Mortgage rates will be unchanged this week.

  • Dick Lepre

    Dick Lepre

    Senior loan officer,
    RPM Mortgage, San Francisco

    The daily tech is bearish (lower prices, higher yield) while the weekly is bullish (higher prices, lower yields), implying that rates should be unaffected by the techs for the next week.

  • Bob Moulton

    Bob Moulton

    President,
    Americana Mortgage Group, Manhasset, New York

    Rates are stable.

  • Elizabeth Rose

    Elizabeth Rose

    Sales Manager,
    Nations Lending, Dallas

    Drama on the geopolitical stage has calmed down, thankfully. With tension easing, continued positive economic data, strong corporate earnings and high optimism, the stage is set for a move higher in rates. However, rates are currently moving sideways in a somewhat tight channel. As long as there are no geopolitical surprises in the week ahead, I anticipate bonds will remain in this channel and rates will be unchanged.

  • Shashank Shekhar

    Shashank Shekhar

    CEO,
    Arcus Lending, San Jose, California

    Long end of the Treasury yield curve which has a direct impact on mortgage rates has been trading in a very narrow range since the beginning of February. That explains why the rates have remained mostly stable for almost 10 weeks now. With trade fears and inflation worries on the back burner as of now and a relatively calm geopolitical environment, expect more of the same — i.e., mortgage rates to change very little in the coming week.

About the Bankrate.com Rate Trend Index

Bankrate’s panel of experts is comprised of economists, mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers and other industry experts who provide residential first mortgages to consumers. Results from Bankrate.com’s Mortgage Rate Trend Index are released each Thursday.

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