Expert poll: Mortgage rate trend predictions for Dec. 18 - 24, 2025

Heather Devoto

Vice President, Branch Manager, First Home Mortgage , McLean , VA

We expect rates to drift a bit higher in the week ahead as market participants evaluate the most recent slate of economic data.

Denise McManus

Global Real Estate Advisor, America One Luxury Real Estate/Xpert Home Lending

Hoping for an aggressive rate rally based on unemployment numbers, but we still have to get through a few other key reports this week. My prediction is we will see rates drop a bit in the week to come.

Mark Hamrick

Washington Bureau Chief, Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate

Economic data is going to be volatile and lumpy in the near term. It will be January before we get a sense of the impacts of the shutdown and what the new/recent normal is. The 10-year yield has edged up toward the top end of the recent range, so barring a real surprise, I’d look for mortgage rates to ease slightly over the coming days.

Jeff Lazerson

President, MortgageGrader

Unemployment is up. New job creation is shaky.

Dr. Anthony O. Kellum

President & CEO, Kellum Mortgage , Roseville , MI

I think rates will fluctuate, but trend slightly downward, this week. The market is in a bit of a holding pattern, with investors weighing mixed economic signals: cooling inflation on one hand and continued resilience in the labor market on the other. That push and pull usually leads to short-term volatility rather than a sharp move in either direction. That said, bond yields have shown some softness, and demand for mortgage-backed securities remains solid, which tends to support modest improvements in mortgage rates. I don’t expect a dramatic drop, but I do see rates easing a bit as the market leans toward the expectation of future cuts.

Dick Lepre

Senior Loan Officer, Realfinity , Alamo , CA

The unemployment rate ticked up, and that should keep rates flat in the coming week.

Robert J. Smith

Chief Economist, GetWYZ Mortgage

All eyes are on Thursday’s Consumer Price Index data. Expect little change in rates if those are in line with consensus estimates.

Ken Johnson

Walker Family Chair of Real Estate, University of Mississippi

In the last 30 months, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note has been below 4% only a handful of times. On Nov. 26, the 10-year ended business with a closing yield of 3.99%. This provided hope and argument for soon-to-be falling mortgage rates. Tuesday, the 10-year’s closing yield was 4.15%, returning to its recent anchorage point between 4.0% and 4.20%. [Are] the size of the national debt, an economy that is beginning to sputter, and fears of returning inflation combining to keep rates stubbornly high? It is hard to tell, but it does seem that despite the recent drop in the federal funds rate, there are few economic forces afoot to help bring down the yield on the 10-year, making a near-term decline in mortgage rates unlikely. Next week, we should expect long-term mortgage rates to continue to hover around 6.25%.

James Sahnger

Mortgage Planner, C2 Financial Corporation , Jupiter , FL

While I've seen numerous signs that should point to lower rates, we have been incredibly rangebound. The labor market is definitely challenged, and inflation is coming down. I see lower rates on the horizon, but that horizon is next year.

Nicole Rueth

Market Leader, The Rueth Team of Movement Mortgage , Denver , CO

Mortgage rates are holding steady this week, but Thursday's [Consumer Price Index data] could shake things up. Tuesday’s jobs report showed a slight uptick in unemployment, but not enough weakness to move rates. Most lenders are in a wait-and-see mode, holding their breath for inflation data. If CPI surprises to the upside, we could see upward pressure, but barring that, expect rates to stay flat through the end of the year.

Melissa Cohn

Regional Vice President, William Raveis Mortgage

Bonds have sustained a modest rally, and mortgage rates have moved down just a bit. As we are headed into Christmas, I expect any moves in the next two weeks to be modest, unless there is a blowout economic report.