How much is your payment increasing with the latest inflation rate?

The average long-term mortgage rate has risen once again this week, with the average 30-year fixed loan now at 7.08 per cent, according to Bankrate’s latest survey of large lenders.

Another mortgage buyer, Freddie Mac, said the average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 6.88 per cent from 6.82 per cent last week. In comparison to a year ago, where the rate averaged 6.27%, this is having a genuine impact on American homeowners.

Average 30-year mortgage rates in the 10 largest metro areas ranged from 7.56% in Los Angeles to 6.85% in Chicago.

Rates are slightly higher now compared to the start of this year, keeping some borrowers waiting as the spring begins, which is typically known as the most popular time to buy a home.

The national median family income for 2023 was $96,300, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The median price of an existing home sold in February 2024 was $384,500, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

How will it affect your payment?

The initial impact of this change was felt in the stock market, with Wall Street sending shares sharply lower, as expectations that the Fed would be cutting rates proved to be premature.

Mortgage rates are influenced by the Fed benchmark rate, although they also reflect other factors, like bond yields and inflation. However, according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the NAR, rates for home loans are likely to be unchanged in the near-term due to factors like the strong job market and housing demand.

But that is no consolation for those already with mortgages. When mortgage rates rise, they can prove to be hugely damaging for families struggling to get by, as they add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers.

With this rise, based on a 20 per cent downpayment and a 7.08 per cent mortgage rate, the monthly payment of $2,063 amounts to 26 per cent of the typical family’s monthly income.