first-time homebuyer mortgage
Experts Warn Mortgage Rates Strip First‑Time Buyers
In the first quarter of 2026, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 6.71%, pushing monthly payments higher for most buyers. This marks a 0.2-percentage-point rise from the previous quarter and positions rates near the 7% threshold that sparked the 2004 housing bubble. Lenders and borrowers alike are