Let’s talk about what’s actually happening out there.

Mortgage rates ticked up this week. The 30-year is sitting in the mid-6% range right now… around 6.62% as of May 20, and some lenders are quoting closer to 7%. Refinance rates pushed above 7% in spots too. It’s been a bumpy stretch.

Here’s the why, in plain English.

Two things are pushing rates up. First, inflation got hot again. It jumped to 3.8% in April… the highest in three years. Second, the conflict with Iran sent oil over $100 a barrel, and gas is averaging about $4.52 a gallon nationwide. Expensive energy makes everything cost more to make and move. That feeds inflation, and inflation pushes the bond market… which is what mortgage rates actually follow.

The 10-year Treasury is the number to watch. It hit a 16-month high this week, around 4.67%. When that climbs, mortgage rates climb with it. Simple as that.

What about the Fed? They’re paused for now. The twist… a few weeks ago everyone expected cuts this year. Now the odds of a rate hike have jumped to roughly 45%. So if you’ve been waiting for the Fed to rescue rates lower… that bet looks shaky right now.

Now the part nobody tells you. The housing market itself is actually getting friendlier for buyers.

Inventory is up 4.2% from a year ago. More homes to choose from. Affordability has improved eight months in a row. And buyers have more room to negotiate than they’ve had in a long time. Roughly a third of listings are seeing price cuts. Homes are still selling… but the ones that move are the ones priced right.

Here’s where it gets good for you.

If you’re a teacher, a first responder, a county worker, a nurse, university staff… you’ve got an edge most buyers don’t. CELP pricing was built specifically for California public employees, to take some of the sting out of exactly this kind of market. Better pricing matters most when rates are elevated. That’s the whole point.

So here’s the honest takeaway.

Rates are elevated and could stay that way a while. Most analysts see the 30-year hanging between about 5.9% and 6.5% through the rest of 2026. Waiting for a big drop is a gamble. But you’ve got more homes, more negotiating power, more breathing room than buyers had a year ago… and you’ve got CELP pricing on your side.

The move right now isn’t to panic, and it isn’t to wait forever. It’s to get your numbers straight, get pre-approved, and be ready when the right home shows up. Rates you can refinance later. The right house at the right price… that’s the part you can’t always get back.

That’s what we’re here for. Reach out anytime.

Choose Happy.