U.S. Mortgage Rates Exceed 6%, Signaling Market Shift
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 14 2026
0mins
Should l Buy NWS?
Source: PRnewswire
- Mortgage Rate Shift: As of Q3 2025, over 21.2% of U.S. mortgages have rates above 6%, surpassing the 20.0% share below 3%, indicating a significant shift in the housing market after years of low borrowing costs.
- Impact on Market Behavior: Although mortgage rates have eased from a peak of 7.04% in January 2025 to the low-6% range, they have remained above 6% since September 2022, influencing homeowner behavior and market mobility, with many hesitant to sell due to high monthly payments.
- Supply and Demand Balance: Housing supply has improved over the past year, pushing the national market towards a more balanced state, yet inventory remains constrained in affordable areas where homes continue to sell quickly amid strong competition.
- Easing Lock-In Effect: While approximately 80% of outstanding mortgages still carry rates below 6%, the fact that mortgages above 6% now outnumber those below 3% marks a significant inflection point, suggesting a gradual easing of the ultra-low-rate era's grip on the market.
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Analyst Views on NWS
About NWS
News Corporation is a diversified media and information services company. Its Digital Real Estate Services segment consists of the Company’s interest in REA Group and Move. REA Group is a digital media business specializing in property and property-related services on its Websites and mobile apps. Move is a provider of digital real estate services in the United States and primarily operates a real estate information, advertising and services platform, as well as its referral-based services, online tools and services to do-it-yourself landlords and tenants. Its Dow Jones segment consists of Dow Jones, a global provider of news and business information, which distributes its content and data through a variety of media channels. Its Book Publishing segment consists of HarperCollins, a consumer book publisher with operations in 15 countries. Its News Media segment consists of News Corp Australia, News UK and the New York Post and includes The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, among others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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See More
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See More
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See More
