Mortgage Rates Inch Higher as Housing Activity Picks Up

March 12, 2026

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage returned to last month’s level of 6.11%. Despite the modest uptick, buyers are responding to rates in this range, with existing-home sales increasing 1.7% in February. Purchase applications also increased this week, a welcome sign as buyers enter spring homebuying season with rates down more than half a percentage point compared to the same time last year.

  • The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.11% as of March 12, 2026, up from last week when it averaged 6.00%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.65%.
  • The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.50%, up from last week when it averaged 5.43%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.80%.

Information provided by Freddie Mac.

Weekly Market Report

For Week Ending February 28, 2026

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 5.98% for the week ending February 26, 2026, marking the first time in 3½ years that rates have dropped below 6%, according to Freddie Mac. While falling rates are welcome news for prospective buyers, they’ve also benefited current homeowners, leading to a recent surge in refinance activity.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending February 28:

  • New Listings decreased 11.6% to 1,161
  • Pending Sales increased 0.1% to 870
  • Inventory increased 3.6% to 7,920

For the month of January:

  • Median Sales Price increased 1.4% to $375,000
  • Days on Market decreased 3.0% to 64
  • Percent of Original List Price Received decreased 0.1% to 96.8%
  • Months Supply of Homes For Sale remained flat at 2.0

All comparisons are to 2025

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report. From MAAR Market Data News.