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Rate Pulse

Rate sheets lag a second bond selloff, with MND's index at 7.45%

Bankrate's 30-year held at 7.17% while the 10-year closed at 5.18% — the gap between them narrowed to about two points, and PCE and payrolls land next week.

Friday, September 25, 202610Y Treasury 5.17%
30Y fixed
7.17%
+19bps today
15Y fixed
6.55%
7d +8bps
5/1 ARM
6.70%
30d +37bps
Now

Bankrate's conventional 30-year is 7.17% this morning, unchanged from yesterday, but that flat print understates Thursday. The 10-year Treasury closed at 5.18%, up seven basis points on the session and 22 since Monday's 4.96%, and Mortgage News Daily's daily index — which captures same-day reprices — finished Thursday at 7.45%, up 19 basis points. MND's recap describes the selling arriving around 10 a.m. with no obvious intraday catalyst, on 10-year futures volume far above normal, after a firmer morning and jobless claims of 197,000. Freddie Mac's weekly PMMS, surveyed before Thursday's move, printed 7.03%, up from 6.95% and its first reading above 7% since January 2025. Bankrate's 30-year now sits about 1.99 points over the 10-year, down from roughly 2.06 yesterday: its survey has absorbed less of this week's move than the bond market has, so today's sheets carry catch-up risk.

Next

Next week brings the catalysts that decide whether this holds. Case-Shiller publishes Tuesday, September 29; BEA's August PCE on Wednesday, September 30; the Freddie survey and weekly jobless claims on Thursday, October 1; and the September jobs report on Friday, October 2. The Committee raised the target range to 3.75%–4.00% on September 16, and the next meeting is October 27–28, without a new dot plot — so PCE and payrolls are the two prints that can move the rate path before then.

Range

On range, the 30-year is pinned to its ceiling. Bankrate's 7.17% matches the 90-day high (range 6.47%–7.17%, 86 observations, average 6.76%) and sits 47 basis points above the 30-day low of 6.70% (30-day average 6.91%). The 15-year is at 6.55%, also its 90-day high (5.85%–6.55%). Bankrate's FHA (6.88%) and VA (6.89%) averages are at the top of their range since the series resumed on August 19, while running 28–29 basis points under conventional. MND's 5/1 ARM is 6.70%, 75 basis points under MND's own 30-year.

Do

Focus today on buyers under contract who are still floating, and on FHA- and VA-eligible buyers comparing against a 7% conventional quote. On a $400,000 30-year, 7.17% runs $2,707 a month in principal and interest, against $2,581 at last month's 6.70% and $2,629 at Bankrate's FHA average before mortgage insurance. With two major prints ahead and lender pricing behind the bond market, floating into next week buys exposure without an obvious catalyst for relief. Do this today: call every floating borrower closing in October, show them today's payment next to the one they were first quoted, and get a lock decision in writing before the weekend.

Paste-ready talking points

  • On a $400K 30-year loan, today's average rate puts principal and interest near $2,707 a month — about $126 more than a month ago.
  • Rates climbed again this week. If you're under contract and haven't locked yet, today is the day to talk it through.
  • Waiting has had a price lately: on a $300K loan, the past month's move added about $94 to the monthly payment.
  • Buying with a VA or FHA loan? Those averages are running below conventional right now — worth a side-by-side on your numbers.
  • Reply LOCK and I'll send your exact payment at today's rate, before the weekend.

Sample client message

Buyers under contract who haven't locked
SubjectYour rate lock, {client} — worth deciding today

Hi {client}, quick note on your loan. Rates moved up again this week, and on a $400K loan a 30-year payment is now roughly $2,707 a month in principal and interest — about $126 more than it was a month ago. Next week brings two big economic reports that can move rates either direction, and your closing lands after both of them. Locking today means the number we agree on is the number you close with. Floating means we are betting on relief that nothing on the calendar promises. I would rather you make that call with your real payment in front of you, not an average. Reply with a good time today and I will walk you through your exact numbers both ways, then we can lock or hold based on what feels right for your budget.