Portland Real Estate with Jan Stranski

I watch mortgage rates like I make coffee...everyday! Here is the latest craziness from Mortgage News Daily. Local lenders: What say you? How are you navigating for your clients?

Mortgage Rates Spike to 2026 Highs
By: Matthew Graham
1 Hour, 44 Min ago

Mortgage rates are driven by the bond market. Although bonds only experienced moderate, steady weakness throughout the day, mortgage rates lurched higher by an amount typically seen when the market is reacting to big, breaking news.

But there wasn't any of that sort of news on tap today--just downbeat updates that reinforced a longer timeline for geopolitical disruptions. The bigger issue for mortgage rates is that they often experience heightened volatility when they pass through the 6.25% level.

Due to the underlying structure of the mortgage market, 6.25% is sort of a dead zone. If you really want to see the nuts and bolts behind that phenomenon, here's the primer. The practical result is that movement tends to be bigger when rates are rising or falling through 6.25% (or any level that ends with 0.25 or 0.75). As such, when rates began moving up from 6.125%, the slightly elevated bond market volatility made for a faster trip up to the 6.375% zone (today's MND index was revised up to 6.35% in the afternoon after ending Monday at 6.14%).
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This is the highest level since December 8th, 2025, though it should be noted that prior to September 2025, rates had been much higher, on average, for roughly an entire year.

2026 brings fast-paced energy and new opportunity, but success isn’t about moving faster for the sake of it.

It’s about knowing when to move, where to focus, and how to act with purpose. The Year of the Horse reminds us that momentum comes from preparation and clarity.

From trusting the groundwork you’ve laid, staying steady under pressure, and moving forward with confidence once direction is clear. In a competitive market, confidence becomes a true advantage, not rushed decisions, but informed ones.

With the right guidance and a clear strategy, momentum works in your favor, whether you’re navigating multiple offers, making a bold move, or pursuing something truly extraordinary.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling this year, or simply want to understand your options, I’d love to connect and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.