The average contract rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage in the US rose to 6.97% in the week ended September 11, its highest level since May 2025, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The increase followed a rise in Treasury yields, with the 10-year note briefly touching 5% and approaching its highest level since 2007, as renewed Middle East tensions and stronger-than-expected US inflation data heightened inflation concerns and reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will deliver its first rate hike since 2023 on September 16. Mortgage rates have risen 88 basis points since the US and Israel began strikes against Iran in late February. Meanwhile, total mortgage applications fell 4.1%, extending the previous week’s 2.7% decline and marking the steepest weekly drop since July. Refinancing applications decreased 8.8%, while purchase applications fell 0.8%.