Mortgage Rates at a Tipping Point. Why Trump's Tariffs Have the Housing Market on Edge

Getty Image/ Zooey Liao/ CNET Mortgage rates are bouncing around, though not because of inflation data or job numbers. Financial markets (stocks and bonds) are being shaken by President Donald Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs. An impending trade war is causing a ripple effect on everything from Treasury bond yields to consumer prices to mortgage rates. I'm not an economist, but I've been in the real estate business for more than two decades. Tariffs, or duties on imported goods, can drive up prices and trigger global retaliation, causing a widespread impact on housing affordability. While no one knows what will happen, the next few months will likely keep traders and investors on edge, keeping the roller coaster going. If you're in the market to buy, sell or refinance a home, here's what you need to know. What's driving mortgage rates right now? Mortgage rates tend to follow the 10-year Treasury bond yield. When the demand for Treasury bonds goes up (for example, when investors ... Read full article.