Freddie Mac says 30-year US mortgage rates have fallen to the lowest level in a month

Influenced by easing inflation concerns brought on by the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East, US mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest level in nearly a month, providing a brief window of relief for first-time home buyers. According to a statement released by Freddie Mac on Thursday, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell from 6.52% a week ago to 6.47%, while the same period last year saw a rate of 6.81%.

The spring home sales season is nearing its close after a period of sharp fluctuations in borrowing costs. The conflict involving Iran that broke out at the end of February had temporarily pushed mortgage rates higher, but this week’s announcement of a provisional peace deal, along with news that the Strait of Hormuz may reopen to shipping, helped lead to a pullback in oil prices and effectively eased upward pressure on mortgage rates.

It is worth noting that this spring's real estate sales have shown greater resilience than the market expected. Data released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) on Wednesday showed that the number of pending home sales in May increased by 3.8% month-on-month. Although the absolute figure remains historically low, as a more forward-looking indicator than actual transaction volume, the rebound in contract signings suggests that buyers are gradually adapting to the persistently high interest rate environment.