Mortgage spreads keep housing demand intact for now, HousingWire reports

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For loan officers, the spread story helps explain why buyer demand has not weakened more sharply despite rates still near the high-6% range.

Mortgage spreads are helping keep housing demand intact for now, according to a HousingWire article published August 9, 2026. HousingWire reported spreads at 2.01%, with 2026 mortgage rates near 6.74%, and said that backdrop is supporting pending sales while limiting year-over-year declines.

For mortgage professionals, the takeaway is straightforward: borrowers are still rate-sensitive, but current spread behavior appears to be keeping some purchase demand alive. The supplied material does not confirm the rate survey or dataset, the loan type and term, or whether the 6.74% figure is a national average rather than an available quote.

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