If you've been watching the Grand Forks market from the sidelines, here's what you need to know heading into summer: this market is not cooling down — it's speeding up.In May 2026, 59 homes
How Upset Should You Be about 3% Mortgage Rates?
Dated: March 9 2021
Views: 393
Last Thursday, Freddie Mac announced that their 30-year fixed mortgage rate was over 3% (3.02%) for the first time since last July. That news dominated real estate headlines that day and the next. Articles talked about the “negative impact” it may have on the housing market. However, we should realize two things:
1. The bump-up in rate should not have surprised anyone. Many had already projected that rates would rise slightly as we proceeded through the year.
2. Freddie Mac’s comments about the rate increase were not alarming:
“The rise in mortgage rates over the next couple of months is likely to be more muted in comparison to the last few weeks, and we expect a strong spring sales season.”
A “muted” rise in rates will not sink the real estate market, and most experts agree that it will be “a strong spring sales season.”
What does this mean for you?
Obviously, any buyer would rather mortgage rates not rise at all, as any upward movement increases their monthly mortgage payment. However, let’s put a 3.02% rate into perspective. Here are the Freddie Mac annual mortgage rates for the last five years:
- 2016: 3.65%
- 2017: 3.99%
- 2018: 4.54%
- 2019: 3.94%
- 2020: 3.11%
Though 3.02% is not as great as the sub-3% rates we saw over the previous seven weeks, it’s still very close to the all-time low (2.66% in December 2020).
And, if we expand our look at mortgage rates to consider the last 50 years, we can see that today’s rate is truly outstanding. Here are the rates over the last five decades:
- 1970s: 8.86%
- 1980s: 12.7%
- 1990s: 8.12%
- 2000s: 6.29%
- 2010s: 4.09%
Being upset that you missed the “best mortgage rate ever” is understandable. However, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Buying now still makes more sense than waiting, especially if rates continue to bump up this year.
Bottom Line
It’s true that you may not get the same rate you would have five weeks ago. However, you will get a better rate than what was possible at almost any other point in history. Let’s connect today so you can lock in a great rate while they stay this low.
Josh Steinke
In the dynamic world of real estate in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Josh Steinke stands out as a realtor with a deep connection to the community and a profound understanding of the local property market....
Latest Blog Posts
By Josh Steinke | Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Family Realty 701-741-1335 | joshsteinke.grandforksfamilyrealty.comIf you've been thinking about buying or selling a home in Grand Forks or East
If you've been thinking about buying or selling a home in Grand Forks or East Grand Forks, here's the honest truth: the spring market is not waiting around.I've been watching this market closely,
Spring has arrived in Grand Forks — and so has a wave of real estate activity. If you've been thinking about buying or selling, here's an honest look at what the market is doing right now and
Tax and special assessment figures are provided by the listing companies and are usually from the most recent tax bill, but buyer should verify amounts with appropriate governmental departments for accuracy and future estimates. New construction listings often have incomplete or no information on tax or special assessment estimates provided by listing companies, so they must be verified. Figures do not reflect any pending, proposed, or future special assessments which may be levied by governmental
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program of the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Family Realty are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or the Broker Reciprocity thumbnail logo (little black
house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.
Grand Forks Board of REALTORS® All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested
