Cyber Monday Sale! 50% Off All Access

Mortgage Rates Are Above 6 Percent For The First Time Since 2008 As the Fed attempts to tame rampant inflation, mortgage rates hit new highs.

By Madeline Garfinkle

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

For the first time since 2008, mortgage rates surpassed six percent this week, as the Fed continues its efforts to bring down inflation.

The rate is nearly double what it was nine months ago, according to data by Freddie Mac.

The spike in mortgage rates comes after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported less than promising news regarding the consumer price index. The CPI for housing rose 0.7% in August and showed an increase of 6.2% annually — the largest increase since 1990.

"Mortgage rates at or above 6 percent is likely the new reality and prices will have to adjust," said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist with Bright MLS, told The Washington Post. "Relatively strong demand and still-low inventory will continue to support stable or growing prices in most markets, but gone are the days of seeing offers tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars over asking price. In some places, particularly high-cost markets and places where prices have grown fastest over the past two years, we could see year-over-year price declines."

Related: How Entrepreneur Millionaires Prepare for a Recession, According to a Former Wall Street Trader

As mortgage rates have steadily increased since June, the housing market has cooled from its astronomical highs. In July, home sales fell for the sixth consecutive month. With the new rate, the market is likely to continue declining.

"Mortgage rates have gone up four weeks in a row because of investors' concerns about inflation," said Holden Lewis, home and mortgage expert at NerdWallet, per The Washington Post. "Their worries are warranted, as we learned this week that inflation ran hotter than expected in August, as reflected in the consumer price index. That news boosted mortgage rates higher — a phenomenon that will be reflected in next week's rates."

Related: The Real-Estate Game Is Changing Fast. Are You Ready to Win?

Madeline Garfinkle

News Writer

Madeline Garfinkle is a News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate from Syracuse University, and received an MFA from Columbia University. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

Her Restaurant Business Is Worth $100 Million — Here's Her Unconventional Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, talks about going from TV producer to restaurant owner, leaning into failure and the value of good PR.

Business News

Elon Musk Still Isn't Getting His Historically High Pay as CEO of Tesla — Here's Why

A second shareholder vote wasn't enough to convince Delaware judge Kathaleen McCormick.

Legal

How Do You Stop Porch Pirates From Stealing Christmas? These Top Tips Will Help Secure Your Deliveries.

Over 100 million packages were stolen last year. Here are top tips to make sure your stuff doesn't get swiped.

Leadership

Leadership vs. Management: How to Understand the Difference and 6 Ways to Bridge the Gap

Here are the key differences between leadership and management, highlighting their complementary roles and providing six strategies to develop managers into future leaders.

Business News

'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why

The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.

Business News

'Something Previously Impossible': New AI Makes 3D Worlds Out of a Single Image

The new technology allows viewers to explore two-dimensional images in 3D.