Lower Mortgage Rates Improve Affordability, but Path to Deeper Cuts Still Looks Bumpy

A new rate snapshot from Bankrate shows U.S. mortgage borrowing costs edging down again, pushing the market to levels not seen since 2022. In the outlet’s weekly lender survey dated February 11, 2026, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 6.16%, down from 6.23% the prior week. The decline is modest, but meaningful: for […]