Mortgage rates jump to 6% as Iran tensions roil bond markets

U.S. mortgage rates rose back above 6% for the week ending March 5, with the 30-year fixed at 6% per Freddie Mac, as conflict with Iran rattles financial markets and the 10-year Treasury yield climbs; last week rates briefly dipped below 6%, but analysts warn that sustained Middle East tensions and higher oil prices could keep pressure on rates. Despite the uptick, rates remain well below early-2025 highs, and the housing market shows a mixed picture—affordability has improved, yet sales fell in January while prices continued to rise.