In the United States, interest rates for all mortgage types started to increase in 2021. This was due to the Federal Reserve introducing a series of hikes in the federal funds rate to contain the rising inflation. In the first quarter of 2024, the 30-year fixed rate declined slightly, to 6.75 percent. Despite the cut, this was about 3.9 percentage points higher than the same quarter in 2021. Why have U.S. home sales decreased? Cheaper mortgages normally encourage consumers to buy homes, while higher borrowing costs have the opposite effect. As interest rates increased in 2022, the number of existing homes sold plummeted. Soaring house prices over the past 10 years have further affected housing affordability. Between 2013 and 2023, the median price of an existing single-family home risen by about 88 percent. On the other hand, the median weekly earnings have risen much slower. Comparing mortgage terms and rates Between 2008 and 2023, the average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage in the United States stood between 2.28 and 6.11 percent. Over the same period, a 30-year mortgage term averaged a fixed-rate of between 3.08 and 6.81 percent. Rates on 15-year loan terms are lower to encourage a quicker repayment, which helps to improve a homeowner’s equity.

Mortgage interest rates worldwide varied greatly in 2024, from less than four percent in many European countries, to as high as 44 percent in Turkey. The average mortgage rate in a country depends on the central bank's base lending rate and macroeconomic indicators such as inflation and forecast economic growth. Since 2022, inflationary pressures have led to rapid increase in mortgage interest rates. Which are the leading mortgage markets? An easy way to estimate the importance of the mortgage sector in each country is by comparing household debt depth, or the ratio of the debt held by households compared to the county's GDP. In 2023, Switzerland, Australia, and Canada had some of the highest household debt to GDP ratios worldwide. While this indicator shows the size of the sector relative to the country’s economy, the value of mortgages outstanding allows to compare the market size in different countries. In Europe, for instance, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France were the largest mortgage markets by outstanding mortgage lending. Mortgage lending trends in the U.S. In the United States, new mortgage lending soared in 2021. This was largely due to the growth of new refinance loans that allow homeowners to renegotiate their mortgage terms and replace their existing loan with a more favorable one. Following the rise in interest rates, the mortgage market cooled, and refinance loans declined.

The average mortgage interest rate decreased in nearly every country in Europe between 2012 and 2021, followed by an increase in response to inflation. In Hungary, Poland, Czechia, and Romania, mortgage rates peaked in late 2022 and the beginning of 2023, followed by a gradual decline until the first quarter of 2024. The rest of the countries under observation, including the biggest mortgage markets - the UK and Germany, saw a continued increase in interest rates until the fourth quarter of 2023. In the first quarter of 2024, mortgage interest rates declined quarter-on-quarter across almost all markets in focus, marking a long awaited easing of monetary policy.

After a period of record-low mortgage interest rates, the cost of mortgage borrowing in Germany surged in 2022. In 2019, mortgage rates declined notably, falling as low as 1.16 percent in December 2020. This downward trend reversed in 2021, as mortgage rates started to gradually pick up. Five-to-ten-year mortgage loans had the lowest rates in October 2023 at 3.85 percent, while floating rate mortgages up to one year were the most expensive at 5.53 percent. Mortgages with over 10-year fixed period – the most popular loan type among homebuyers - had an interest rate of 3.9 percent.

Why did mortgage rates in Germany increase?

In 2022, the yearly inflation rate in Germany experienced a swift rise, prompting the central bank to raise interest rates to counter this surge. The European Central Bank (ECB) is responsible for determining Germany's central bank interest rate. In July 2022, following a prolonged period of stability, the average interest rates in Germany began a steady rise, which persisted consistently thereafter.  This increase is intended to stabilize prices, but it also means higher borrowing costs for those seeking mortgages.

Downturn in Germany's home loan borrowing

From 2022 onward, the gross residential mortgage lending in Germany fell dramatically. Besides the higher interest rates, the downturn can be explained by the slowed pace of economic growth, which makes individuals and businesses more cautious about big investments such as buying a home. Additionally, the German housing market suffers a chronic undersupply, meaning that homebuyers often struggle to find an affordable home to purchase.

Mortgage interest rates in Europe soared in 2022 and remained elevated in 2023. In many countries, this resulted in interest rates more than doubling. In Denmark, the average mortgage interest rate rose from 0.67 percent in 2021 to 4.98 percent in 2023. Why did mortgage interest rates increase? Mortgage rates have risen as a result of the European Central Bank (ECB) interest rate increase. The ECB increased its interest rates to tackle inflation. As inflation calms, the ECB is expected to cut rates, which will allow mortgage lenders to reduce mortgage interest rates. What is the impact of interest rates on homebuying? Lower interest rates make taking out a housing loan more affordable, and thus, encourage homebuying. That can be seen in many countries across Europe: In France, the number of residential properties sold rose in the years leading up to 2021, and fell as interest rates increased. The number of houses sold in the UK followed a similar trend.

Mortgage rates increased at a record pace in 2022, with the 10-year fixed mortgage rate doubling between March 2022 and December 2022. With inflation increasing, the Bank of England introduced several bank rate hikes, resulting in higher mortgage rates. In September 2023, the average 10-year fixed rate interest rate reached 5.1 percent. As borrowing costs get higher, demand for housing is expected to decrease, leading to declining market sentiment and slower house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold declined in 2022, reaching close to 1.3 million. Despite the number of transactions falling, this figure was higher than the period before the COVID-10 pandemic. The falling transaction volume also impacted mortgage borrowing. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans fell year-on-year for fourth straight quarters in a row. How are higher mortgages affecting homebuyers? Homeowners with a mortgage loan usually lock in a fixed rate deal for two to ten years, meaning that after this period runs out, they need to renegotiate the terms of the loan. Many of the mortgages outstanding were taken out during the period of record-low mortgage rates and have since faced notable increases in their monthly repayment. About five million homeowners are projected to see their deal expire by the end of 2026. About two million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to 199 British pounds by 2026.

The benchmark interest rate in Ireland was last recorded at 4.50 percent. This dataset provides - Ireland Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Mortgage originations in the United States plummeted in 2021 and 2022, after soaring to an all-time high in the previous two years. By the third quarter of 2023, the value of new mortgage originations amounted to 444 billion U.S. dollars, about a third of the value recorded during the market peak in the fourth quarter of 2020. These fluctuations were mostly because of the development of mortgage interest rates and mortgage lending for home refinance: While interest rates were at a record low in 2020, many homebuyers used the opportunity to refinance their loan. After rates increased, refinancing declined dramatically. How have home sales developed? Over the past decade, the annual number of homes sold in the U.S. ranged between 4.7 million and 6.9 million, with the number of sales of existing homes far outweighing that of newly built homes sold. Housing transactions have generally declined since 2021 because of the less favorable credit conditions and worsening housing affordability. Cash purchases on the rise Although buying in cash is largely uncommon in the U.S., the number of houses bought with cash has increased since 2009. For those who can afford it, a cash purchase provides a number of benefits. Most importantly, cash buyers save from mortgage payments. Additionally, the closing time on these transactions time faster, which gives a competitive advantage in markets with a lot of competition.

More than three million mortgage loans are projected to be affected by the increasing mortgage interest rates in Canada by 2025. About one million of these mortgages are projected to be up for renewal in 2024. These loans were taken out at a time when interest rates were much lower, meaning that homeowners will be affected by a notable increase in their monthly payments.

Switzerland Mortgage Rate: Fixed: by Maturity: 1 Year data was reported at 1.089 % pa in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.086 % pa for Aug 2018. Switzerland Mortgage Rate: Fixed: by Maturity: 1 Year data is updated monthly, averaging 1.410 % pa from Jan 2008 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 129 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.200 % pa in Jun 2008 and a record low of 1.068 % pa in Dec 2017. Switzerland Mortgage Rate: Fixed: by Maturity: 1 Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Swiss National Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Switzerland – Table CH.M005: Mortgage Rates.

In 2022, Portugal overturned the sinking mortgage interest rate it had gone through during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The country did not escape from the overall trend of falling mortgage interest rates observed in Europe during the COVID-19 crisis, which positioned national mortgage interest rates at 1.54 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Interest rates as a weapon against inflation

Even though interest rates are affected by economic growth, monetary policies, the bond market, the stability of lenders, and the overall conditions of the housing market, inflation currently leads the European Central Bank (ECB)’s decisions regarding them. As inflation has been low in Europe since the 2008 financial crisis, the ECB lowered interest rates in an attempt to promote economic growth. However, the economic difficulties brought up by the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war have fueled inflation. To counteract this rise, the ECB increased interest rates. Portugal’s abrupt rise in interest rates on new residential loans from 0.83 percent in 2021 to 3.24 percent in 2022 demonstrates the balanced and calculated act between the two financial indices.

High interest rates and low mortgage lending

Compared to other European nations, Portugal has a low gross residential mortgage lending. In the third and fourth quarters of 2022, mortgage lending decreased in the country due to rising interest rates and worsening economic conditions. Despite being in a rising trajectory in terms of outstanding residential mortgage lending since the second quarter of 2021, 2023 registered decreasing figures caused by the same economic contingencies.

Brazil Loans: Real Estate Financing: Units: Commercial Building: Market Rate data was reported at 176.000 Unit in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 481.000 Unit for Oct 2018. Brazil Loans: Real Estate Financing: Units: Commercial Building: Market Rate data is updated monthly, averaging 923.000 Unit from Dec 2009 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 108 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4,389.000 Unit in Feb 2014 and a record low of 143.000 Unit in Apr 2011. Brazil Loans: Real Estate Financing: Units: Commercial Building: Market Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bank of Brazil. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Monetary – Table BR.KAB069: Loans: Real Estate Financing: Units: by Region: Commercial Building: Market Rate. The SFH uses the following features to provide credit to citizens: the Guarantee Fund for Time of Service - FGTS (eligible users are allowed the withdraw from FGTS for payment of Real Estate financing under SFH), the current account savings and loans raised in the country or abroad for the implementation of housing projects and mortgage bonds (debt securities) issued by financial agents. Under this scheme, funding can go up to 90% of property value, and cost effective maximum (which includes all charges and expenses incidental to the credit contracted or offered to individuals) may not exceed 12% per year, including interest, fees and other charges. O SFH utiliza os seguintes recursos para fornecer crédito aos cidadãos: o Fundo de Garantia por Tempo de Serviço - FGTS (é permitido o retirar do FGTS para o pagamento de financiamento imobiliário sob SFH), a poupança em conta corrente e empréstimos captados no país ou no exterior para a implementação de projetos de habitação e obrigações hipotecárias (títulos de dívida) emitidas pelos agentes financeiros. Ao abrigo deste regime, o financiamento pode ir até 90% do valor do imóvel, e o custo máximo efetivo (que inclui todos os encargos e despesas acessórias ao crédito contratado ou oferecido a pessoas físicas) não pode exceder 12% por ano, incluindo os juros, taxas e outras encargos.

The U.S. housing market has slowed, after 13 consecutive years of rising home prices. In 2021, house prices surged by an unprecedented 18 percent, marking the highest increase on record. However, the market has since cooled, with the Freddie Mac House Price Index showing more modest growth between 2022 and 2024. In 2024, home prices increased by 4.2 percent. That was lower than the long-term average of 4.4 percent since 1990. Impact of mortgage rates on homebuying The recent cooling in the housing market can be partly attributed to rising mortgage rates. After reaching a record low of 2.96 percent in 2021, the average annual rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage more than doubled in 2023. This significant increase has made homeownership less affordable for many potential buyers, contributing to a substantial decline in home sales. Despite these challenges, forecasts suggest a potential recovery in the coming years. How much does it cost to buy a house in the U.S.? In 2023, the median sales price of an existing single-family home reached a record high of over 389,000 U.S. dollars. Newly built homes were even pricier, despite a slight decline in the median sales price in 2023. Naturally, home prices continue to vary significantly across the country, with West Virginia being the most affordable state for homebuyers.

Lending Rate: RUB Mortgage Loans: YB: NW: Novgorod Region data was reported at 9.240 % pa in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.230 % pa for Dec 2024. Lending Rate: RUB Mortgage Loans: YB: NW: Novgorod Region data is updated monthly, averaging 11.900 % pa from Dec 2008 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 194 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.670 % pa in Feb 2015 and a record low of 5.660 % pa in Jun 2022. Lending Rate: RUB Mortgage Loans: YB: NW: Novgorod Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Russia. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Interest and Foreign Exchange Rates – Table RU.MB010: Lending Rate: RUB Housing Loans: ow Mortgage: by Region: Average from Year Beginning.

Lending Rate: RUB Mortgage Loans: YB: VR: Ulyanovsk Region data was reported at 9.240 % pa in Jan 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.830 % pa for Dec 2024. Lending Rate: RUB Mortgage Loans: YB: VR: Ulyanovsk Region data is updated monthly, averaging 11.785 % pa from Dec 2008 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 194 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.800 % pa in Jun 2009 and a record low of 6.400 % pa in Jun 2022. Lending Rate: RUB Mortgage Loans: YB: VR: Ulyanovsk Region data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Russia. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Interest and Foreign Exchange Rates – Table RU.MB010: Lending Rate: RUB Housing Loans: ow Mortgage: by Region: Average from Year Beginning.

Home prices in the U.S. reach new heights The American housing market continues to show remarkable resilience, with the S&P/Case Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index reaching an all-time high of 325.78 in July 2024. This figure represents a significant increase from the index value of 166.24 recorded in January 2015, highlighting the substantial growth in home prices over the past decade. The S&P Case Shiller National Home Price Index is based on the prices of single-family homes and is the leading indicator of the American housing market and one of the indicators of the state of the broader economy. The S&P Case Shiller National Home Price Index series also includes S&P/Case Shiller 20-City Composite Home Price Index and S&P/Case Shiller 10-City Composite Home Price Index – measuring the home price changes in the major U.S. metropolitan areas, as well as twenty composite indices for the leading U.S. cities. Market fluctuations and recovery Despite the overall upward trend, the housing market has experienced some fluctuations in recent years. During the housing boom in 2021, the number of existing home sales reached the highest level since 2006. However, transaction volumes quickly plummeted, as the soaring interest rates and out-of-reach prices led to housing sentiment deteriorating. Factors influencing home prices Several factors have contributed to the rise in home prices, including a chronic supply shortage, the gradual decline in interest rates, and the spike in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the subprime mortgage crisis (2007-2010), the construction of new homes declined dramatically. Although it has gradually increased since then, the number of new building permits, home starts, and completions are still shy from the levels before the crisis. With demand outweighing supply, competition for homes can be fierce, leading to bidding wars and soaring prices. The supply of existing homes is further constrained, as homeowners are less likely to sell and move homes due to the worsened lending conditions.

The number of home sales in the United States peaked in 2021 at almost seven million after steadily rising since 2018. Nevertheless, the market contracted in the following year, with transaction volumes falling to 4.8 million. Home sales remained muted in 2024, with a mild increase expected in 2025 and 2026. A major factor driving this trend is the unprecedented increase in mortgage interest rates due to high inflation. How have U.S. home prices developed over time? The average sales price of new homes has also been rising since 2011. Buyer confidence seems to have recovered after the property crash, which has increased demand for homes and also the prices sellers are demanding for homes. At the same time, the affordability of U.S. homes has decreased. Both the number of existing and newly built homes sold has declined since the housing market boom during the coronavirus pandemic. Challenges in housing supply The number of housing units in the U.S. rose steadily between 1975 and 2005 but has remained fairly stable since then. Construction increased notably in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the number of construction starts steadily rising, before plummeting amid the infamous housing market crash. Housing starts slowly started to pick up in 2011, mirroring the economic recovery. In 2022, the supply of newly built homes plummeted again, as supply chain challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and tariffs on essential construction materials such as steel and lumber led to prices soaring.

Lending Rate: Foreign Currencies Mortgage Loans: YB: NC: Republic of Kabardino Balkaria data was reported at 8.230 % pa in Dec 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 8.120 % pa for Nov 2014. Lending Rate: Foreign Currencies Mortgage Loans: YB: NC: Republic of Kabardino Balkaria data is updated monthly, averaging 9.940 % pa from Dec 2008 (Median) to Dec 2014, with 49 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.500 % pa in Dec 2008 and a record low of 8.120 % pa in Nov 2014. Lending Rate: Foreign Currencies Mortgage Loans: YB: NC: Republic of Kabardino Balkaria data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of Russia. The data is categorized under Russia Premium Database’s Interest and Foreign Exchange Rates – Table RU.MB012: Lending Rate: Foreign Currencies Housing Loans: ow Mortgage: by Region: Average from Year Beginning.

House prices grew year-on-year in most states in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2024. The District of Columbia was the only exception, with a decline of three percent. The annual appreciation for single-family housing in the U.S. was 0.71 percent, while in Hawaii—the state where homes appreciated the most—the increase exceeded 10 percent. How have home prices developed in recent years? House price growth in the U.S. has been going strong for years. In 2024, the median sales price of a single-family home exceeded 413,000 U.S. dollars, up from 277,000 U.S. dollars five years ago. One of the factors driving house prices was the cost of credit. The record-low federal funds effective rate allowed mortgage lenders to set mortgage interest rates as low as 2.3 percent. With interest rates on the rise, home buying has also slowed, causing fluctuations in house prices. Why are house prices growing? Many markets in the U.S. are overheated because supply has not been able to keep up with demand. How many homes enter the housing market depends on the construction output, whereas the availability of existing homes for purchase depends on many other factors, such as the willingness of owners to sell. Furthermore, growing investor appetite in the housing sector means that prospective homebuyers have some extra competition to worry about. In certain metros, for example, the share of homes bought by investors exceeded 20 percent in 2024.

The home mortgage debt of households and nonprofit organizations amounted to approximately 13.1 trillion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2024. Mortgage debt has been growing steadily since 2014, when it was less than 10 billion U.S. dollars and has increased at a faster rate since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic due to the housing market boom.

Home mortgage sector in the United States

Home mortgage sector debt in the United States has been steadily growing in recent years and is beginning to come out of a period of great difficulty and problems presented to it by the economic crisis of 2008. For the previous generations in the United States the real estate market was quite stable. Financial institutions were extending credit to millions of families and allowed them to achieve ownership of their own homes. The growth of the subprime mortgages and, which went some way to contributing to the record of the highest US homeownership rate since records began, meant that many families deemed to be not quite creditworthy were provided the opportunity to purchase homes.

The rate of home mortgage sector debt rose in the United States as a direct result of the less stringent controls that resulted from the vetted and extended terms from which loans originated. There was a great deal more liquidity in the market which allowed greater access to new mortgages. The practice of packaging mortgages into securities, and their subsequent sale into the secondary market as a way of shifting risk, was to be a major factor in the formation of the American housing bubble, one of the greatest contributing factors to the global financial meltdown of 2008.