News
What changed for people buying rentals and flips, and what it does to the numbers.
3 articles
The Fed holds rates at 3.75% to 4%, with two votes for an increase
On October 28, 2026, the Federal Reserve left the target range for the federal funds rate at 3.75% to 4%, voting 10 to 2, and said inflation remains elevated. Rates that track it, such as most home equity lines, stay where they are. For example, interest on a $50,000 line at 8% stays at about $333 a month.
Mortgage rates jump a quarter point to 7.28%, the highest since 2023
Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.28% on October 1, 2026, up from 7.03% a week earlier and the highest reading since November 2023. A quarter point adds about $38 a month to a $225,000 loan. For example, that is enough to turn a rental earning $24 a month into one losing $14.
The Fed raises interest rates for the first time since July 2023
On September 16, 2026, the Federal Reserve raised the target range for the federal funds rate by a quarter point, to 3.75% to 4%, its first increase since July 2023, saying inflation remains elevated. The Fed doesn’t set fixed mortgage rates, but floating-rate loans such as HELOCs tend to follow its moves. For example, a quarter point adds about $10 a month in interest to a $50,000 HELOC balance.