Mortgage interest rates are generally influenced by Federal Reserve interest-rate policy decisions, bond market investors' expectations for the economy and inflation, and they generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.
October 23, 2025
high
explanatory
Describes durable factors and mechanisms that typically affect mortgage-rate movements.
Around harvest time, agricultural producers commonly place orders for the next year’s seed and fertilizer and settle operating loans with lenders.
October 22, 2025
medium
seasonal
Describes typical seasonal farm business practices related to input purchasing and loan repayment timing.
Mortgage interest rates generally increase with longer loan terms because lenders view longer time horizons as carrying higher default risk, while shorter-term mortgages (such as 15-year loans) generally carry lower interest rates.
high
financial
Lender risk assessment influencing pricing across mortgage term lengths