The average contract rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for conforming loans of $806,500 or less in the US rose to 6.30% in the week ending March 13, 2026, up from 6.19% a week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. This is the highest level since late December and is weighing on overall mortgage activity. Total mortgage applications fell 10.9%, erasing the previous period’s 3.2% increase, as refinancing applications dropped sharply by 18.5%. In contrast, applications for home purchases inched up 0.9%.