New houses under construction are seen in Alhambra, California, on March 19, 2026. Average US mortgage rates have climbed for the third consecutive week, reaching their highest level in over three months, driven by market instability stemming from the ongoing war with Iran and renewed fears of inflation. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.22% as of March 19, 2026, up from 6.11% a week earlier and the highest level since late 2025, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty Images)