Coverage dated October 9, 2026 to October 10, 2026
Mortgage rates hit 18% in 1981. Here's how that compares with buying a home today
Headline from KESQ Palm Springs
Borrowers shopping for a 30-year fixed mortgage in the fall of 1981 saw rates peak at 18.63% in the week of Oct. 9. That still stands as the record in Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of mortgage rates, which began in 1971. On Oct. 1, 2026, the average stood at 7.28%. That looks mild next to
KESQ Palm Springs's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.
Borrowers shopping for a 30-year fixed mortgage in the fall of 1981 saw rates peak at 18.63% in the week of Oct. 9. That still stands as the record in Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of mortgage rates, which began in 1971. On Oct. 1, 2026, the average stood at 7.28%. That looks mild next to
Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.
