Mortgage rates just hit a 3-year low

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Here’s what we’re covering today:

Financial advisors and influencers often talk about adopting a long-term mindset. The power of compounding. What’s rarely mentioned is just how slow the process of building wealth can be when you’re getting started.

For instance, if you save $500 a month and invest it in an asset that delivers 8% annual growth, after five years you will accumulate only $35,200. In other words, you’ve waited half a decade just to be able to afford a budget car. To make matters worse, 85% of your net worth was generated by your own monthly contributions, not capital appreciation.

But if you manage to overcome this feeling and continue on the journey, you could reach $1 million in net worth within 35 years. At that stage, your accumulated monthly contributions account for just less than 21% of your total wealth — with the rest derived from compounding growth.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait 30 years to see payoffs. Along the way, you’re likely to hit some tipping points that unlock new phases of growth and wealth accumulation.

Mortgage rates have seen a sharp decline: averaging at 5.99% as of January 9 2026, down from 6.32% in 2025.

The U.S. Federal Reserve has been cutting interest rates, and there are hopes they will continue to do so further. However, after the Fed’s December 2025 rate cut, Powell wasn’t as optimistic, saying: “The housing market faces some significant challenges, and I don’t know that a 25-basis point decline in the federal funds rate is going to make much of a difference for people.”

While the Fed’s interest rate decisions are out of your control, there are ways you can take control of securing the best mortgage rate possible. Freddie Mac recommends shopping around by obtaining quotes from three to five lenders to find an optimal rate.

To make this process easier, tools like the Mortgage Research Center (MRC) can help you quickly compare rates and estimated monthly payments from multiple vetted lenders. By entering basic details — such as your zip code, property type, price range and annual income — you can view mortgage offers tailored to your needs and shop with confidence.

Over the years, many faces have appeared on American coins and banknotes. Who was the first woman to be featured alone on modern U.S. currency?

A Pocahontas

B Susan B. Anthony

C Martha Washington

D Helen Keller

Scroll for the answer

Social Security is a key lifeline for millions of retired Americans. As of January 2026, the average monthly salary is $2,071, according to the Social Security Administration, indicating that a meaningful number of seniors receive tidy five-figure payouts from this crucial program every year.

However, for some retirees, the monthly payouts can be far larger. In fact, in 2026, the maximum monthly payment is set at $5,251. Those who receive this monthly amount can expect a total payment of roughly $63,000 this year, which is comparable to the median earnings of full-time workers.

In other words, retirees who have managed to fully optimize their participation in this program can enjoy reliable monthly passive income that exceeds the active income of roughly half of America’s labor force.

However, getting into this elite club isn’t easy. Here’s a closer look at the specific circumstances that would enable someone to get the top payout.

Mortgage rates have fallen sharply following President Donald Trump’s order to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds — a sweeping intervention aimed at lowering borrowing costs and easing the affordability crunch.

With housing costs getting top billing, Trump said he’s “giving special attention” to the market.

“I am instructing my Representatives to BUY $200 BILLION DOLLARS IN MORTGAGE BONDS. This will drive Mortgage Rates DOWN, monthly payments DOWN and make the cost of owning a home more affordable,” he wrote in a Truth Social post on Jan. 8, calling it one of “many steps” he plans to take to restore affordability across the country.

The plan started moving immediately, and markets reacted. The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage slid to 5.99% the morning of Jan. 9, down from 6.21% the day before — a striking 22-basis-point drop, according to Mortgage News Daily.

That marks the lowest level for the 30-year average rate since February 2023.

“It’s a very, very big opportunity for the housing market and for all Americans aspiring to get that American dream,” says Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte.

That said, you don’t need to buy a home outright to start gaining exposure to the housing market.

Over the years, many faces have appeared on American coins and bank notes. Who was the first woman to be featured alone on modern U.S. currency?

C) Martha Washington

While all four have appeared on U.S. currency, Martha Washington was the first — and so far she’s the only woman to be featured solo on paper money, headlining the $1 silver certificate in 1886 and 1891. Susan B. Anthony and Helen Keller appeared on coins at a later date, while Pocahontas appeared in a group scene on $20 national banknotes in the 1860s.