30-year fixed mortgage rate under Ronald Reagan

The going rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Over 1981-01-20 to 1989-01-19, measured in Percent:

Term average

12.85 Percent

At the start

15.28 Percent

At the end

10.48 Percent

Change

-4.8 Percent

Low

9.03 Percent (1987-03-06)

High

18.63 Percent (1981-10-09)

Coverage

100% (417 observations)

Reading this series over a presidential term

It tracks the 10-year Treasury yield plus a spread that widens when lenders see risk, so it mostly reflects bond markets and inflation expectations rather than anything specific to housing policy.

One product for one kind of borrower. It is not what an adjustable-rate, jumbo, or lower-credit borrower is offered, and the monthly payment behind a rate also depends on the house price.

These are the observed values over the window above, and nothing more. This site does not say which direction is better, and none of this is a claim that Ronald Reagan caused the number to move.

What 30-year fixed mortgage rate measures · Ronald Reagan: the whole record · Chart it · Compare with another president · The source at FRED