At 7.28%, the American dream just got a $215-a-month surcharge

The 30-year mortgage rate crossed 7% last week for the first time in 19 months. This week it hit 7.28%, the highest since November 2023 and the biggest one-week jump in four years. A year ago it was 6.34%. It is not the highest ever. In 1981, it reached 18.63%, and people still bought homes.