Texas ranked fifth-lowest for mortgage rate increases, according to a new WalletHub study using internal mortgage rate data from the first and second quarters of 2026. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Buying a home remains a financial stretch for many Texans, but there’s a small break for would-be buyers: Mortgage rates in Texas are rising more slowly than in nearly every other state.
A new WalletHub analysis found Texas had the fifth-smallest increase in mortgage rates nationwide, offering some relief as high home prices and borrowing costs continue to keep many would-be buyers on the sidelines.
Researchers looked at all 50 states using internal mortgage rate data from the first and second quarters of 2026. Texas ranked No. 46 overall, making it the fifth-lowest state for mortgage rate increases, according to WalletHub. The average mortgage rate in Texas during the second quarter was 6.36 percent, down 0.83 percent from the first quarter.
Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota were the only states with smaller increases than Texas. Alternatively, WalletHub said Mississippi had the largest increase, followed by Colorado and Tennessee.
Where mortgage rates rose the most:
Mississippi
Colorado
Tennessee
Wisconsin
Missouri
North Carolina
Kansas
Arkansas
New Hampshire
South Carolina
Where rates rose the least
North Dakota
South Dakota
Wyoming
Montana
Texas
Nevada
Maine
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Vermont
“It’s a difficult time to buy a house, given that home prices have risen astronomically over the past few years and housing shortages make it hard to find the right place even if you have the money,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, said in a statement.
The findings come as mortgage rates continue to shape the housing market nationally and in Texas. Experts in September found that national rates near 7 percent have weighed on buyers and sellers, while Houston-area buyers have seen some relief when both prices and mortgage rates dip.
“Although interest rates are still down a bit from the highs we saw last year, they’re a far cry from the historic lows during the pandemic,” Lupo added.
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This article originally published at Mortgage rates are spiking, but Texas got a rare break-here’s why.