Vancouver, WA Mortgage Rates Update: Holiday Week Keeps Rates Near 2-Month Lows
December 30, 2025 As we wrap up the final week of the year, mortgage rates in Vancouver, WA and throughout Southwest Washington remain near their lowest levels in almost two months. If the market felt unusually quiet over the holidays, that’s normal—and expected. Late December is known for holiday trading, a period when fewer investors are active in the bond market. Since mortgage rates are directly tied to bonds, lighter trading often results in slow, sideways movement rather than big swings.
Why Holiday Trading Impacts Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates don’t move randomly—they follow the bond market, particularly mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasuries. During holiday weeks, fewer traders are buying and selling, which means:
- Rates tend to move sideways
- Small headlines can cause short-lived changes
- Larger economic news may barely move the needle
This is why mortgage rates in Clark County often feel “stuck” in late December, even when housing or economic data makes the news.
What We’ve Seen in the Mortgage Market Lately
Over the past few months, mortgage rates have stayed within a fairly tight range. During the holiday stretch, that range narrowed even more. In simple terms: Rates have been on cruise control.
Even when new data is released, the lack of trading volume makes it hard for any movement to stick. That’s exactly what we saw heading into the final week of the year—rates hovering toward the lower end of their recent range.
What Changed on December 29, 2025?
While the market stayed quiet overall, a few small factors nudged rates slightly lower:
1. A Small Boost from Europe European bond markets improved after reopening from the holidays, and U.S. bonds followed overnight. Once U.S. trading picked up, momentum slowed—very typical for a low-liquidity holiday week.
2. Pending Home Sales Increased Pending home sales came in higher than the previous reading, which is generally positive for the housing market. In a normal trading environment, this might have caused more movement, but during the holidays, the impact was limited.
3. 30-Year Fixed Rates Hit a “Soft” 2-Month Low The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dipped by only a few hundredths of a percent—but that was enough to put rates at their lowest average level since late October.
This doesn’t signal a major drop ahead, but it does reinforce the bigger picture: mortgage rates in the Vancouver-Portland metro are sitting near the lower end of their recent range.
What to Expect Until the New Year
Until we’re fully past the holiday period, the most realistic outlook is:
- Continued sideways rate movement
- Small, sometimes random daily changes
- Headlines that don’t always translate into lasting rate shifts
- More meaningful movement once January activity picks up
Even though markets are technically open, much of the trading is automated, which is why late-December rate changes often fade quickly.
What This Means for Vancouver, WA Homebuyers & Homeowners
This quieter window can actually be a smart time to prepare. With rates near recent lows, you can:
- Run payment scenarios based on today’s rates
- Get pre-approved (or refresh an existing approval)
- Build a lock strategy for early January
Trying to “time the bottom” rarely works. Being prepared and positioned is what allows buyers and homeowners to act quickly when opportunities show up.
Questions About Today’s Mortgage Rates in Vancouver, WA?
If you’re thinking about buying, refinancing, or exploring your options in Clark County or Southwest Washington, I’m happy to help you make sense of the numbers.
Feel free to fill out the contact form on this page or give me a call, and we’ll walk through your next steps together.
Source: Mortgage News Daily