The big story in mortgages today is the rise in mortgage loan rates. For the first time in years, we're seeing 30-year fixed mortgage rates consistently above 4%, and a 5% rate is in sight. Higher rates make sense if you look at it one way: the economy is strong, inflation is climbing, and it's safe to expect Federal Reserve hikes in 2018 and 2019. Industry veterans might be sighing with relief. In the 10 years since the burst of the housing bubble, we've seen a slow economic recovery, a federal funds rate stuck at 0, and 30-year mortgage rates in the high 3% range for fixed-rate loans and lower for floating-rate loans.