Mortgage rates were unchanged-to-slightly-higher today, depending on the lender.  Most lenders put out rate sheets in fairly conservative territory on Wednesday for the express purpose of not needing to mess with them too much today.  With the Friday after Thanksgiving being an early close for bond markets, lenders tend to check in once in the morning to set rates high enough that they won't be forced to issue "reprices" (mid-day rate sheet changes) on that off chance of market volatility.  

WARNING: this article's headline makes the overall mortgage rate situation sound much better than it actually is.  While it is indeed a fact that today's rates are lower than the previous business day's rates by the widest margin since Brexit, caveats abound.  First off, the Brexit move was more than twice as big.  Today's move is only slightly better than a handful of other decent days over the past 5 months.  

Mortgage rates continued lower today.  While the pace of improvement was slightly slower, it was enough to get the average lender rate sheet back to levels seen last Tuesday.  That makes this the first time since before the election that rates haven't been significantly higher week-over-week.  It's also the first time in more than a month where rates have moved lower 2 days in a row.  Normally, such accomplishments would be no big deal, but when we're backing down from the highest rates in more than a year, every little bit helps.  

Mortgage rates rose moderately today, bringing them roughly back in line with Monday's levels.  For the record, that leaves us in slightly better shape than last week, which saw the highest rates in more than a year.  Today's bond market weakness was driven primarily by the much-anticipated OPEC deal.  What is the OPEC deal and why is it impacting mortgage rates?  

Mortgage rates spiked abruptly today, bringing them to the highest levels in well over 2 years.  The average lender is now quoting conventional 30yr fixed rates of 4.25% on top tier scenarios with more than a few already up to 4.375%.  You'd have to go back to the summer of 2014 to see a similar mortgage rate landscape.  

Mortgage rates erased yesterday's losses after today's jobs report, though not necessarily because of it.  The Employment Situation (affectionately referred to as "the jobs") is traditionally one of the biggest sources of market movement.  So when rates make a big move following the jobs report, it's only natural to assume a cause and effect relationship.  That said, most of the credit for today's move goes other places.