Quote from Cache Landing:
I'll refer to the 10-year as TNX because that is the ticker used to track yields.
There isn't a natural ceiling for TNX as you can see from 1982.
The biggest influencing factors for TNX is inflation and investor fear. The FF rate has only an indirect relation because th FED drops rates during a falling market. It was the falling market that caused the TNX drop, NOT THE FF DROP.
Inflation has been on an overall downtrend since the early 80's, but that is likely to change as Jayford noted.
On a daily basis the main factor for TNX is investor fear. If people freak out and start selling, there will be a big move into bonds again, causing TNX to drop. This means lower mortgage rates.
OTOH, if people become confident that the FED will save the market, then there will be a shift out of bonds and into stocks. While the stock market rises, TNX will also rise and mortgage rates will go higher. It really is that simple.
I should throw in one more statement. If inflation picks up it will cause the FED to stop dropping rate and probably increase rates. This will cause a market drop which would normally result in TNX falling. However the increased inflation fears will cause a TNX rise that offsets this causing a rise in TNX instead of the expected drop.
If you're wanting to get a mortgage there is not a better time.