[30-Year U.S. Mortgage Rate Rises to 7.49%, Hitting a Nearly Three-Year High] According to a report by Jinse Finance, on October 7, U.S. mortgage rates rose for the seventh consecutive week, climbing to their highest level in nearly three years, further exacerbating housing affordability issues in the United States. Data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on Wednesday showed that as of the week ending October 2, the 30-year fixed mortgage contract rate in the U.S. increased by 19 basis points to 7.49%, marking the highest level since November 2023. Over the past three weeks, the 30-year mortgage rate has risen by approximately 0.5 percentage points, the fastest increase since the beginning of 2023. Elevated home prices, combined with rising mortgage rates, have made it difficult for both existing and new home sales in the U.S. to sustain their previous recovery momentum. The MBA's Purchase Mortgage Application Index fell by 2.1%, hitting its lowest level in over a year, while the index measuring refinancing applications dropped by 7.5%, continuing the downward trend that began in mid-August.