Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A new study shows getting a home these days is becoming a more difficult task for Arkansans.
According to WalletHub, the Natural State ranked at number eight in the U.S. for states where mortgage interest rates are increasing the most. The study compared proprietary user data from all 50 states to measure how much homeowners’ and buyers’ financial burdens have shifted in recent months.
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The data shows that the average mortgage interest rate in Arkansas jumped by 1.04% between the first and second quarters of 2026. As of Q2 2026, the average mortgage rate in Arkansas sites at 5.13%.
While the state’s average rate remains below the national average for 30-year fixed mortgages–which have consistently hovered above 6% this year–the sharp quarter-over-quarter increase indicates a tightening market for prospective buyers in Craighead County and the rest of the state.
Nationally, the trend reflects a broader affordability issue. WalletHub found that average mortgage interest rates increased in 37 out of 50 states from Q1 to Q2 of this year.
“It’s a difficult time to buy a house, given that home prices have risen astronomically over the past few years and housing shortages make it hard to find the right place even if you have the money,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo. “Although interest rates are still down a bit from the highs we saw last year, they’re a far cry from the historic lows during the pandemic.”
Mississippi took the top spot for the largest spike, seeing a 1.92% increase in average mortgage rates. Colorado (1.60%) and neighboring Tennessee (1.57%) rounded out the top three. North Dakota saw the most significant relief, with rates plummeting by 3.68%.
Read the full study here.
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