The already scalding-hot housing market is likely to heat up even more.

Mortgage interest rates continued their downward descent, hitting yet another record—largely thanks to the pandemic, and the resulting economic downturn, dragging on. Rates fell to just 2.88% for 30-year, fixed-rate loans in the week ending Aug. 6, according to Freddie Mac.

That’s the lowest rates have ever been since Freddie Mac began tracking them in 1971. They fell from 2.99% last week and are down from a higher 3.6% at the same time last year. “The mortgage rates are really fueling the [housing] market this summer,” says George Ratiu, realtor.com®’s senior economist.

Source: Mortgage Rates Fall to New Record Low ,Adding Fuel to Housing Market | realtor.com®