These are today's mortgage and refinance rates. Mortgage rates are likely to remain elevated until inflation comes down further.

It's important to understand that the Fed's decision to pause rate cuts will not directly impact mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are actually driven by a range of factors, including the Fed's rate changes. This week's Fed rate decision does, however, have a big influence on where mortgage rates could head.

Mortgage rates are largely stuck at 7% for the time being. The Federal Reserve on Wednesday announced that it was holding its benchmark interest rate steady. The 30-year mortgage rate barely budged following the Fed’s announcement,

Heading into today's Fed announcement, we didn't expect to receive any significant surprise on the stance of monetary policy.  Financial markets had long since ruled out the possibility of a rate cut and we knew Powell could only really acknowledge recent progress in inflation data while maintaining that more progress is needed for additional rate cuts.

Federal Reserve officials are almost certain to leave benchmark rates unchanged on Wednesday, which would end a run of three straight cuts.

Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth, joined TheStreet to discuss what higher for longer rates means for the economy in 2025. Related: Major housing analyst unveils mortgage forecast ahead of Fed meeting CONWAY GITTENS: So,