The mortgage rate drop provides little relief for prospective shoppers looking ahead to the spring homebuying season.

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.

The federal funds rate and mortgage interest rates are often expected to move together, but they haven’t lately. Here’s why.