Mortgage rates fluctuate daily, so a little volatility can always be expected. On Monday, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was around 6.96%, according to Bankrate data, which is 0.15% lower than January's peak of 7.11%. But February could see more turbulence than usual.

For his part, Lewis says mortgage rates are poised to drop in February, after climbing above 7% in January. “The direction of consumer prices will have the strongest effect on mortgage rates in February. The core inflation rate should decline further, giving bond yields and mortgage rates room to fall, but not by a lot,” says Lewis.

Rates on 15-year new purchase loans fell even more significantly last week, plunging 16 basis points to average 5.98% Friday. Like 30-year loans, 15-year rates sank to a two-year low in September, dropping as far as 4.97% (though the lowest Friday weekly average was 5.07%).