Homeowners faced a sticker shock at the end of 2025 as the average  monthly mortgage payment  topped $2,000 for the first time—a historic milestone reflecting the combined pressure of high home prices and  elevated interest rates . In the fourth quarter of last year, the average payment for existing mortgage holders climbed to $2,005, representing a striking 44% surge compared to 2021, according to the latest  quarterly outstanding mortgage report  from the Realtor.com® economic research team.