Rising jobless claims and cooler inflation helped rates fall today, but experts don't expect significant drops in the near future.

Fixed-rate mortgages are considered a hedge against inflation because they allow borrowers to lock in their monthly payment, no matter how high mortgage rates climb. If you can continue to make those payments in a recession, you’d be in a much safer position than borrowers who have adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), which fluctuate with the market.

Mortgage rates are down and under 7%. Today’s national average on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.94%, according to Bankrate. If you choose a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, the average rate is 6.10%.