Note to Buyers: If there was ever a better time to lock in your rate, now would be a good time to do so. Historically rates inch up as the mercury rises. Be it supply and demand or just an attempt to slow things down as lenders become overwhelmed with work (just while staff is taking time off for summer vacations), nobody really knows. But one thing is certain, after being in the business of helping buyers purchase property, it never fails that rates take a slight hike come summer.