Articles Tagged With: Interest Rate Trends

July 28, 2016

Mortgage Rate Trends: Slightly Lower After Fed

All eyes were on the Fed on Wednesday, with investors looking for any sign of a Fed move to hike interest rates. Some market watchers thought the Fed might drop a hint or make specific statements about what it might do in the next meeting; the Fed made no such statements. The reaction to this was mixed, some lenders repriced for the better, but not all. You may see changes in the next business day but as it stands at the time of this writing, things are (best execution) more or less where they were yesterday, with some lenders offering slightly lower rates or closing costs. 30-year fixed rate best execution interest rate numbers are at or near 3.5% at the time of this writing, with FHA mortgage rates still | more...

July 27, 2016

Mortgage Loan Interest Rate Trends: Highest In Four Weeks

By Joe Wallace

There have been many influences on lower mortgage rates as of late, and as the trend has shifted to a move higher, we’re seeing stateside economic data returning to a greater place of influence over rates than Brexit headlines. One good example? All eyes are turning to the Fed this week-nobody expects the Fed to make any earth-shattering pronouncements, but investor reaction to this week’s activity could well pressure rates higher depending on circumstances. In the shadow of a Fed policy announcement on Wednesday, mortgage rates pushed higher on Tuesday, putting 30-year conventional fixed rate loans more solidly in 3.5% best execution territory. FHA mortgage loan rates, at the time of this writing, are at a best execution 3.25%. As always, best execution rates assume ideal conditions. A borrowers FICO | more...

July 19, 2016

Mortgage Rate Trends: Unchanged To Slightly Higher

By Joe Wallace

Mortgage loan interest rates were unchanged to slightly higher on Monday, though some borrowers will have noticed Monday’s changes in the form of slightly higher closing costs rather than an actual change in mortgage rates. We’re watching an overall upward trend in rates at the moment. World headlines continue to have potential to move rates, though the market hasn’t given much attention to certain issues such as the unrest in Turkey. 30-year fixed rate conventional mortgages were still at or near 3.375% best execution, depending on the lender and other factors. Some lenders are higher, some reflect the most recent moves in terms of adjusted closing costs (as mentioned above). FHA mortgage loan rates remain in their 3.25% best execution comfort zone. “Best execution” refers to the rates offered under | more...

July 15, 2016

Mortgage Rate Trends: Rising

By Joe Wallace

Mortgage loan rates have been on the rise most of the week; three out of four business days were marked by higher numbers or closing costs and with Brexit, overseas terrorism headlines, and domestic scheduled economic data releases, it’s possible we’re going to see rates creeping up over the short term next week much the way we did this week. At the time of this writing, 30-year fixed rate conventional mortgages are, best execution, reported at or near 3.375%, up this week from the previous week’s range bottoming out at 3.25%. FHA mortgage loan rates are currently holding in their 3.25% comfort zone. How long can they persist at or near these levels? Next week will be interesting to watch. (As always, best execution rates listed here assume ideal conditions; | more...

July 7, 2016

Mortgage Rate Trends: Still Moving Lower

By Joe Wallace

Mortgage rates moved lower for an eighth straight business day on Wednesday. We’re devoting some extra coverage to rates this week as the historic lows continue, but it’s entirely likely that our next report in the short term could be on rates moving higher; this is a common factor in prolonged short-term rate improvements. There has been, in the past, a string of days where rates move lower due to a variety of factors, then a “bounce back” where the trend is broken due to economic data releases, breaking news, or some other issue that puts upward pressure back onto mortgage loan rates. Eight days of a downward trend is a long time in the short term, and while Brexit drama has been dominating the headlines and influencing rates here | more...

June 28, 2016

Mortgage Rate Trends: Still Moving Lower After Brexit Vote

By Joe Wallace

Mortgage loan rates dropped sharply after the news of the Brexit vote last week, and the fallout from that outcome is still affecting mortgage rates in the short term. The popular vote in Britain to leave the EU is not legally binding-the government there must still make procedural moves to actually depart, and there’s some uncertainty over when or even IF that might happen. Talk of a second referendum is in the news, as well as talk about the “what if” notion of the government in Britain simply doing nothing, not departing the EU in spite of the vote. That, of course, is very much in the realm of speculation at the time of this writing. What does all this mean at home? That investors are still reacting to the | more...

June 23, 2016

Mortgage Loan Interest Rate Trends: Moving Higher

By Joe Wallace

Mortgage loan interest rates are moving higher. On Wednesday afternoon it was the fourth straight day of higher movement for rates, and depending on investor reaction to the Brexit referendum in Britain on Thursday we could be in for a continued upward trend. The Brexit referendum naturally does not have any direct effect on mortgage loan rates, but how investors react to this overseas economic news can and likely will push rates in one direction or another. There is also the possibility (however remote) that other breaking news or economic data could take attention away from Brexit drama. It’s something that has happened before, but could it happen with such a major event as the Brexit decision? In any case, there are some industry pros who are convinced that rates | more...

June 21, 2016

Mortgage Rate Trends: Higher, Faster To Begin The Week

By Joe Wallace

Mortgage rates kicked off the week moving higher and faster than last Friday. The “Brexit” drama in Europe is partly to blame, as investor reaction to the economic uncertainty there influences mortgage rates here. For a while, bond market activity in that regard was favorable to mortgage loan interest rates, but now the wind seems to be shifting directions. The fact that investors don’t know what will happen with the Brexit (will Britain stay in the EU or depart?) and more importantly, don’t know what will happen economically as a result of whatever choice ends up being made is contributing to volatility and potential volatility between now and Brexit referendum time on Thursday. There are some market watchers who are now saying that recent lows are likely as low as | more...

June 15, 2016

Mortgage Rate Trends: Pots-Fed Rates Are Still Holding At Or Near Recent Gains

By Joe Wallace

All eyes were on the Fed on Wednesday for a much anticipated announcement about the future of interest rate hikes. As a June 15 2016 USA Today article mentions, “The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday and predicted more gradual hikes the next few years amid somewhat slower economic growth and persistent headwinds to a more vibrant economy.” The Fed issued a statement following a two-day meeting, and while there is no indication the Fed definitely will NOT raise rates in July, recent economic data release leads some to believe that July is too early for the Fed to make that move. As the USA Today article states, Fed Chair Janet Yellin was quoted on Wednesday saying, “We need to assure ourselves that the underlying momentum in the | more...

June 6, 2016

Mortgage Rate Trends: Lower After Jobs Report

By Joe Wallace

Ever since the Fed began discussing the possibility of another interest rate hike, we’ve seen upward pressure on mortgage loan interest rates. 30-year fixed rate conventional mortgage loan interest rates had fallen as low as 3.5% for some of the most competitive lenders (best execution) prior to that Fed talk, but once the upward movement began it wasn’t long before conventional rates began hitting 3.75% territory. During all this time, FHA mortgage loan rates held steady in a best execution range between 3.25% and 3.5%. As we frequently mention, FHA mortgage loan interest rates can and do vary more among participating lenders, so it pays to shop around. The FHA best execution range of rates mentioned here persisted even when conventional rates were going back and forth between a range | more...