In a news-heavy week, mortgage markets improved last week, adding to a 3-week rally. But, given last week’s data and domestic story lines, it’s surprising that rates actually fell. The Federal Reserve said the economy continues to strengthen Consumer Confidence pushed to a 2-year high 4th Quarter domestic output exceeded Wall Street’s expectations Usually, events… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: interest rates
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : January 11, 2010
Data was sparse through 2010′s first trading week last week, setting the stage for a week of momentum trading. In up-and-down trading, mortgage pricing improved overall but the best rates of the week didn’t last long. Rates improved Monday and Tuesday as an oversold market corrected itself to better price points. Then, in anticipation of… Continue Reading
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : December 21, 2009
Mortgage markets improved last week as pricing followed a roller coaster-like pattern. After touching a 6-week high Tuesday, rates rallied to weekly lows Thursday, and then jumped back higher Friday. Despite the improvement last week overall, mortgage pricing remains significantly worse from the all-time lows set in late-November. Oddly, last week’s most prominent mortgage-related story… Continue Reading
The Federal Reserve’s Relationship To Mortgage Rates
The Federal Open Market Committee meets today for the last time in 2009. It’s a 2-day meeting and the Fed is expected to leave the Fed Funds Rate near 0.000 percent. But that doesn’t mean mortgage rates won’t change. See, a major misperception among the public is that the Federal Reserve sets mortgage rates. That’s false. … Continue Reading
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates in Arizona This Week : November 16, 2009
Mortgage markets improved last week as foreign buyers of mortgage debt helped to push mortgage rates to a 4-week low. It marked the 3rd consecutive week that rates improved in Arizona, breathing extra life into this year’s ongoing Refi Boom. Fixed-rate, conforming mortgage rates fell about 0.125 percent on the week. ARMs did about the… Continue Reading
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : November 9, 2009
Mortgage markets were extremely volatile last week, carving out a wide range between Monday and Friday. Thankfully for rate shoppers, the overall momentum was positive. Mortgage rates fell for the second time in as many weeks. Rates still sit higher versus their early-October lows. For pure “news”, last week was a busy one: The Federal Reserve… Continue Reading
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : October 13, 2009
Mortgage markets worsened last week as investors responded to a recovering global economy. Despite briefly touching their lowest levels since May, mortgage rates ended the week dramatically higher. It’s the second straight week that rates soared on a Friday. For several months, Wall Street has been in limbo; undecided whether the economy istruly showing signs… Continue Reading
Pending Homes Sales Gain For The 7th Straight Month
Buoyed by a generous tax credit, affordable homes, and low mortgage rates, the Pending Home Sales Index posted its seventh consecutive monthly gain in August. It’s the longest winning streak in the index’s history and the highest reading in 2-1/2 years. It’s also another signal that the housing market is in recovery. “Pending home sales” are… Continue Reading
Ben Bernanke Leaves Clues About The Future Of Mortgage Rates
On the 1-year anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday that the “recession is very likely over at this point”. His comments were supported by a Retail Sales report for August that was much better-than-expected. Equities improved on the day, mortgage markets worsened, and home affordability suffered. The days of ultra-low… Continue Reading
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : August 24, 2009
Mortgage markets finished the week unchanged last week but don’t let that make you think the markets were flat. It was a bumpy five days and rates were volatile. Friday was the worst day of the week by far. An all-day deterioration, sparked by better-than-expected housing data, caused mortgage rates to tack on a quarter-percent by the noon… Continue Reading