This week is packed with economic data that may influence the direction of mortgage rates wrapping up with the Jobs Report on Friday. Mortgage rates will also react to world tensions, such as what’s taking place in the Middle East. This is because mortgage rates are based on bonds (mortgage backed securities) and investors often seek the safety of bonds over the potentially higher return found with stocks. Stocks are taking a hit this morning and mortgage backed securities are improved.Here are some of the economic indicators that are scheduled to be released this week:
Archives for September 2014
What May Impact Mortgage Rates this Week: September 29, 2014
September 29, 2014 by 1 Comment
How much does a bump in interest rates impact home buyers?
September 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’m reading an article this morning, “When Mortgage Rates Rise”, which addresses something that I’m often asked and that I also addressed recently on post here. Essentially, the “experts” are predicting that we will mortgage rates trend higher to around the 5% range by mid to late next year. Historically, speaking, 5% is not a high rate… in fact, I’m sure I wrote a blog post about when mortgage rates dipped as low as 5% back around 2008 . Our “problem” is that we have become accustomed to fixed rates in the 3 to 4% range. Mortgage rates have been at artificially low levels for a long period. And I agree that we will see this end as the Fed continues to pull back their support of mortgage backed securities.
Kent Home Buyer Education Class
September 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I will be teaching a home buyer class in Kent with Ira Sacharoff of Better Properties Real Estate on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at Mortgage Master Service Corporation’s home office which is located just south of South Center on West Valley Highway.
Refinancing after paying cash for your home
September 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The greater Seattle – Bellevue competitive housing markets have been experiencing a higher amount of buyers paying “all cash” for homes. Refinancing after you’ve paid cash for a home is also referred to as “delayed financing”. Delayed financing may also take place when a person is buying a foreclosed home at auction at the court house. Historically, “all-cash” buyers who want to refinance after closing to re-coup the cash they used to purchase their homes had to wait six months after the purchase before they can do a “cash-out” refi. Now, home buyers who used “all-cash” to buy their home no longer have to wait months to refinance to get their cash back.
What May Impact Mortgage Rates this Week: September 22, 2014.
September 22, 2014 by 1 Comment
Happy first day of fall! Mortgage rates continue to be in a fairly tight range and are slightly improved compared to last Monday’s rate post.
Here’s a short list of economic indicators that may impact the direction of mortgage rates this week:
Seattle Home Buyer Education Class on November 8, 2014
September 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
NOTE: This class has been rescheduled for another date and location.
I will be teaching a home buyer class in Seattle with Jim Repppond of Coldwell Banker Danforth on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Greenwood Library in Seattle.
The class is sponsored by the Washington State Housing Finance Commission. Students who attend are eligible for programs like Home Advantage or House Key Opportunity (the Washington state bond program) or Freddie Mac Home Possible. Students are also eligible for various down payment assistance programs and MCC (mortgage credit certificates).
What May Impact Mortgage Rates this Week: September 15, 2014
September 17, 2014 by 1 Comment
This is a painting on black velvet that I did of our Fed Chairwoman, Janet Yellen, that hangs in my office. All eyes and ears will be on the Fed after the two day meeting FOMC meeting wraps up today. Here are some of the economic indicators scheduled to be released this week:
Congratulations to the Washington State Housing Finance Commission!
September 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’ve just learned that last month, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission did their 50,000 closing! In other words, WSHFC has helped over 50,000 families buy a home in Washington state using one of their first mortgage and down payment assistance programs. The 50,000th home buyers are from Federal Way and represent a typical Home Advantage home buyer:
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