What does this grainy picture of me and Coach Knox have to do with mortgage rates? Nothing… but this week has everything to do with the Seattle Seahawks as we count the minutes down to the Super Bowl!!  This photo was taken in 1986 for a calendar back when I worked in a title unit at Chicago Title… I’m wearing Kenny Easley’s uniform and yes, that is really Chuck!

This week is packed full of economic indicators that my impact the direction of mortgage interest rates. Also, mortgage rates are based on bonds (mortgage backed securities) and when there is a sell off in the stock market, we tend to see mortgage rates improve. This is because investors will seek the safety of bonds over the volatility sometimes found with stocks. We’re seeing a bit of that now with mortgage rates trending lower.

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Mortgage rates are improved  following Friday’s disappointing Jobs Report.

Mortgage rates are based on bonds (mortgage backed securities) which can react in reverse to stocks. If stocks are on a hot streak, you may see investors trade of safety of bonds for the potentially quicker return found in stocks (the reverse is also probable). Signs of inflation may also cause mortgage rates to trend higher.

Here are the economic indicators scheduled to be released this week (no indicators are scheduled for today):

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