Mortgage Market Update for the week of January 16, 2024

Where are mortgage rates? What may impact the direction of mortgage rates this week? Check out my latest video for more information!
If you are considering buying or refinancing a home, even if it’s a year or more away, I am happy to help you create a plan. Please contact me for more info!

Mortgage Market Update for the week of January 8, 2024


PS: Go HUSKIES!!! 🙂

My Interview with Market Share’s Tony Blodgett


I had a great time meeting Tony Blodgett at New American Funding’s studio in the Everett office to record an episode of Market Shares. We talk about the transition from Mortgage Master to New American Funding, how I wound up in lending and the current market and more!

Thanks for the interview, Tony!

Surprise! It’s a strong Jobs Report

May’s Jobs Report came in much better than expected this morning with 2.51 million jobs ADDED vs the anticipated the 8.5 million jobs lost. Personally, this sounds too good to be true to me and I’m thinking that we’ll see corrections in the months to come…of course, I hope I’m wrong and that an economic (and health) recovery is here. [Read more…]

How to Grab a Low Mortgage Rate in a Volatile Market

Lately I’ve felt like I’m sitting in the front row of a roller coaster with the wild swings in mortgage interest rates. Mortgage rates have been at 50 year lows this past week – the lowest levels since Freddie Mac started keeping track with their weekly mortgage survey. This is largely due to fears in the market caused by the coronavirus. The Dow has been taking wild plunges, then will rally only to dip again. Mortgage rates are based on bonds (mortgage backed securities) and when investors are pulling funds from stocks, they will often seek the safety of bonds. We’ve seen that this past week when rates dropped to the lowest levels I have seen in my 20 year career as a Mortgage Professional. We are in uncharted territory. [Read more…]

Market Volatility and Lower Mortgage Rates

Freddie Mac’s PMMS report shows that mortgage interest rates have dropped this week largely due to the market volatility with the on again off again trade war with China.

[Read more…]

Greater Seattle’s Shifting Real Estate Market

You’ve probably heard that the Seattle’s sizzling real estate market has cooled a bit with home prices starting to come down. This is great news for folks who have grown weary battling in bidding wars only to have their offers rejected time after time. It looks like, at least right now, things may be returning to be more “normal”. [Read more…]

How does economic news impact mortgage interest rates?

Mortgage rates are based on bonds (mortgage backed securities) and are traded fairly similar as stocks. Investors tend to favor stocks over bonds as stocks tend to provide a better return. However, investors will opt for bonds over stocks when they are seeking safety when markets are tumultuous.  When the stock market is on a run, odds are mortgage rates may be moving higher as investors are selecting stocks over bonds. And when the stock market is tanking, mortgage rates tend to improve for the same reason. [Read more…]