Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
This week’s calendar appears to be on the light side. Mortgage rates will be taking ques from the from stocks. All eyes will be on Congress with their vote on whether or not to be taking action against Syria.
The Treasury will start selling $65 billion in notes and bonds on Tuesday, which may also impact rates.
Here are the economic indicators scheduled to be released this week:
It’s not only economic indicators that may impact the direction of mortgage rates, world events, such as what’s going on in Syria, may also cause rates to go down or up. This is because mortgage interest rates are based on mortgage backed securities (bonds) and when their is uncertainty in the world, investors may seek the safety of bonds, which tends to cause mortgage rates to improve. Remember, as the stock market improves, investors will trade the safety of bonds (like mortgage backed securities) for the potentially quicker returns found in stocks.
I thought it would be interesting to share a historic snapshot of where rates have have been based on a national annual average back to when I began my mortgage career in 2000.
The chart below is based on a 30 year fixed conventional as reported by Freddie Mac. NOTE: 2013 is not on the chart below because this is based on “annual” averages.
Mortgage rates are currently hanging around back to 2011 levels. As you can see, mortgage rates are still historically very low.
In fact, back when I bought my first home in 1988, the average annual mortgage rate was 10.34 with 2.1 points!
My point is, rates are still historically low and won’t stay this low forever.
If you would like me to provide you a rate quote for your home purchase or refinance on property located anywhere in Washington state, please click here.
This week is packed full of economic data that may dramatically impact mortgage rates. Not only do we have the results of the Fed meeting on Wednesday, we wind up the week with the Jobs Report on Friday. I anticipate this will be another volatile week for mortgage interest rates.
EDITORS NOTE: One of the joys of writing a mortgage blog is that guidelines and procedures change…and change often. This gives me a great opportunity to provide you with an updated post. With HUD’s creation of the 2010 Good Faith Estimate, a lot of the information in the original post is no longer relevant (relating to the GFE) from the original article I wrote on locking back in 2007. With that said, here’s my updated post…we’ll see if we need to revise this again once CFPB issues their version of the Good Faith Estimate!
I love it when I’m asked an excellent question from a potential client. This person is still shopping for his next home and who the lender will be to provide financing. At this point, I have provided several good faith estimates and a total costs analysis to compare possible scenarios side by side along with how the mortgages may be working for him in 5 and 10 years.
This morning, mortgage backed securities are recovering from Friday’s fiasco following the better than expected Jobs Report. On Wednesday, the minutes from the last Fed meeting will be released which may set mortgage rates off on another roller coaster ride.
Here are some of the economic indicators scheduled to be released this week:
This is a short week packed full of economic data that may impact already turbulent mortgage rates. It may look like a light week – watch for Friday’s Jobs Report. The bond and stock markets will close early Wednesday and reopen on Friday following the 4th of July holiday.
Monday, July 1: ISM Index
Wednesday, July 3: Initial Jobless Class and ISM Services Index
Thursday, July 4th: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
Friday, July 5: The Jobs Report
If you would like me to provide you with a rate quote for your purchase or refinance of a home located anywhere in Washington state, where I’m licensed, please click here.
Mortgage rates have been moving higher causing some home buyers and rate shoppers a bit of surprise. Mortgage rates have been trending up with hints of QE3 and the Fed’s bond buying program, which has kept mortgage rates at artificial lows, may be wrapping up soon. Freddie Mac reports that the 30 year fixed is at 3.91% when paying 0.7 points and if not points are paid, the rate is 4.09%. Keep in mind that the rates Freddie has posted today are from last week and rates have continued to nudge higher.
Rhonda Porter is a Licensed Mortgage Originator MLO121324 living in the greater Seattle area. Rhonda began her career in 1986 in the title and escrow industry and began her mortgage career in 2000. She enjoys helping people understand the mortgage process and started writing The Mortgage Porter in late 2006. Read More…
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