Helping Washington State homeowners learn more about their mortgage options.
How are mortgage rates doing after the conflicting jobs data last week?
Will the Fed lower rates on Wednesday? (Spoiler alert – the Fed does not directly control mortgage interest rates).
What’s going on with federal student loans?
And an announcement on our upcoming webinar “Retire Like a Boss” on this week’s episode!
It’s Jobs Week AND we have PCE, the Fed’s favorite measure of inflation…. so how are mortgage rates fairing? Check out my latest post!
As expected, the Fed has decided to leave the Fed funds rate unchanged, leaving the targeted range between 4.25% and 4.5%. This rate does not directly affect mortgage interest rates, but rather influences the direction of mortgage interest rates (unless you have a home equity line of credit that is based on the prime rate).
What may impact mortgage rates today is the press conference following the Fed rate announcement. Stay tuned!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
You don’t need the luck of the Irish to have your own pot of gold! Check out my latest Mortgage Rate Update to learn where rates are trending, what may impact mortgage interest rates this week and where you can find your own pot of gold.
8:15 a.m. Today around 11:00 am PST, we’ll have the decision from the FOMC on whether they are making any adjustments to the federal funds interest rate. Odds are very strong (99.5% per the CME Group) that there will be no change at this meeting. This is what the markets are anticipating. If the Fed surprises us, then markets will react dramatically. The Fed’s actions and market reactions are what may impact mortgage rates today as mortgage rates are based on bonds (mortgage-backed securities). The Fed does not directly control mortgage interest rates.
Following the Fed announcement today, Fed Chair Powell will hold a press conference. What he says (or what the market interprets from his press conference) may also impact the direction of mortgage interest rates. The markets are watching for signs that inflation is cooling (good for mortgage rates) or if inflation is being stubborn (bad for mortgage rates).
Right now, MBS 30 year is pretty flat (down 4 basis points). [Read more…]
Are mortgage rates being naughty or nice? Check out my latest video on mortgage rates to find out how interest rates are behaving since the Fed dropped the Funds rate by 25 basis points.
It’s the last full-week of the year with the holidays upon us. We have the final Fed rate decision this week with a 25 basis point cut to the Fed Funds rate already baked into mortgage rates…but halls are decked with more than holly this week with other economic indicators that may impact the direction of mortgage rates.
Check out my latest video for more details, including the WORST purchase to make if you’re thinking about buying (or refinancing) a home.
Happy Holidays!
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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