Tag Archives: Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates retreated this week, marking the second week in a row they've headed lower. Interest rates began a sharp ascension in early November, and experts have warned that the trend is likely to continue. The recent change of pace was attributed to last Friday's jobs report, which was weaker than market forecasts. Freddie Mac says 30-year rates this week dropped to 4.71 percent while 15-year rates fell to 4.08 percent. Bankrate says the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate edged down to 5.57 percent.

The number of mortgage applications filed by consumers rose last week as interest rates eased and more homeowners moved to refinance their home loans. According to data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Wednesday, total mortgage loan application volume increased 2.2 percent for the week ending January 7, 2011, when compared to the previous week. It marked the second week in a row that application volume has climbed as MBA's index hit its highest level in nearly a month.

Two separate industry reports released Thursday show that mortgage interest rates across the board retreated this week, beginning the new year slightly lower than levels seen at the end of 2010, and still well below where they sat at the beginning of last year. Freddie Mac says the downward movement, however slight, ""should help aid the recovery in the housing market."" However, Bankrate warns that if Friday's jobs report proves positive, it could push mortgage rates higher.

The number of mortgage applications filed by consumers bounced up and down during the final weeks of 2010, dropping the week before the Christmas Day holiday and rising the week after. Market watchers warn that although a number of economic indicators have signaled improvement in recent weeks, the incremental boosts are doing little to lift the home financing market, which with mortgage rates steadily rising, looks to be situated for many more months of depressed activity.

Mortgage interest rates began to climb again last week, after falling the week prior for the first time in more than a month. Freddie Mac says the results of its latest survey reveal increasing mortgage rates for all loan products included in the study except the 1-year adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). Rates across the board climbed higher in a separate study released by Bankrate. More than half of the industry experts surveyed by Bankrate believe mortgage rates will continue to rise.

Frank Nothaft, chief economist for Freddie Mac, says he expects long-term mortgage rates to hold below the 5 percent threshold throughout 2011, as key macroeconomic drivers provide a backdrop that supports a continued, albeit gradual, housing recovery. Turning to home prices, Nothaft says markets that have large inventories of for-sale homes and REO properties will continue to see home-value weakness in 2011, but he believes price indexes for the U.S. as a whole are close to bottoming out.

A report from Fitch Ratings paints a negative picture for the Title Insurance Industry in 2011. According to the report, the title insurance market is severely affected by the current state of the economy, most notably the sharp decline in real estate and mortgage activity. According to the report, the title insurance market is severely affected by the current state of the economy, most notably the sharp decline in real estate and mortgage activity.

Long-term fixed mortgage interest rates fell back this week, breaking a six-week streak of steep increases. Data released by Freddie Mac Thursday showed rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging 4.81 percent, and 15-year rates at 4.15 percent. A separate study by Bankrate also showed declines for most loan products - all except for the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate, which inched higher to 5.59 percent. Bankrate expects continued economic improvement to push mortgage rates higher as the new year unfolds.

Consumer demand for home mortgages fell sharply last week, as interest rates continued to edge up from six-month highs. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported Wednesday that its measurement of total mortgage loan application volume plunged 18.6 percent for the week ending December 17. The steep drop was driven by a 24.6 percent decline in applications for mortgage refinancing, which have fallen for six straight weeks now.

Rising mortgage rates pushed first-time homebuyers to buy properties in November, while investors lost their enthusiasm for distressed properties, according to a new report from Campbell Surveys. The research firm found first-time buyers' share of home purchases jumped from 34.4 percent in October to 37.2 percent last month as long-term rates began to climb from record lows set in early November. Meanwhile, investor activity continued a two-month decline.