Tag: Rate

Will the Interest Rates Increase Soon?

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, demand for mortgage applications was 38 percent higher last week than during the same week one year ago. This was largely  driven by refinance demand.

Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s chief economist, said the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union was behind some of the irregularity.

“Whether the impact of Brexit will be contained to the initial shock of the ‘Vote Leave’ victory or will have a longer-term impact on markets is unclear …” Fratantoni said. “MBA’s best guess at this point is that the impact on the mortgage market will be to keep mortgage rates lower for longer, leading to another pickup in refinance activity in the near future.”

This is good news! The lower the interest rate, the lower the payment. The lower the payment, the more goes towards the principle balance. We all know: the more you pay towards the principle, the faster you pay your loan off.  More here.

Mortgage Rates At Lowest Level In 3 Years

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell to their lowest level in three years last week. In fact, rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances dropped to levels last seen in May 2013. Rates for jumbo loan balances were also down, falling lower than they’ve been since January 2011. Lynn Fisher, MBA’s vice president of research, says mortgage rates declined due to concerns about events in Europe. “Rates fell on concerns that Britain may vote to leave the European Union later this week. Although beliefs about the likelihood of an exit have since moderated, the ‘Brexit’ vote promises to bring continued volatility to markets,” Fisher told CNBC. Because of the rate drop, refinance activity – which is more sensitive to rate fluctuations – rose 7 percent from the previous week. Purchase demand, on the other hand, slipped 2 percent from one week earlier. Still, overall demand for mortgage applications is now 35 percent higher than it was at the same time last year. The MBA’s weekly survey has been conducted since 1990 and covers 75 percent of all retail residential mortgage applications. More here.

 

 

Rising Incomes Help Hopeful Home Buyers

The current housing market is a mixed bag. On the one hand, mortgage rates remain near record lows. At the same time, home price increases are causing affordability concerns. Additionally, home buyer demand is high but the number of homes available for sale is low. Because of this, recent results of Fannie Mae’s monthly Home Purchase Sentiment Index have been volatile. In March, sentiment hit an 18-month low. Then, according to the most recent release, it reached an all-time survey high in May. Partly, the increase in optimism was due to a 7 percent jump in the number of Americans who said their income was significantly higher than it was a year ago. Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist, says rising incomes and low mortgage rates could help home buyers facing higher prices and fewer choices. “Continued home price appreciation has been squeezing housing affordability, driving a two-year downward trend in the share of consumers who think it’s a good time to buy a home,” Duncan said. “The current low mortgage rate environment has helped ease this pressure, and fewer than half of consumers expect rates to go up in the next year. While the May increase in income growth perceptions could provide further support to prospective home buyers as the spring/summer home buying season gains momentum, the effect may be muted by May’s discouraging jobs report.” More here.