Posts Tagged ‘ Eurozone ’

What’s Ahead For #Mortgage Rates This Week : September 12, 2011

September 12, 2011
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Eurozone trouble aids mortgage ratesMortgage markets improved last week as a weakening Eurozone and questions about the U.S. economy sparked a global flight-to-quality. Conforming and FHA mortgage rates improved for the second week in a row.

The storylines should sound familiar by now. They are the same ones that have dictated the path of mortgage rates since April 2011. As a result, according to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates across Washington State and nationwide are now at an all-time low.

Not in 50 years of tracking mortgage rates has pricing been so favorable.

Last week’s holiday-shortened week didn’t begin well for rate shoppers in Lacey. Rates moved higher on the expectation of additional economic stimulus from two separate parts of the government — the Federal Reserve and Congress.

Wall Street held high hopes for Ben Bernanke’s address to the Economic Club of Minnesota, and for the President’s address to a joint session of Congress. It expected Fed Chief Bernanke to reveal clues about the Fed’s next move; and it expected the President to unleash a massive jobs creation program that would put more Americans to work.

Both outcomes would have harmed mortgage rates as money flowed into stocks. However, neither happened. Bernanke kept mum on the Federal Reserve’s options and the White House announced a jobs program smaller in scope than was expected.

Mortgage rates fell throughout the day Thursday then received a big boost Friday.

Amid rumors of a pending Greek default and the potential credit downgrades of several Eurozone banking groups, safe haven buying picked up and drove mortgage rates down.

Markets open this week with rates lower than they’ve ever been in history.

There isn’t much new data set for release this week so market expectations will continue to set the direction in which mortgage rates go. If concerns for a Eurozone default rise, mortgage rates should fall. Conversely, if Eurozone chatter settles, mortgage rates should rise.

For now, mortgage rates remain at all-time lows and should not be taken for granted. If you see a rate that makes sense for you, consider locking it in.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : September 6, 2011

September 6, 2011
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Eurozone debt concerns resurfaceMortgage markets improved last week on a weak jobs report, expectation for new market stimulus, growing evidence of a global economic slowdown. Rates were especially volatile, too, with the long Labor Day Weekend looming.

Overall, conforming mortgage rates in Washington State improved for the first time in 3 weeks. On a product-by-product basis, though, mortgage rates are faring differently.

According to the Freddie Mac weekly mortgage rate survey, last week, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage was unchanged but the 15-year fixed rate mortgage and the 5-year ARM fell.

The 5-year ARM is at a new all-time low for qualified borrowers.

A drop in 5-year ARM rates throughout Tumwater without a corresponding drop in 30-year fixed mortgage rates signals that markets expect the economy to stabilize over the long-term but with weakness in the near-term. The 5-year ARM’s ultra-low rates suggests marked weakness ahead.

The 5-year ARM may get another boost this week, too.

While U.S. markets were closed for Labor Day, Eurozone nations were hit with new wave of sovereign debt concern, this time centered on Italy. Greece, Portugal and Ireland have already been the subject of debt default debate this year. Italy’s inclusion hit equity market hard and safe-haven buying re-commenced.

This should give a good start to mortgage rates this week. Look for rates to start lower. That’s not to say, however, that they’ll finish the week lower. With very little economic data due for release, markets will move on momentum and momentum can change in a flash.

The two biggest potential market movers both come Thursday. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks in Minnesota at 1:00 PM, and United States President Barack Obama addresses the nation at 7:00 PM. Both speeches are highly anticipated and should cause markets to move.

For all your mortgage needs & questions call William Tuning at CU Mortgage Division at (360) 539-4687.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : August 22, 2011

August 22, 2011
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Eurozone concerns aid mortgage ratesMortgage markets improved again last week, pushing mortgage rates in Washington State to an all-time low; lower than the lows set last November, even.

Last week’s low mortgage rate drivers are primarily European. Joining the debt concerns that have dogged Europe since March, a fresh wave of doubt has surfaced about the health of some Eurozone banks. The fears sparked a new wave of safe haven buying.

Global equities were socked last week and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for the 4th straight week. For home buyers in Tumwater , though, the timing may be perfect. As stock markets lose, bond markets gain and when bond markets gain, mortgage rates drop.

According to government-group Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage rate survey, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 4.17% last week with 0.7 points. This is the lowest rate-and-points combination in history.

The 5-year ARM fell to 3.08 with 0.5 points.

As mortgage rates fall, though, be wary of trying to “time the market”. It’s impossible to know when rates have bottomed and mortgage rates tend to spike without notice. That’s what happened in May 2010. And then again in November 2010. And then a third time in April 2011.

When rates rise, they could tack on 0.500% or more overnight.

This week, there is a lot that can move mortgage rates. With housing data set for Tuesday release, the Eurozone stories still unfolding, and three Treasury auctions planned, it’s best to be ready for locking.

If you’re floating a mortgage rate or still shopping, consider locking your rate as soon as possible. Rates trended higher to close out last week and will be riding that momentum forward. Rates are lower than they’ve been in history.

Take advantage of it.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : August 15, 2011

August 15, 2011
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Fed Funds Rates August 2011Mortgage markets improved again last week. The combination of global economic uncertainty plus a dour outlook from the Federal Reserve pushed mortgage bonds to highs for 2011, and drove mortgage rates below their all-time lows.

Bonds were volatile, driven by the stock market’s gyrations.

On 4 consecutive days, the Dow Jones Industrial Average moved by more than 400 points. Rate shoppers in Washington State had no choice but to go along for the ride.

The week began with the market’s reaction to Standard & Poor’s U.S. credit rating downgrade. Mortgage bonds caught a boost on the news, and pushing rates lower throughout the day.

Tuesday, rates idled ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. There was speculation that the Federal Reserve would introduce a new round of economic stimulus but that didn’t happen. Instead, the Fed pledged to keep the Fed Funds Rate in its current range near zero percent until mid-2013, at least.

Mortgage rates dropped on the announcement and continued to drop until they fell to their lowest levels of the year — and of all-time — late Wednesday afternoon.

This proved to be the lowest rates of the week.

Thursday and Friday were marked by better-than-expected jobless figures and an improving Retail Sales number. Mortgage rates rose slightly.

This week, mortgage rates should be equally as volatile.

In addition to new bailout talks within the Eurozone, there is a bevy of economic data due for release in the U.S., as well as a full Fed speaker docket:

  • Monday : Homebuilder Confidence Survey; Fed President Lockhart speaks
  • Tuesday : Housing Starts; Building Permits
  • Wednesday : Producer Price Index; Fed President Fisher speaks
  • Thursday : Existing Home Sales; Fed President Dudley speaks
  • Friday : Fed President Pianalto speaks

Mortgage rates have been trending lower in recent weeks and there are few reasons to think that trend will reverse. However, mortgage markets can be wildly unpredictable — especially when acted upon by an outside force such as the Federal Reserve or the U.S. government.

Stimulus and rheotoric can change mortgage rates in a hurry.

Therefore, if you see today’s rates and they fit within your budget, consider locking something in. Once rates start to rise, they’re going to rise quickly.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : June 6, 2011

June 6, 2011
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Non-Farm Payrolls June 2009 - May 2011Mortgage markets improved last week, carried by the same stories that have led markets better since April. Worries of a Eurozone sovereign debt default mounted, and the U.S. economy’s revival showed itself to be slower than originally anticipated.

In Greece, the nation readied itself for its second bailout in two years. The austerity measures of last year have not worked as planned. There are concerns that a default would lead to contagion, delivering the Euro region into an economic tailspin.

These fears spurred a flight-to-quality in bond circles to the benefit of U.S. mortgage rate shoppers.

In addition, last week’s U.S. jobs data fell short of expectations, giving another boost to mortgage markets.

There were 3 weak reports:

  1. ADP showed 38,000 private-sector jobs created in May. Analysts expected 170,000.
  2. The Department of Labor showed 422,000 Initial Jobless Claims. Analysts expected 415,000.
  3. The Bureau of Labor Statistics showed 54,000 jobs created in May. Analysts expected 150,000.

Each of these data points underscores the fragile nature of the U.S. recovery, and the weaker-than-expected readings helped mortgage rates improve.

It’s the sixth week of 7 that mortgage rates in Olympia have improved, setting the stage for a new wave of refinances.

This week, there is very little new data on which for mortgage bonds to trade. Therefore, expect the stories from recent weeks to continue to dominate headlines. If Greece’s austerity and/or bailout plan is met with investor optimism, mortgage rates should rise. If the plan falls flat, mortgage rates should fall.

There will also be chatter about the U.S. debt ceiling, another potentially negative force on mortgage rates.

If you’re floating a mortgage rate right now, consider locking in. There’s a lot more room for rates to rise than to fall.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : June 28, 2010

June 28, 2010
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Non-Farm Payrolls June 2008-May 2010Mortgage markets improved last week in response to mostly negative data about the U.S. economy, and the Federal Reserve’s acknowledgement that Eurozone financial ills could cross the Atlantic.

Conforming and FHA mortgage rates fell last week, extending a rate rally that dates to early-April.  Mortgage rates have fallen to several, new, all-time lows during this period and last week was no different.

The best rates of last week hit Thursday morning.

This week, mortgage rates should be volatile, and may rise, too.  There’s a bevy of data due for release, and market volume will be light with the long weekend looming.

Monday, the Personal Consumptions Expenditures Price Index is published. More commonly known as “PCE”, the index is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge. When inflation is running higher than expected, mortgage rates tend to rise.

Conversely, when inflation is running lower than expected, mortgage rates tend to fall.

Tuesday, the Case-Shiller Index will be released for April’s home prices, along with two consumer confidence reports.  As with PCE, strength tends to lead mortgage rates higher and weakness draws them lower.

Thursday, the National Association of REALTORS® releases its Pending Home Sales Index for May and the Department of Labor releases initial and continuing jobless claims number.

Then, Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes June’s jobs report, including the Unemployment Rate.  This number is always a market-mover, but with the long vacation weekend looming, it’s expected that Friday’s volume will be light on Wall Street, creating extra volatility. 

Mortgage rates may be erratic, in other words.

If you’ve been shopping for mortgages, you’ve been rewarded with falling rates. However, will rates cutting new lows almost weekly and expected to reverse soon, it may be a good time to lock up your savings.

Talk to your loan officer ASAP about locking in your rate.