Mortgage Rate Recap and Outlook For Week Ending March 9, 2018
Author bio section
I am the author of this blog and also a top-producing Loan Officer and CEO of InstaMortgage Inc, the fastest-growing mortgage company in America. All the advice is based on my experience of helping thousands of homebuyers and homeowners. We are a mortgage company and will help you with all your mortgage needs. Unlike lead generation websites, we do not sell your information to multiple lenders or third-party companies.
The big news dominating financial markets right now is split between the continued improvement in employment numbers and the potential impact of the pending Tariffs on steel and aluminum. So far this year, most economic releases have met or exceeded predictions, proving that the economy is growing. But right now – the focus of the markets is on speculation about a potential global trade war when the tariff bill is signed by President Trump.
As far as the upcoming Fed meeting, markets have already absorbed the effect of the pending rate increase. The Beige Book was released today, a compilation of all 12 Fed districts views on the current economic health of the individual regions. The San Francisco (12th District) reported economic growth at a moderate pace with strong activity in the residential real estate sector. Read the full Beige Book report here.
Get a Customized Live Mortgage Rate Quote
Mortgage Rates Remained Stable Last Week
Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) that directly impacts the mortgage rates remained mostly stable last week as evidenced by the candlestick chart below. The days of red indicates higher rates and days with green a day of lower rates.
The Mortgage Banking Association’s (MBA) weekly rate survey shows “the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, with conforming loan balances ($453,100 or less), increased to its highest level since January 2014, 4.65 percent, from 4.64 percent last week, with points decreasing to 0.58 from 0.63 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans.”
“The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with jumbo loan balances (greater than $453,100) decreased to 4.56 percent from 4.57 percent last week, with points increasing to 0.52 from 0.51 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent LTV loans.”
15 Year fixed mortgage rates rose to the highest level since April 2011 to 4.11% and 5/1 ARM rates decreased to 3.81% compared to 3.85% last week. Both the loan programs had average discount points of 0.59 (1 point = 1% of the loan amount).
Get a Rate Quote for Home Purchase or Refinance
Prediction for Next Week’s Mortgage Rate
Weekly mortgage rates and trends from Bankrate, a compilation of mortgage and economic experts across the country, shows a majority prediction (50%) that rates will remain unchanged this coming week. 19% predicted rates would fall and 31% predicted they would increase.
My prediction for rates, as quoted in the Bankrate report, “After rising to a four-year high, the mortgage rates have taken a pause for the last two weeks. The market is moving sideways until the next big news breaks. That could well be the steel and aluminum tariffs. It’s not official yet, but if it is made official in the coming weeks, it could hurt the economy, which might help lower the mortgage rates. Remember, bad news for the economy is usually good news for rates, and vice-a-versa. As of now, expect the rates to stay where they are with very little movement.”
Should I Lock or Float my Mortgage Rate?
The overall outlook for the past week focused on stabled growth in the economy with concern over impending wage inflation and potential global trade wars. My recommendation is locking in your interest if you are closing in the next 45 days.
Related Posts
- 95The last three weeks delivered increasing mortgage rates and the coming week is shaping up to be a repeat. What's behind this negative break from the summer doldrums rates have languished in is a steady sign that inflation is substantially above the Feds target of 2%. The latest CPI 4-week…
- 95This week's news has had little impact on mortgage rates. Trade war concerns shifted from steel and aluminum tariffs to China's history of piracy issues in technology and intellectual property. The majority of the media commentary is around the appointment of Larry Kudlow as White House economic advisor. Kudlow has…
- 94Weekly dose of economy and mortgage market news that affects mortgage rates for San Jose Home buyers and Home owners. The Week that was: Economic data last week confirmed once again that inflation fears are way overblown; Dec CPI up just 0.1%. Factory use and industrial production improved again as…
- 94Yesterday the Fed released the Beige Book which contained an even stronger emphasis on the impact of tariffs and labor shortages than the previous two publications. Along with that, all twelve districts in the U.S. said the economy is expanding moderately or at a moderate pace in their region. The…
- 94Mortgage rates finished up another week at almost the same point that they began. It's been a stagnant two+ months for rates, and it doesn't appear to be breaking out of that pattern soon. All the recent economic data continues to point to building inflation, primarily due to a severely…
