Over the past 7 trading days, Mortgage rates were wounded with 2 of the largest one-day spikes in over 2 years. Rates rose last week with average rates a 30-year fixed rate mortgage rising from last week’s 3.35 percent to 3.42 percent with buyers paying all closing costs and 0.7 percent in discount points.
We are in a definite “locking” bias at the moment. As I am publishing this blog, rates are still trending worse this Monday morning. Continue reading
Mortgage rates fell again last week and are again near record lows.
According to Freddie Mac, the average rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage did achieve a record low of 2.61 percent as compared to 3.1 percent one year ago.
The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 3.40 percent and near the record low of 3.31 percent.
Low mortgage rates are helping homeowners with refinancing and are boosting housing markets as more buyers can qualify for mortgage loans. Continue reading
When looking to buy or sell Sacramento real estate, confusing terminology can leave you feeling somewhat uneasy. From a multitude of numbers to marketing jargon, property listings can give you an overwhelming amount of information — and it’s hard to know what’s important. Continue reading
Last week, the S&P/Case-Shiller Index showed home prices gaining 8.1 percent during the 12-month period ending January 2013, marking the largest year-over-year increases since the summer of 2006. Looking closer to home, here in Sacramento, that number is much greater.
The Case-Shiller Index measures changes in home prices by tracking same-home sales throughout 20 housing markets nationwide; and the change in sales price from sale-to-sale.
All 20 Case Shiller Index Markets Show Growth Continue reading
The Federal Reserve’s statement after yesterday’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting left no doubt as to the Fed’s dual commitment to keeping long-term interest rates down and encouraging economic growth. But there were a few subtle changes to the Fed’s current bond-buying program made during today’s FOMC meeting.
The Fed buying bonds and Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS) works by boosting bond prices, which typically helps with keeping mortgage rates lower. Instead of the Fed’s monthly purchase of $85 billion in bonds and MBS per month, they will now make the call if they want to reduce these purchases, depending how well the economy is performing. Instead of turning this quantitative easing (QE) OFF or ON, they can use the concept of a “dimmer” switch instead. Continue reading