Mortgage rates are affected by mortgage backed securities, usually when the money supply significantly increases or reduces. It is important to distinguish between mortgage rates and the Federal Reserve interest rate, also known as the Discount Rate.  While the two tend to go hand in hand over the longer term, short-term variations can occur. We [...]

Mortgage rates have fallen consecutively over the past two weeks. Today saw disappointing employment data released that further pushed mortgage rates closer to all time historic lows. While the employment data wasn’t entirely negative with 96,000 new jobs nationwide last month, it was lower than forecasted and confirmed an overall slowdown in job growth throughout 2012. Other [...]

Mortgage rates got some relief today, improving slightly after spending most of the week rising, mirroring activity we saw last week. Today marked the most mild day the bond markets have seen in weeks. While the hope is that this may signal a change in the upward trend for mortgage rates, this will remain to [...]

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Basics: ARM or Fixed Rate? With an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) you pay a fixed rate of interest on your mortgage for a specified period, after which the rate adjusts until the term of the loan is complete. The initial monthly payments will generally be lower than those with a fixed interest [...]

The past two to three weeks have seen mortgage rates rise, with a slight stall and recovery where mortgage rates regained a little ground last Thursday and Friday. Mortgage rates have begun to climb as market watchers have seen things calm down a bit in the Eurozone and a handful of positive economic reports have [...]

Mortgage Rates Recover After Gains of Past Weeks After an upward move over the past two to three weeks, mortgage rates recovered a little ground today (a trend that started yesterday), ending in line with the levels we saw on Monday. Since there was no significant market data released today that may have been a [...]

Today saw mortgage rates move higher after better than expected employment data was released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their data shows that 163,000 jobs were added last month, the highest level of growth since February. Data was also released showing that the unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent in June. These [...]

Last week saw mortgage rates maintain near historic lows through Wednesday. Thursday and Friday were quite a different story when mortgage rates moved upward and dramatically rose on Friday afternoon on renewed European vows to overcome their existing debt issues while preserving the European Union. Mortgage rates have been under considerable downward pressure for months [...]

We began the week with mortgage rates at hear historic lows, continuing the trend we’ve seen for months where rates always seem to be at historic lows or making new historic lows. The middle of the week saw mortgage rates mixed with mortgage rates moving upward later in the week into today. To get an [...]

A very common question for any consumer that might be considering refinancing an existing home loan or purchasing a new home is “Should I lock my mortgage rate?”. This is a very important question and the answer can seemingly change from day to day, depending on what is going on in the markets. Your specific [...]