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Broker Confidence Remains Stable, Despite New Challenges and Continued Uncertainties

The first quarter of 2022 has been anything but predictable. This is true for business and society at large. The year is still young, but it has already seen geopolitical turmoil, rollercoaster economics, entertainment follies and busted brackets. And that was just March. But, real estate, too, has certainly had its share of ups and […]

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Forbearances Expiring; Remote Work Not Killing Cities; Rates Surge Higher Despite Weak Jobs Data

The number of mortgages in forbearance saw its l argest reduction in 12 months l ast week. Black Knight said 177,000 loans exited the program, many of them having reached the end of the 18 months of reduced or suspended payments allowed for those financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an 11 percent […]

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Highest Rates in Months Despite Weak Jobs Report

It goes by many names: The Employment Situation, Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP), or simply “the jobs report.” No matter what you call it, the Labor Department’s massive collection of employment statistics is one of the most important events for the bond market every month. For a quick reminder as to why mortgage rates care about the […]

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Mortgage Rates Relatively Unharmed, Despite Unexpected Moves in Bonds

It was a busy week for economic data with several reports that were pertinent to the housing market. In addition to being the perennial top dog among economic reports, this Friday’s jobs report was especially important due to its role in the Federal Reserve’s decision-making process. The Fed is widely expected to announce a forthcoming […]

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Mortgage Rates Near Long-Term Despite Taper Talk

“Taper talk” refers to comments, speeches, or official policy communications from the Federal Reserve (aka “the Fed”) that speak to the timing and nature of a reduction in the Fed’s bond buying activities. Wow! What a boring and potentially confusing sentence! Let’s try again… The Fed buys bonds –US Treasuries and mortgage backed bonds (which, […]

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Expirations Help Forbearance Numbers; Rates Under Pressure Despite Weak Jobs Report

Economic data is traditionally one of the key contributors to interest rate movement. Of the regularly-scheduled reports, none has more market-moving street cred than The Employment Situation–otherwise known as “the jobs report” or simply NFP (due to its headline component: Non-Farm Payrolls). The relationship between econ data and rates can wax and wane. Covid definitely […]

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Rates Surprisingly Steady Despite Market Drama; Home Price Gains Break 6 yr Record

Like many industries, housing finance has a superficial layer that’s fairly easy to understand for the average consumer. A person wants a home. They don’t want to pay cash. They get a loan. Lower rates = lower payments. The end. Shortly below that superficial layer of understanding, where a surprisingly high percentage of mortgage professionals […]

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Mortgage Rates Mostly Flat Despite Stronger Bond Market

Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch Mortgage rates are mostly determined by the trading levels of mortgage-backed bonds on the open market. When those bonds improve, mortgage rates move lower, all other things being equal. For a variety of reasons, that typical relationship has been hit and miss on any given day since the pandemic began. […]

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