Rates
Construction Slows after Three Busy Months; Rates Vary Widely–Nothing To Do With Fed
Residential construction activity took a breather in August. The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported this morning that all three measures, housing permits, starts, and completions, were lower than their unexpectedly high July rates. Permits for residential construction were issued during the month at a seasonally adjusted annual rate […]
BLS: July Unemployment rates down in 30 states; 3 States at New Series Highs
From the BLS: Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary Unemployment rates were lower in July in 30 states, higher in 9 states, and stable in 11 states and the District of Columbia , the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. All 50 states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year […]
Still Reeling From Last Week, Mortgage Rates Tiptoe Lower
Mortgage rates managed to improve modestly for the average lender today, but they remain significantly higher than they were before last week’s regulatory drama . By the time we consider the size, scope, and the precipitous imposition of the new refi fee, we’ve never seen anything remotely similar. Lenders were definitely taken by surprise and […]
Forbearances Decline for Second Week; Rates Are Not 1.99%
Two entities, Black Knight and the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) have been tracking loans in forbearance plans since the start of the pandemic. They have diverged a bit in their numbers over the last half year, but both agree, in their most recent reports, that there are now fewer than 4 million borrowers in plans. […]
Forbearances Keep Climbing; Should You Wait For Lower Rates?
Mortgage rates have fallen more aggressively than ever and they’ve been remarkably willing to set record after record. So is there any reason you shouldn’t wait for them to go even lower? This is an age old question any time rates fall to long-term lows. In the past, the answer has been pretty easy . […]
The Downside of Ultra Low Rates; Builder Confidence Fully Recovered?
The Downside of Ultra Low Rates Actions and reactions are as true in the bond market as in the natural world. The equal and opposite reaction to a sub 3% 30yr fixed rate is a spike in the supply of new MBS. From there, supply/demand 101 says we should see downward pressure on prices. That’s […]
Fewer Forbearances; More Homebuilding; Higher Ficos; Lowest Rates
There was another decline in forbearance starts this past week and the number of loans in active plans also fell for the third straight week. Black Knight’s weekly report on COVID-19 related forbearances reported a total of 4.12 million loans that have been granted forbearance, allowing borrowers to omit or reduce mortgage payments due to […]