Category Archives for "Mortgage Industry News"

“Understanding the Intricacies of Bond Markets and Mortgage Rates – A Comprehensive Recap for January 2024”

The trading session on Thursday served as quite the grim yet essential reminder of how “data dependence” can swing in both directions when it comes to its influence on the bond market. Yesterday, weaker data served to keep rates under the 4% threshold, but today’s data seemingly reversed that trend. However, these trends may not have significant implications on the grand scale of things, but the forthcoming employment report on Friday might indeed sway the narrative if it strays significantly from the forecast.

Economic Data / Events:

– ADP Employment: 164k actual vs 115k forecast, 101k previous
– Jobless Claims: 202k actual vs 216k forecast, 220k previous

Market Movement Recap:

– 08:34 AM: The market showed signs of weakness overnight, primarily driven by Europe. Continued selling post-data. The 10-year yield rose by 7bps to 3.989. MBS fell by 10 ticks (0.31).
– 12:20 PM: There was a bit of unevenness, but the market largely moved sideways throughout the morning. MBS dropped by 9 ticks (0.28). The 10-year yield rose by 7.3bps to 3.993.
– 02:19 PM: MBS hit their lowest point for the day, with 5.5 coupons down 3/8ths in total. Meanwhile, 10-year yields approached their peaks, rising by 8.1bps to 4.001.

Continue reading

“Breaking Down the Latest Mortgage Rates: What Homebuyers Need to Know in 2024”

In the early morning hours, it seemed that mortgage rates in 2024 were on a steady upward trend, with a significant increase in the first two business days. Over the past 10 days, rates had remained relatively stable, not exceeding 0.06% above the lowest point in 7 months. However, this outlook changed following the release of the latest economic data. The highly anticipated Job Openings report came in slightly below expectations, with the total number of job openings remaining below 9 million for the second consecutive month. This is the first time such a pattern has emerged since 2021 when job openings were still on the rise. Bonds, which have an impact on mortgage rates, are currently seeking signs of a cooler labor market, among other factors. The Job Openings report has the potential to offer such evidence. Consequently, bonds saw improvement after the data release, leading to mortgage lenders adjusting rates to lower levels in the afternoon. While the average lender has not returned to the previous record lows, this development suggests that the market is not inclined to push rates higher at the moment. The next critical piece of data to watch out for will be the upcoming jobs report on Friday morning.

Continue reading

“Forecasting a Bullish Future: Expert Predicts Increased Mortgage Demand in 2024”

In a recent episode of ‘The Exchange’, industry expert Andy Walden, who serves as the vice president of enterprise research at ICE Mortgage Technology, joined forces with CNBC’s Diana Olick to provide invaluable insights into the latest trends in mortgage demand, while also shedding light on the current state of the housing market’s overall health. This dynamic discussion covered various aspects of the mortgage industry, offering viewers a comprehensive understanding of the key factors driving the market and what they mean for homeowners and potential buyers alike.

Continue reading

“Insightful Forecast: Zillow Co-Founder Spencer Rascoff Predicts Mortgage Rates Will Tick Down in 2024”

In a recent interview with ‘Money Movers’, Spencer Rascoff, one of the founding members of Zillow and its former CEO, delves into the present landscape of mortgage rates and applications. Expanding further, he shares his insights on what factors might influence homebuyers’ perseverance and sheds light on other pertinent topics. This in-depth conversation offers valuable perspectives without referencing any particular sources.

Continue reading

“Understanding the Ups and Downs: A Look at Mortgage Rates in 2024”

At the start of the new year, mortgage rates surged to their highest levels since December 13th, following their rise to a two-week high leading up to the weekend. However, it is important to note that the bond market’s performance in the second half of December is often unpredictable and may not necessarily reflect the trajectory of rates in January. Nonetheless, excluding the past two weeks, rates are still considerably lower than they have been over the past seven months. The increase observed today is relatively moderate compared to recent trends and does not necessarily indicate a sustained upward momentum in rates. The direction of rates is more likely to be influenced by upcoming economic data, with Wednesday and Friday being particularly consequential days this week.

Continue reading

“Analyzing the Latest Mortgage Rates: What Homebuyers Need to Know”

Reflecting on the previous year, October saw 30yr fixed mortgage rates at a staggering 8% or higher. Many may have thought it was unlikely to see any significant change by the year’s end. However, surprisingly, rates ended up staying relatively stable. Although we didn’t quite reach the rates observed on the last day of 2022, we came remarkably close. The latest movements in the market haven’t had a significant impact on this trend. On average, lenders quoted slightly higher rates today compared to yesterday, but still within the consistent flat pattern that has persisted since December 14th. Looking ahead, the upcoming week holds the potential for increased volatility, as several important economic reports are scheduled, starting on Wednesday.

Continue reading

“Breaking Down the Latest Mortgage Rate Trends: Your Guide to Making Informed Decisions in 2023”

In the past two weeks, mortgage rates have been relatively stable, showing little change. However, yesterday brought some excitement as rates experienced a more typical level of volatility, resulting in a slight decrease. This improvement brought rates to their lowest levels since May 2023. Today, rates have slightly rebounded, but not to the same extent as yesterday’s drop. Overall, apart from the recent fluctuation, rates remain at lows not seen in the previous seven months.

Continue reading