What will happen to mortgage rates now that China and the U.S. have made progress in their trade war, agreeing to a 90-day period of lower tariffs? Stocks are up considerably this morning and bond yields have also increased. This raises the question: Is the de-escalation of the trade war good for mortgage rates? The […]
What happens to mortgage rates with more trade deals? Read More »
Tariffs and trade policy have been a new and important consideration for the bond market for just over a month now. That matters to mortgage rates because mortgage pricing is primarily determined by bond prices. The reaction function for rates is a bit complicated at first glance because tariffs can exert influence in opposite directions.
Mortgage Rates Jump to 2 Week Highs After US/China Trade Talks Read More »
Economists surveyed by Wolters Kluwer remain solidly behind the notion that the Federal Open Market Committee will reduce short-term rates in 2025. Its May Blue Chip Economic Indicators report even included the possibility that the Fed could actually raise interest rates in 2025 based on comments made by Chairman Jerome Powell which the authors noted
Most economists expect rate cuts after July Read More »
New York Attorney General and long-time legal adversary to Donald Trump Letitia James faces a federal grand jury investigation involving her role in multiple mortgage transactions, according to several news sources. The investigation, which is being led by the Department of Justice and the FBI, revolves around fraud allegations made by Federal Housing Finance Agency
Feds accuse Trump adversary Letitia James of loan fraud Read More »
Bloomberg News The U.S. and China have agreed to pause the bulk of their tariff policies against one another for 90 days, sending a jolt of optimism through the banking sector and its investors. The temporary truce was struck over the weekend and announced on Monday, causing stocks to rally and credit spreads to tighten
U.S.-China tariff truce gives banks hope amid uncertainty Read More »
Signs from early April that the housing market is coming around will help the title industry’s performance on what has been a slow start to the spring season. However, the biggest news that shook up the industry took place on April 10 at the second largest company by total volume. Following an incident on a
Title underwriters stay profitable in difficult Q1 Read More »
Federal Reserve Gov. Adriana Kugler on Monday warned U.S. tariffs could propel higher inflation and curb economic growth. While Kugler’s remarks — delivered at the International Economic Symposium in Dublin — argued that the U.S. economy had shown resilience up until now, she characterized the coming impact of tariffs as a negative supply shock that
Fed’s Kugler: Tariffs present stagflation-like pressure Read More »
Acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Russell Vought rescinded scores of guidance documents in a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication Monday.Bloomberg News The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is radically cutting enforcement by withdrawing nearly 70 guidance documents, citing President Trump’s mandate to eliminate regulations and reduce costs for businesses. In a major change for
Trump’s CFPB rescinds 70 guidance and enforcement documents Read More »
Whether you’re planning to move soon or not, it’s smart to be strategic about which home projects you take on. Your time, energy, and money matter – and not all upgrades offer the payoff you might expect. As U.S. News Real Estate explains: “. . . not every home renovation project will increase the resale
Home Projects That Boost Value Read More »
The lending playbook needs an overhaul Let’s cut through the noise: The mortgage market isn’t changing; it’s already changed. Volatility is the norm, margins are squeezed within an inch of viability and borrowers expect a frictionless experience every time. If your entire business still revolves around purchase and refinance, you’re not just playing catch-up, you’re
Outdated mortgage tech is draining lenders: Here’s how to stop the bleeding Read More »