Mortgage application volume declined for the second week in a row, as a small rise in rates put a damper on refinance activity, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. The Market Composite Index decreased by 1.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the period ended Aug. 15. The refinance component was down by 3%, although versus […]
Higher mortgage rates slow refi application volume Read More »
President Donald Trump’s unprecedented and escalating attack on the Federal Reserve runs the risk of backfiring by hitting financial markets and the economy with higher long-term borrowing costs. For weeks, he has lambasted Chair Jerome Powell for not slashing interest rates deeply to stimulate the economy and — as Trump sees it — lower the
Trump’s Fed gamble risks pushing key bond rates even higher Read More »
Chase Home Lending has resumed offering home equity lines of credit after a five-year absence from the product, the company announced. While parent JPMorgan Chase has participated in HELOC securitizations, it did not originate or service the loans. In April 2020, just as the pandemic entered full swing, Chase paused taking new applications for HELOCs
Chase formally reenters HELOC business after five years Read More »
Mortgage spreads reached their narrowest point in three years on Aug. 22, but were still wider than their historic average, Redfin reported. The normal spread, which in this case measures the difference between the 30-year fixed rate mortgage and the 10-year Treasury yield, is in a range between 150 basis points and 200 basis points.
Mortgage-Treasury spread at narrowest point in three years Read More »
President Donald Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook Monday evening after calling for her resignation last week over allegations of mortgage fraud. The move further consolidates Trump’s power at the Fed, which has traditionally been an independent organization shielded from overtly political actions. Cook, who was appointee to the seven-member Federal Reserve Board by
Trump fires Lisa Cook in latest move to pack Federal Reserve with supporters Read More »
New home sales followed the existing home sales market by beating sales estimates and having positive revisions in today’s report, which suggests that we are already seeing some benefits of lower mortgage rates. While it’s not a spectacular number by any means, if mortgage rates can get toward 6% and just stay there for some
Have lower mortgage rates already boosted the homebuilders? Read More »
Jerome Powell sent the US bond market up on Friday by telegraphing his Federal Reserve will resume reducing interest rates as soon as next month. Beyond September, it’s up to the economy how much further he cuts — and how much more Treasuries can rally. READ MORE: Powell opens the door to interest rate cuts
Bond market’s big Powell rally needs supportive data to march on Read More »
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech on Friday at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium left real estate and mortgage professionals cautiously optimistic. While expectations are building for lower interest rates, volatility remains a concern. In his final address as Fed chair at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual conference, Powell signaled the possibility
Powell’s Jackson Hole speech stirs cautious optimism for housing Read More »
We’ve reached fresh new year-to-date lows in mortgage rates after Jerome Powell, speaking at the Jackson Hole Economic Summit on Friday, suggested that the labor market may be more important than inflation for the time being. If only someone had been saying that for a few years! All jokes aside, mortgage rates have been trending
Mortgage rates hit year-to-date lows after Powell comments Read More »
Mortgage rates were unchanged as the markets await what Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will say on Friday. At the same time, a 10-basis point rise in the 10-year Treasury between Aug. 13 and Aug 18 was partially reversed by two days later in anticipation of a speech possibly hinting at September Fed Funds Rate
Mortgage rates remain flat as markets wait for Powell speech Read More »