Capitol Hill News Pushes Rates Up

Mortgage rates increased again last week due to a heap of political and financial news. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.57%, up from 6.39% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.10%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage rose from 5.75% to 5.97%. A year ago, it averaged 4.31%. Daily average rates even exceeded 7% on May 25, hitting their highest level since November. “The U.S. economy is showing continued resilience which, combined with debt ceiling concerns, led to higher mortgage rates this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  At the current rate, 6.57%, Redfin reported that the typical buyer’s monthly mortgage payment amounts to $2,614, a…

May Slump: Mortgage Applications Down Again

Mortgage applications fell again last week as borrowers recoil in the face of rising rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – decreased by 4.6%, adding to last week’s drag. Adjusted purchase applications fell by 4%, while the unadjusted index was down 5% from the week before and 30% lower YOY. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans rose from 6.57% to 6.69%, the highest level since March. “Since rates have been so volatile and for-sale inventory still scarce, we have yet to see sustained growth in purchase applications. Refinance activity remains limited, with the refinance index falling to its lowest level in two months…

Rates Reverse Course

After falling slightly the week before, mortgage rates shot right back up last week, continuing to fluctuate within the 6% range. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.39%, up from 6.35% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.25%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage remained unchanged at 5.75%. A year ago, it averaged 4.43%. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.39% this week, as economic crosscurrents have kept rates within a ten-basis point range over the last several weeks,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “After the substantial slowdown in growth last fall, home prices stabilized during the winter and began to modestly rise over the last few months.…

Rates Down Slightly, Fluctuating Within 6% Range

Mortgage rates dipped again last week, continuing to fluctuate within the 6% range. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.35%, down from 6.39% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.30%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased as well, to 5.75% from 5.76%. A year ago, it averaged 4.48%. “This week’s decrease continues a recent sideways trend in mortgage rates, which is a welcome departure from the record increases of last year,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. Khater noted that moderating inflation has weakened mortgage rate growth. Both the consumer price and producer price indices, released this week, showed better-than-expected results. The CPI’s shelter cost component rose…

Mortgage Applications Rose After May’s FOMC Meeting

Mortgage applications rose last week across the board as rates dipped in the wake of positive news from the Fed. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – increased by 6.3%, changing course after last week’s 1.2% decrease. Adjusted purchase applications rose by 5%, while the unadjusted index was up 5.3% from the week before and 32% lower YOY. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans dipped from 6.50% to 6.48%. Refinances also showed movement, up 10% from the week prior. They remain 44% lower than the same time last year, however, comprising only 28% of total applications. In the past decade, refis averaged 58% of…

Prices Climb In Q1 As Demand For Budget-Friendly Homes Heats Up

Home sale prices went up last quarter due to high competition in budget-friendly markets. The National Association of Realtors’ latest quarterly report found that single-family existing-home sales prices increased in 152 of 221 metros — about 70% — in Q1 2023.  The monthly mortgage payment on a typical existing single-family home with a 20% down payment was $1,859, up 33% YOY. The divide in demand between affordable and expensive markets is the main factor in these numbers. High-end markets with the most expensive homes are seeing declines, while cheaper areas are seeing intense competition for the few affordable homes for sale, pushing prices up. “Generally speaking, home prices are lower in expensive markets and higher in affordable markets, implying greater…

Rates Fall After FOMC Meeting

Mortgage rates fell last week on the heels of the FOMC’s May meeting. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.39%, down from 6.43% the week prior. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.27%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage increased as well, to 5.76% from 5.71%. A year ago, it averaged 4.52%. “This week, mortgage rates inched down slightly amid recent volatility in the banking sector and commentary from the Federal Reserve on its policy outlook,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “Spring is typically the busiest season for the residential housing market and, despite rates hovering in the mid-six percent range, this year is no different. Interested homebuyers are acclimating…

Price Growth Bucks Downward Trend, Rises Across The Nation

Home prices appear to have bucked their downward trend, rising almost everywhere in the U.S. in March. Black Knight’s latest Mortgage Monitor report found that home prices rose last month on both non-adjusted (+1.38%) and seasonally adjusted (+0.45%) bases. This is the third consecutive month of increases recorded by Black Knight, with 92% of markets seeing prices increase.  “[J]ust five months ago, prices were declining on a seasonally adjusted month-over-month basis in 92% of all major U.S. markets. Fast forward to March, and the situation has done a literal 180,” said Black Knight Vice President of Enterprise Research Andy Walden. Other than Western and pandemic boomtown markets, 40% have seen prices return to peak levels, with only Austin (-0.7%), Salt…

Applications Slip Despite Rate Dip

Mortgage applications fell last week even as rates dipped for the first time in three weeks. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey shows the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – decreased by 1.2%, changing course after last week’s 3.7% increase. Adjusted purchase applications fell by 2%, while the unadjusted index was down 1% from the week before and 32% lower YOY. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans dipped from 6.55% to 6.50%, 114 bps higher than the same time last year. “Elevated rates continue to both impact homebuyer affordability and weaken demand for refinancing. Home purchase activity has been very sensitive to rates and local market trends, including the very low…

Motto Mortgage Luxe Group Debuts In Houston, TX

Another Motto Mortgage franchise has opened, this one in Houston, TX. Motto Mortgage Luxe Group is a Black-owned, full-service mortgage brokerage headed by Angela Martin and Toi Parnell. Martin and Parnell bring a combined forty years of mortgage industry experience to the branch. Parnell most recently worked as a branch manager and senior loan officer at Nexa Mortgage and has also managed branches for LeaderOne Financial and Geneva Financial. Both will originate mortgages in the new office. “Motto Mortgage Luxe Group offers an advantageous alternative to the traditional mortgage bankers currently operating in Houston,” said Martin. “We provide the scope, scale and support of a large retail lender, while offering the flexibility, autonomy and exceptional service of a local mortgage…