Rates Cool Down, Increasing Demand

Mortgage rates broke a month-long upward streak, deflating for the first time in weeks and resulting in a purchase demand boost. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.88%, down from the week prior’s 6.94%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.73%. This is the first decline in four weeks. The 15-year fixed also fell, dropping to 6.22% from 6.26%. A year ago, it averaged 5.95%. “Evidence that purchase demand remains sensitive to interest rate changes was on display this week, as applications rose for the first time in six weeks in response to lower rates,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  Mortgage loan applications were up nearly 10% from…

CBC Adds Rate Buydowns To Its FHA DPA Program

CBC Mortgage Agency introduced temporary rate buydowns to its down payment assistance program for FHA first mortgage financing, the lender announced in a press release. Borrowers have access to either a 2-1 or 1-0 buydown, easing the financial burden on first-time buyers for the first few years of homeownership. “The addition of a 2-1 and a 1-0 buydown feature is CBC Mortgage Agency’s continued response to the ongoing effect of the higher interest rates,” said Cari Zwick, National Program Director. “We’ve had a lot of requests for a buydown feature, and we hope it provides some relief to buyers during the current state of the housing market.” This feature comes just weeks after CBC lowered the interest rate on its…

Guild Offers New Rate Buydown Program

Guild Mortgage is rolling out a new rate buydown program, the company announced in a press release. The program, Payment Advantage, applies to any borrower locking in a conventional mortgage. Guild will then pay 1% of the borrower’s interest rate for one year. The borrower’s monthly payment will increase after that period, but they may then be eligible to refinance. The program is available until March 31, 2023. “Freddie Mac reported that the average commitment interest rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 6.90% in October, more than double the rate of 2.96% across all of 2021,” said Guild CEO Mary Ann McGarry. “With the rising costs of loans in today’s increasingly competitive housing market, we want to continue…