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Why Can Mortgage Rates Rise in a Down Market?
from: Mortage & Debt FactsWith all the hoopla about the overload of inventory in most states (due to foreclosures), and the dropping of interest rates by the Federal Reserve, you may be wondering why mortgage rates haven risen in the past year over all.
The mortgage industry is not the same as the banking and the housing industry. They are connected to these two sectors of the market, but lending products are usually priced on their own merits and not just those of the economy.
The Lender’s Point of View
While the amount of inventory can affect home prices and spur competition amongst lenders, it can lower the rates if one lender is trying to grab a bit more business. On the other hand, the mortgage crisis has been so severe in some states that many lenders are wary of lending to unreliable borrowers. They have tightened their credit requirements and when you don’t meet those newer requirements, they may raise the rate to hedge their risk.
So, even with a market rate of 6.00% on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, you could still end up paying more if you don’t meet the new credit requirements of a FICO score of 720 or more, solid employment, and a sizable down payment.
The Market’s Point of View
Mortgage rates can also increase, even if the Federal Reserve decides to lower interest rates. This may spur banks to lend out more money and attract more customers.
As the new customers start to flood the market, the demand increases. When the demand of any product goes up, so does the price. That’s why the mortgage rates can even increase when the Federal Reserve cuts rates.
Your Point of View
It is very difficult to time to buy a house at the bottom of mortgage rate drop cycles. Typically, you can do this better if you are refinancing than if you are buying because you are then comparing your new loan to whatever you had before. If it saves you money or drops by at least 1 to 2 points of your mortgage interest, then you are pretty confident that buying at that time is a good move.
Otherwise, if you are new buyer and have nothing to compare it to, you still can be relatively comforted by the fact that despite rises and falls over the short-term, mortgage rates are at a historically low-point for now in comparison to years past.
They may not drop more than 1 point more and should they do so, you can always refinance your mortgage rates later.
Online Mortgage Specific links
Online Mortgage News
Half of metro Atlanta mortgages underwater - Atlanta Journal Constitution
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Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Hold at Record Lows - MarketWatch (press release)
Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Hold at Record Lows MarketWatch (press release) Bankrate.com is the leading aggregator of rates and other information on more than 300 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used auto loans, money market accounts and CDs, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online ... |
LendingTree Analysis Indicates Greater Savings with Adjustable-Rate Mortgages ... - MarketWatch (press release)
LendingTree Analysis Indicates Greater Savings with Adjustable-Rate Mortgages ... MarketWatch (press release) CHARLOTTE, NC, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- LendingTree, LLC, the nation's leading online source for competitive loan offers, today announced that 30-year fixed-rate loans have become increasingly popular, but recent data and current market ... |
Bank of America's Interactive Home Loan Planner Shines Light on the Mortgage ... - MarketWatch (press release)
Bank of America's Interactive Home Loan Planner Shines Light on the Mortgage ... MarketWatch (press release) CALABASAS, Calif., May 24, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Bank of America announced the launch of its online Home Loan Planner, an interactive tool created to help customers better understand the home loan process. An integral part of the company's ... |
Home lender to dip into savings - Herald Sun
 TheMercury.com.au | Home lender to dip into savings Herald Sun MORTGAGE lender RAMS now has a foot in both sides of the money business after launching an online savings account. The home loan specialist, owned by Westpac, yesterday said it would offer online savings accounts to new customers in a move that would ... RAMS now offering savings accounts RAMS offering high interest savings account and transaction account with ... |