Mortgage rates have improved over the past week with further declines predicted. The partial government shutdown has led to speculation that the government will continue its bond-buying stimulus program which should keep rates down. Rates are expected to continue to trend down in the coming week so it may be a good time to lock in a rate.
Mortgage Rates Fall to 4-Month Low
Mortgage Rates, Real Estate News Oct 24, 2013 By: Neal J. Leitereg
Key fixed-mortgage rates fell to their lowest levels in four months this week, with further declines predicted in the short term.
The federal government’s shutdown and ongoing concerns with the economy’s recovery, particularly the Federal Reserve’s decision to continue its bond-buying stimulus program, were cited as factors in the declines of the key mortgage rates.
The drop in rates comes after the federal government shutdown drew to a close last week. Averages on fixed-rate mortgage previously spiked by more than a percentage point since early May; however, both the 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate loans are now trending at their lowest levels since June 20.
The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage saw a 0.15 percentage point decrease over the last week, according to the latest survey by mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. The rate is currently trending at 4.13 percent, down from last week’s 4.28 percent. A year ago, the average on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 3.41 percent.
The average rate on a 15-year fixed loan saw a decrease of 0.09 percentage point, dropping from 3.33 percent to 3.24 percent week over week. Compared to a year ago, the 15-year fixed has gained 0.52 percentage point. It previously peaked in August, hitting a high of 3.6 percent, and has remained above the 3.00 percent mark since early June.
“Mortgage rates slid this week as the partial government shutdown led to market speculation that the Federal Reserve will not alter its bond purchases this year,” Frank E. Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist, said in a statement.
Following a 0.02 percentage point increase a week ago, the average rate on a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage saw a slight drop. Previously at 3.07 percent, the five-year ARM settled at 3.00 percent this week. The one-year ARM also registered a decline, falling 0.03 percentage point from 2.63 percent to 2.60 percent this week.
Sales of existing homes saw a 2 percent decline in September from the previous month, according to October data released by the National Association of Realtors. However, sales of existing homes have increased 11 percent year-over-year. First-time homebuyers represented 28 percent of the real estate purchases while 39 percent of the homes sold in September were on the market for less than a month.
Looking ahead, homebuyers hoping to lock in a lower rate may want to hold off for a week or two. In the latest Mortgage Rate Trend Index, 77 percent of the analysts and loan experts polled believe that mortgage rates will continue to trend downward.
Mortgages have improved greatly over the last week. Bond-market participants now think any tapering by the [Federal Reserve] has been pushed back to well into 2014,” opined WCS Funding Group mortgage banker Michael Becker. “I think the weak employment report of this week only reinforced that sentiment. Because of this, I expect bonds to rally and mortgage rates to improve slightly in the coming week.”
Source: http://www.realtor.com/news/mortgage-rates-fall-to-4-month-low/
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