13 Jun 2016
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 13, 2016

Financial Reports
Last week's economic news was highlighted by Fed Chair Janet Yellen's speech in Philadelphia. Although Chair Yellen alluded to future Fed rate hikes, she did not specify when Fed policymakers would next raise the target federal funds rate.  Increases in the fed funds rate typically signal increases in consumer credit and home mortgage rates. Last week's speech was seen as a precursor to the Federal Open Market Committee statement that will occur at the conclusion of next week's FOMC meeting.  Chair Yellen is also scheduled to give a press conference after the FOMC statement next Wednesday. Mortgage rates and new…
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06 Jun 2016
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 6, 2016

Financial Reports
Last week's housing related news was limited to Construction Spending and Freddie Mac's mortgage rates survey, but labor reports suggested an economic slowdown may be in the works. Construction Spending Slips in April, Mortgage Rates Mixed According to the Commerce Department, overall construction spending slipped in April to -1.80 percent as compared to March's reading of +1.50 percent and May's expected reading of +0.70 percent. Residential construction spending was 1.50 percent lower, which doesn't help ongoing shortages of available single-family homes. Builders have repeatedly cited labor shortages and lack of developed lots as obstacles to building more homes. Year-over-year construction…
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02 Jun 2016
By Mark Feder

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Expands to All Metro Areas

Financial Reports
March home prices were again dominated by the Northwest with Portland, Oregon posting a year-over-year gain of 12.30 percent followed by Seattle, Washington's year-over-year gain of 10.80 percent. Denver, Colorado rounded out the top three cities with a year-over-year gain of 10.00 percent. San Francisco, California, which consistently posted double-digit gains in recent months slipped to a year-over-year gain of 8.50 percent. This may indicate that prices in high cost metro areas are nearing their peak. S&P Dow Jones Chair David M Blitzer attributed outsized price gains to the shortest supply of available homes since the mid-1980s. Homes for sale…
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29 Apr 2016
By Mark Feder

Fed Holds Steady on Federal Funds Rate

Financial Reports
In its post-meeting statement, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve announced its decision not to raise the current federal funds rate of 0.25 to 0.50 percent. Although FOMC members acknowledged further improvement in the U.S. economy and jobs markets, the committee cited the following as influencing its decision not to raise the current federal funds rate: Household income continued to rise, but consumers have "moderated" their spending. Inflation is expected to remain below the Fed's goal of two percent in the near term. Temporary influences including low energy and import prices are expected to ease. FOMC…
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