22 Jun 2015
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 22, 2015

Market Outlook
Last week's economic news included National Association of Home Builders / Wells Fargo (NAHB) Housing Market Index and Commerce Department reports on Housing Starts and Building Permits, the post-meeting statement of the Fed's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), and Fed Chair Janet Yellen's scheduled press conference. NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Hits 9 Month High Home builder confidence in housing market conditions is growing in spite of a planned merger between two builders and related cost-cutting efforts. According to the NAHB's the home builder index posted a reading of 59 in June as compared to an expected reading of 55 and…
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18 Jun 2015
By Mark Feder

Federal Reserve: No Change on Target Fed Funds Rate

Market Outlook
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve did not move to increase the Fed's target federal funds rate, which is currently 0.00 to 0.250 percent. Although the committee acknowledged further progress toward achieving the Federal Reserve's dual goal of maximum employment and an inflation rate of two percent, committee members indicated that they want to see further improvements in both areas before raising the federal funds rate. In its customary post meeting statement, the FOMC said that it may not raise rates when both goals have been achieved. This statement may have been meant to calm ongoing…
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04 May 2015
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 4, 2015

Market Outlook
Last week's economic news included S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports, the Fed's FOMC meeting statement and pending home sales. Freddie Mac mortgage rates and weekly jobless claims were also released as usual. The details: Case-Shiller: Denver Leads Home Price Gains in February The S&P Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index showed that home prices continue to appreciate, but at a slower rate than in previous years. Home prices increased at a seasonally-adjusted year-over-year rate of 4.20 percent in February as compared to the February 2014 reading of 4.40 percent. Denver, Colorado led February's year-over-year home price appreciation rates with a…
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13 Apr 2015
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 13, 2015

Market Outlook
Last week's economic news included the minutes from the most recent FOMC meeting, which indicated that the Fed's monetary policymakers are eyeing a potential increase in the target federal funds rate, but don't expect to do so immediately. Members of the Federal Open Market Committee expressed concerns about lagging housing markets and noted that inflation has not yet achieved the Fed's two percent goal. When the Fed decides to raise its target federal funds rate, which now stands at 0.00 to 0.25 percent, Interest rates and mortgage rates can be expected to rise as well. Mortgage Rates Lower, Jobless Claims…
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