08 Dec 2014
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 8, 2014

Market Outlook
Last week's economic reports related to housing and mortgages were few, but construction spending, the Fed's Beige Book report, non-farm payrolls and the national unemployment report indicated trends for the end of the year. Construction Spending Increases U.S. construction spending rose by 1.10 percent in October according to the Commerce Department. This reading translates to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of $971 billion. Analysts had expected an increase of 0.70 percent based on September's original reading of -0.40 percent, but September's reading was revised to -0.10 percent on Tuesday. Private spending on residential projects increased 1.30 percent. Federal Reserve Beige Book…
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24 Nov 2014
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 24, 2014

Market Outlook
Last week's scheduled economic news included the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, Housing Starts and Existing Home Sales. FOMC meeting minutes were released along with weekly Freddie Mac mortgage rates and weekly jobless claims. In addition, the National Association of Realtors® suggested that FHA should lower its mutual mortgage insurance premiums (MMI) as its fund for paying claims has normalized since recession. Homebuilder Confidence Nears Nine-Year High The National Association of Home Builders/ Wells Fargo Housing Market Index achieved a reading of 58 for November. This was two points higher than the expected reading of 56 and four points above…
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17 Nov 2014
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 17, 2014

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Last week's housing related news was lean, with no scheduled reports released other than Freddie Mac's primary mortgage market survey. We'll start with some good news. The University of Michigan / Thompson-Reuters Consumer Sentiment Index reported its highest reading in more than seven years. November's reading of 89.4 surpassed the expected reading of 88.0 and was higher than October's reading of 86.9 Mortgage Rates Near 4.00 Percent, Weekly Jobless Claims Up Freddie Mac reported a one-basis point drop in the average rate for 30-year fixed rate mortgage from 4.02 percent to 4.01 percent; the average rate for a 15-year fixed…
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27 Oct 2014
By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 27, 2014

Market Outlook
Last week's economic news included a few developments connected with housing and mortgage industries. While no economic reports were released on Monday, the rest of the week provided good news for existing home sales, home prices and mortgage rates. The National Association of REALTORS® reported that existing home sales in September exceeded expectations and the prior month's reading with a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.17 million sales. Three of four U.S. regions posted higher sales of previously owned homes with only the Midwest region reporting a decline in existing home sales. Analysts said that consistent job growth and improved…
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