3/5/10 Mortgage Market Week-in-Review
March 08, 2010
What Did Interest Rates Do Last Week?
** based on Freddie Mac weekly average survey **
30-yr Fixed - Lower
Last Week: 4.97%
Previous Week: 5.05%
1yr Ago: 5.15%
15-yr Fixed - Lower
Last Week: 4.33%
Previous Week: 4.40%
1yr Ago: 4.72%
Jumbo Fixed (Average 30-yr Fixed)
Last Week: 5.50%
Previous Week: 5.50%
Highlight of Last Week's Major Economic Reports
The latest Federal Reserve survey of regional economic conditions found that most of the country is in recovery. Most of this boost is coming from the manufacturing sector - partly due to slightly more robust auto sales. And, as the momentum continues to build in the manufacturing sector, along comes with it job growth. Eventually anyway. For now, we take comfort in the fact that fewer jobs are being lost.
The February employment report issued by the Labor Department showed that only 36,000 jobs were lost last month, leaving the unemployment rate at 9.7%. This figure may have likely been impacted by the severe snowstorms that hit various parts of the country. Some analysts argue that the number could have been worse were it not for the storms, while other analysts argue that the number could have been much better if the blizzards didn't keep people indoors.
Nevertheless, all indicators seem to point to the expectation for hiring to start increasing within the next few months
What to Look for This Week
Expect the stock market to guide the direction of mortgage rates with no significant data to be released until Friday's Retail Sales report.
Short-Term Rate Outlook
Possibility of Slightly Higher
Stay Informed: What's in the News
"Damaged Credit a Dilemma for Lenders" from Inman News
While bankruptcies and foreclosures could lock millions of would-be homebuyers out of the real estate market, the long-term impacts may depend on whether lenders are willing to make allowances for previously responsible borrowers who lost their home through circumstances beyond their control. But ask lenders if, when the economy recovers, they'll be willing to make allowances for borrowers who may have been victims of circumstance, and the silence is deafening.
"Austin Unemployment Increases to 7.6%" from Austin Business Journal
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/03/01/daily43.html
"Fed Presidents Say Rates Need to Be Low Early in U.S. Recovery" from Bloomberg
Two regional Federal Reserve Bank presidents, speaking before today's release of a February report on U.S. jobs, said they believe the central bank should keep rates low until the recovery picks up. Chicago Fed President Charles Evans told reporters in Chicago yesterday he needs to see signs of "highly sustainable" growth before supporting steps toward tighter monetary policy. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said after a speech in St. Cloud, Minnesota that, with the economy at an early stage of renewal, policy makers want to remain "very accommodative."
** based on Freddie Mac weekly average survey **
30-yr Fixed - Lower
Last Week: 4.97%
Previous Week: 5.05%
1yr Ago: 5.15%
15-yr Fixed - Lower
Last Week: 4.33%
Previous Week: 4.40%
1yr Ago: 4.72%
Jumbo Fixed (Average 30-yr Fixed)
Last Week: 5.50%
Previous Week: 5.50%
Highlight of Last Week's Major Economic Reports
The latest Federal Reserve survey of regional economic conditions found that most of the country is in recovery. Most of this boost is coming from the manufacturing sector - partly due to slightly more robust auto sales. And, as the momentum continues to build in the manufacturing sector, along comes with it job growth. Eventually anyway. For now, we take comfort in the fact that fewer jobs are being lost.
The February employment report issued by the Labor Department showed that only 36,000 jobs were lost last month, leaving the unemployment rate at 9.7%. This figure may have likely been impacted by the severe snowstorms that hit various parts of the country. Some analysts argue that the number could have been worse were it not for the storms, while other analysts argue that the number could have been much better if the blizzards didn't keep people indoors.
Nevertheless, all indicators seem to point to the expectation for hiring to start increasing within the next few months
What to Look for This Week
Expect the stock market to guide the direction of mortgage rates with no significant data to be released until Friday's Retail Sales report.
Short-Term Rate Outlook
Possibility of Slightly Higher
Stay Informed: What's in the News
"Damaged Credit a Dilemma for Lenders" from Inman News
While bankruptcies and foreclosures could lock millions of would-be homebuyers out of the real estate market, the long-term impacts may depend on whether lenders are willing to make allowances for previously responsible borrowers who lost their home through circumstances beyond their control. But ask lenders if, when the economy recovers, they'll be willing to make allowances for borrowers who may have been victims of circumstance, and the silence is deafening.
"Austin Unemployment Increases to 7.6%" from Austin Business Journal
http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/03/01/daily43.html
"Fed Presidents Say Rates Need to Be Low Early in U.S. Recovery" from Bloomberg
Two regional Federal Reserve Bank presidents, speaking before today's release of a February report on U.S. jobs, said they believe the central bank should keep rates low until the recovery picks up. Chicago Fed President Charles Evans told reporters in Chicago yesterday he needs to see signs of "highly sustainable" growth before supporting steps toward tighter monetary policy. St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said after a speech in St. Cloud, Minnesota that, with the economy at an early stage of renewal, policy makers want to remain "very accommodative."